MSBA Bankruptcy Law Section
Annual Report Archives
Back to Section Website
2000-01 | 1996-97

Bankruptcy Law Section
2000-2001 Annual Report

The Bankruptcy Section was very active during the past year in several different arenas. The activities included the following:

Early in the year one of our solo practitioner’s died suddenly at a young age. This prompted the Section to address the ethical and practical issues surrounding the death of a solo practitioner at one of its monthly meetings. As a result of this work, a committee was formed at the MSBA to address some of these concerns.

The Section sponsored the annual Bankruptcy Institute which was attended by over 250 registrants. The institute speakers included Bankruptcy Judges from four other states as well as the local Bankruptcy Judges.

The Pro Bono Committee of the Section created several new programs to serve the disadvantaged. Those programs included representation in adversary matters, debtor-creditor counseling programs in the twin cities and the out state, and a program to use students from the Minnesota Justice Foundation to assist in pro bono work. As a result of the Committee’s work over 60 volunteers worked on pro bono projects this year. The Section hosted a reception in July to honor all of those members who have worked on pro bono projects this year.

The Section continued its tradition of monthly educational dinner meetings. The topics of these presentations were varied and included discussions on tax issues, rules, case law updates and others.

Dorraine A. Larison
Chairperson

The Bankruptcy Section was active in the last year in the educational and legislative areas. The Bankruptcy Section drafted and sponsored legislation, which was eventually enacted into law, allowing municipalities to seek the protection of the Bankruptcy Code. The Bankruptcy Section continued its tradition of monthly educational dinner meetings with the highlight of the year being the 1996 Bankruptcy Institute. The Bankruptcy Institute was attended by over 250 registrants. National speakers along with top speakers from around the state participated. All four Minnesota bankruptcy judges participated in the Institute, which included mock hearings on four different motions in a bankruptcy case.

The section has continued its commitment to pro bono activities including funding its pro bono program. The section will also sponsor a reception for a number of bankruptcy judges from around the country who will be attending a conference in Minneapolis in July.

Molly T. Shields,
Chairperson

- Last Updated 4/29/03 -