A “Suggestion of Bankruptcy” is a document filed in a lawsuit to notify the court that the defendant has filed bankruptcy. Filing such notices with the court is very helpful to the court and to opposing parties so they may cancel upcoming court hearings or pending garnishment orders. Many courts automatically place a pending lawsuit on hold until further order of the bankruptcy court and take affirmative steps to release garnished funds.
Our office files bankruptcy cases electronically and in the next moment we electronically file Suggestions of Bankruptcy with the Nebraska court system. The system is efficient and quick. The goal is to “put out the fire” of collection activity as quickly as possible, and filing Suggestions of Bankruptcy greatly facilitate that goal.
In most cases the bankruptcy results in a discharge of debts, but what happens if the bankruptcy case is dismissed without a discharge? Does the filing of a Suggestion of Bankruptcy mean that the debtor’s bankruptcy attorney has entered a general appearance on behalf of the debtor-defendant? Is the debtor’s attorney in a dismissed bankruptcy case now obligated to defend the debtor in the state court action?
