US Bankruptcy Court EDVA Docket Feed

Frederick Sims McRae v. Acting U.S. Trustee - Discharge Denied

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia denied Frederick Sims McRae's Chapter 7 discharge after finding he concealed assets including bitcoin and financial accounts, failed to produce required documentation for his limousine business and various accounts, made materially false statements in bankruptcy schedules and during examination under oath, and refused to comply with court orders. The Acting U.S. Trustee for Region Four prevailed on all four counts of the complaint brought under 11 U.S.C. §§ 727(a)(2)(B), 727(a)(3), 727(a)(4)(A), and 727(a)(6)(A). The debtor, who filed pro se, appeared at the June 3, 2025 evidentiary hearing and contested the default judgment.

In re Wanda Harding Staker: Chapter 13 Plan Modification and Property Exemption Dispute

The US Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a memorandum opinion and order in the Chapter 13 case of Wanda Harding Staker (Case No. 24-10444-BFK), partially granting the Trustee's Amended Motion to Modify Plan Payments and ordering supplemental briefing on the issue of property exemption. The Court denied the Trustee's Motion to Dismiss regarding life insurance policies based on Bankruptcy Rule 4003(b)(1) and Taylor v. Freeland & Kronz, finding the Trustee did not timely object to the exemption claims within 30 days of the meeting of creditors. The Court took under advisement the portion of the Amended Motion relating to whether the Property, previously held as tenants by the entirety, lost its exempt status following Mr. Staker's death on July 15, 2025.

Sonoma Cellar LLC Chapter 11 ERC Dispute Ruling

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled on February 19, 2026 that Richard and Elizabeth Myllenbeck are the rightful recipients of Employee Retention Tax Credits (ERCs) attributable to the period prior to the December 15, 2022 sale of Sonoma Cellar LLC to Daniel Wharam. The court found that an implied-in-fact contract between the parties entitled the Myllenbecks to the credits, and that a constructive trust arose in their favor for both received and future ERCs. The Myllenbecks' claims for conspiracy, tortious interference, punitive damages, and attorneys' fees were denied.