Natalie A. Tao v. United States Bankruptcy Court - Mandamus Petition Denied

4th Circuit Daily Opinions

Filed February 18th, 2026

Detected February 19th, 2026

Summary

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied Natalie A. Tao's petition for a writ of mandamus against the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. The court found that the dismissal of her Chapter 13 petition rendered much of her requested relief moot and that she did not demonstrate a clear right to the remaining relief sought.

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What changed

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied Natalie A. Tao's petition for a writ of mandamus. The petition sought to disqualify the bankruptcy trustee, compel the crediting of plan payments, preserve documents, provide ADA-compliant access, recover assets, prohibit certain parties, and abstain from retaliation. The court determined that the dismissal of Tao's Chapter 13 petition mooted most of her requests and that mandamus relief was not appropriate as a substitute for appeal or because she failed to demonstrate a clear right to the relief sought.

This decision means that the bankruptcy court's prior dismissal of the Chapter 13 petition stands, and the specific actions requested by Ms. Tao will not be ordered by the appellate court. As this is an unpublished opinion, it does not set binding precedent. No specific compliance actions are required for regulated entities, as this is a specific case resolution.

Source document (simplified)

UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF AP PEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 25 - 2096 In re: NATALIE A. TAO, f/k/a Natalie Mo rgan - Tao, f/k/a Natalie Morgan Tao, form erly doing business as Quality Care Daycare at B UP LLP - SSM, a/k/a Quality Care DayCare at BUP, LLP, Petitioner. On Petition for Writ of Mandamus to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, at Baltimore. (25 - 14490) Submitted: January 30, 2026 Decided: February 18, 2026 Before KING, RICHARDS ON, and QUATTLEBAU M, Circuit Judges. Petition denied by unpublishe d per curiam opinion. Natalie A. Tao, Petitioner Pro Se. Unpublished opinions are not binding p recedent in this circuit.

2 PER CURIAM: Natalie A. Tao petitions for a writ of mandamus in relation to her voluntary Chapter 13 petition in bankruptcy, seeking an order direc ting the b ankruptc y court t o disqualify the Trustee; require the Tru stee to credit certain plan payments and preserve and reconstruct certain documents; provide ADA - compliant access to all proceedings; recover certain assets; prohibit certain parties from p articipating in proceedings; and abstain from retaliating against her. Tao fu rther requests that this court stay any collection or enforcement proceedings pending the resolutio n of this petition. Mandamus relief is a drastic re medy and should be used only in extraordinary circumstances. Cheney v. U.S. Dist. Ct., 542 U.S. 367, 380 (2004); In re Murphy - Brown, LLC, 907 F.3d 788, 795 (4 th Cir. 2018). Further, mandamus relief is available only when the petitioner “has a clear and indisputable rig ht to” the relief she seeks and “has no other adequate means ... to attain the desired relief.” In re Moore, 955 F.3d 3 84, 388 (4th Ci r. 2020) (citation modified). Our rev iew of the bankruptcy court’s do cket leads us to conclude that the dismissal of Tao’s voluntary C hapter 13 petition pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 521(i)(1) renders moot mu ch of the relief Tao seeks. T he remaining relief Tao seeks is not available by way of mandamus because mandamus may not be used as a substitute for appeal, see In re Lockhee d Martin Corp., 503 F.3d 351, 353 (4th Cir. 200 7), and Tao h as not demonstrated a clear right to the relief sou ght. Accordingly, we deny the p etition for a writ of mandamus and deny as moot Tao’s motion for a stay. We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions

3 are adequately presented in th e materials before this cou rt and argument would not aid the decisional process. PETITION DENIE D