Course Information

611 - Debtor and Creditor Law

Professor: Creola Johnson
Semester: 2011 Winter

Second Writing Requirement? No
Seminar? No
Professional Responsibility? No
Prerequisites: None

Course Description

This course is about the rights and obligations of debtors and creditors when a debtor cannot or will not pay an obligation owned to the creditor. Students will learn what a debtor or creditor can do under state law (Ohio law emphasized), under federal non-bankruptcy law, and under the United States Bankruptcy Code. For example, students will study exemption laws, which delineate what assets a debtor can keep beyond the reach of creditors. Students will learn various provisions of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (“the Act”), which is the most significant amendment to the Bankruptcy Code in a quarter century. Students will learn the different forms of bankruptcy relief available to the consumer and how the Act makes it more difficult for consumers to get rid of certain debts. We will also consider, throughout the course, how parties and their attorneys can take the effects of debtor/creditor laws into account in counseling clients, negotiating and performing contracts, and resolving disputes. This course is worth taking even if a student does not intend to practice debtor-creditor law. We are all consumer debtors at some point in our lives, and this course will give you a solid understanding of your rights and duties.

The course materials listed above are for informational purposes only and should not be considered final. Students must check with the Registrar for a current list of closed courses.