In re Lisa Kay Weiser

The Hanging Paragraph of Section 1325(a) protects a purchase money creditor where the loan proceeds were used to not only finance the purchase of a new car, but also to pay off the lien on a separate car being traded in, if the evidence shows that the debtor would not have been able to purchase the new car unless the lien on the trade-in was paid off. Therefore, the creditor's purchase money security interest includes funds used to pay off the old car. In addition, the PMSI covers the portion of the loan used for gap insurance and an extended service warranty, since they represent expenses incurred in connection with acquiring rights in the vehicle.

Date of decision: 12/18/07

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In re Adams Case No: 06-51651

The creditor financed the Chapter 13 debtor's purchase of a vehicle. The creditor's claim was secured by a purchase money security interest in a motor vehicle that was acquired within the 910 days preceding the date the debtor filed for bankruptcy relief. The creditor contended that the vehicle was "acquired for the personal use of the debtor" and that its claim was protected from bifurcation by the hanging paragraph of 11 U.S.C.A. § 1325(a)(5). The court disagreed and held that a vehicle acquired for use by the non-debtor wife was not "acquired for the personal use of the debtor" and that the claim was not protected from bifurcation by the hanging paragraph.

Date of decision: 3/1/07

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In re Murray Case No: 05-48017

Creditor Nuvell Financial Services Corp. (hereinafter, “Nuvell”) filed an objection to the confirmation of Debtors’ Chapter 13 Plan on the basis that the treatment of Nuvell in the plan did not comport with the requirements of the “hanging paragraph” of 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a) (hereinafter, “§ 1325(a)(*)”). Debtors purchased a motor vehicle within 910 days of filing their Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition. The vehicle was purchased for the personal use of Debtors. At the time the vehicle was purchased, Debtors also purchased an extended service contract and were assessed a documentary fee by the seller. Debtors argued that the purchase of the extended warranty and the payment of the documentary fee with monies meant for the purchase of the vehicle alone, prevented Nuvell from holding a purchase-money security interest.

The Court held that Nuvell in fact held a purchase-money security interest and that the other requirements of § 1325(a)(*) were met so as to qualify Nuvell’s claim for treatment under that section. Further, the Court held that § 1325(a)(*) does not prevent a claim qualifying under that section from being an “allowed secured claim” for purposes of § 1325(a)(5) and its present interest requirement. Section 1325(a)(*) serves to prevent the bifurcation of an under-secured claim into a secured and unsecured portion under § 506. This holding is consistent with the vast majority of cases considering the meaning of § 1325(a)(*). The Court’s interpretation is also consistent with the plain meaning of the statute and with the legislative history on the section.

The Court also considered the issue of post-petition interest rates to be paid in accordance with § 1325(a)(5) on secured claims that qualify for treatment under § 1325(a)(*). The Court concluded that the United States Supreme Court case of Till v. SCS Credit Corp., 541 U.S. 465 (2004), was applicable to claims falling under § 1325(a)(*). The Supreme Court held in Till that § 1325(a)(5) required that interest on allowed secured claims should be paid at a current rate determined by an adjustment from the prime rate based upon the risk of nonpayment. Being as the Court concluded that a claim qualifying under § 1325(a)(*) is an “allowed secured claim” for purposes of § 1325(a)(5), the interest rate set forth in Till is appropriate.

Date of decision: 6/6/06

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In re Sanders Case No: 07-50783

Date of decision: 10/18/07

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In re Mitchell, 2007 WL 3378229 Bankr. M.D. Tenn. 2007)

Under Tennessee state law definitions, the financing of negative equity in the form of the debtors' trade-in is not part of the “price” and did not “enable” the debtor to acquire the Chevy Trailblazer. According to state law, therefore, FAFCU holds a partially secured PMSI debt and a partially secured non-PMSI debt. Applying FAFCU's state law-defined status to 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(*), the court finds that under the unambiguous statute, FAFCU does not qualify for the narrow exception and may be treated as any secured creditor pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(5). If however, 11 U.S.C. § 1325(a)(*) is ambigious, the court nonetheless finds that statutory construction rules would favor the narrower interpretation of the exception thereby rendering the hanging paragraphy's narrow exception unavailable to FAFCU.