US Bankruptcy Court DVT Docket Feed

Daniel T. Quinn Chapter 13 Motion to Reopen Denied

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Vermont denied Daniel T. Quinn's motion to reopen his Chapter 13 bankruptcy case (No. 15-10217), which had been dismissed on May 19, 2017 for failure to make plan payments, failure to consummate a real estate sale, and failure to file a modified plan. Quinn had prevailed in related state court foreclosure litigation against Bank of New York Mellon in the Vermont Supreme Court's November 7, 2025 decision before filing the motion to reopen. The court found Quinn had not met the burden required to reopen his case. This is a routine procedural ruling specific to one debtor.

Town of Pawlet v. Banyat - Summary Judgment on Non-Dischargeability

The US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Vermont granted in part and denied in part Town of Pawlet's motion for summary judgment in an adversary proceeding challenging the dischargeability of debts arising from zoning violations. The Court ruled that the $237,000 Contempt Judgment (accrued daily fines for failure to remediate zoning violations after 135-day cure period) is non-dischargeable under 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7) as a fine payable to a governmental unit. The Court denied summary judgment on the $62,601.39 Fees and Costs Judgment, finding genuine issues of material fact remain regarding whether the underlying injury was willful and malicious under § 523(a)(6). Post-petition interest continues to accrue at 12% per annum on both judgments.

Scott Smith Chapter 13 - Court Grants Partially Stipulated Motion to Amend Dismissal

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Vermont issued a memorandum of decision on February 27, 2026, partially granting a stipulated motion filed by Debtor Scott Smith and Chavonnes Badenhorst St. Clair Cooper, liquidator of Mirror Trading International (PTY) Ltd. The court approved a modified dismissal order that bars the debtor from filing another Chapter 13 case in the District of Vermont for at least 365 days and requires preservation of all documents and communications related to a pending adversary proceeding in the Southern District of Florida. The court denied relief in part on other requested terms, declining to enter all provisions sought by the stipulated motion.