US Bankruptcy Court SDGA Docket Feed

Jones v. Carrington Mortgage Services LLC - Summary Judgment Granted

The US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia granted summary judgment in favor of Carrington Mortgage Services LLC in adversary proceeding No. 24-05004, finding that debtor Shirley Rendra Jones failed to present evidence supporting essential elements of her wrongful foreclosure claim regarding the January 2, 2024 foreclosure sale of her Douglas, Georgia residence. The Court retained jurisdiction over the adversary proceeding despite the dismissal of the underlying Chapter 13 bankruptcy case (No. 24-50027) on January 15, 2026, finding that judicial economy, fairness to the parties, and the straightforward nature of the wrongful foreclosure claim under Georgia law supported retention.

Adam Goepel Maisano Bankruptcy Ruling on Merrill Lynch IRA Exemption

The US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia ruled on March 30, 2026 in Adam Goepel Maisano's Chapter 7 case (No. 25-10453) that the Trustee's Objection to the Debtor's claim of exemption for a Merrill Lynch IRA was overruled and the Trustee's Motion for Turnover of Property was denied. The Trustee argued that the Debtor's early distribution from his Merrill Lynch IRA and subsequent investment of the withdrawn funds into 212 Motors (a used car dealership) constituted a prohibited transaction under 26 U.S.C. §4975, causing the residual IRA of $25,496.81 to lose its exempt status. The Court disagreed, finding that the IRA remains excluded from the bankruptcy estate pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §541(c)(2) because Georgia's garnishment exemption under O.C.G.A. §18-4-6(a) creates an enforceable restriction on transfer.

Charles W. Wills Chapter 7 Trustee v. Turnbull Law Group LLC - Motion to Dismiss Denied

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Georgia denied a Motion to Dismiss filed by Defendant Turnbull Law Group LLC in adversary proceeding number 25-01016. The Chapter 7 Trustee alleged that Turnbull Law Group received $18,071.77 from debtor Maliah Isis Bush under a Debt Resolution Program, paying only $8,900.02 to creditors while retaining $8,289.54 in fees (46% of total payments), violating the Georgia Debt Adjustment Act's 7.5% fee cap and 30-day disbursement requirement. The court allowed the Trustee's claims to proceed, including fraudulent transfer claims under 11 U.S.C. §548 and Georgia state law, and GDAA claims seeking $50,000 civil penalties plus $23,071.77 in damages.