No. 24-494

American Warrior, Incorporated, et al. v. Foundation Energy Fund IV-A, L.P., et al.

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2024-11-01
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (1)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: automatic-stay bankruptcy-code bankruptcy-stay circuit-split statutory-injunction void-vs-voidable
Key Terms:
JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2025-02-28 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Should the Court resolve the circuit split over whether actions taken in violation of the bankruptcy automatic stay are void or merely voidable?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED Under the Bankruptcy Code, the commencement of a bankruptcy case triggers an “automatic stay’—a statutory injunction proscribing various acts involving property belonging to a debtor’s bankruptcy estate. 11 U.S.C. § 362(a). Numerous courts of appeals have long held that actions taken in violation of the automatic stay are void. See, e.g., Soares v. Brockton Credit Union (In re Soares), 107 F.3d 969, 976 (1st Cir. 1997); Fed. Deposit Ins. Corp. v. Hirsch (In re Colonial Realty Co.), 980 F.2d 125, 137 (2d Cir. 1992); Far Out Prods., Inc. v. Oskar, 247 F.3d 986, 995 (9th Cir. 2001); Ellis v. Consol. Diesel Elec. Corp., 894 F.2d 371, 372 (10th Cir. 1995); United States v. White, 466 F.3d 1241, 1244 (11th Cir. 2006). In contrast, other courts of appeals (including the court below) have long held that actions taken in violation of the stay are not void, but merely voidable. See, e.g., Sikes v. Glob. Marine, Inc., 881 F.2d 176, 178 (5th Cir. 1989); Bronson v. United States, 46 F.3d 1573, 1581 (Fed. Cir. 1995); Easley v. Pettibone Mich. Corp., 990 F.2d 905, 911 (6th Cir. 1993). The question presented is: Should the Court grant certiorari to resolve a longstanding, entrenched, and acknowledged conflict among the courts of appeals over whether actions taken in violation of the automatic stay are void or merely voidable?

Docket Entries

2025-03-03
Petition DENIED.
2025-02-12
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/28/2025.
2025-02-10
Reply of American Warrior, Inc., et al. submitted.
2025-02-10
Reply of petitioners American Warrior, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
2025-01-27
Brief of Foundation Energy Fund IV-A, L.P., et al. in opposition submitted.
2025-01-27
Brief of respondents Foundation Energy Fund IV-A, L.P., et al. in opposition filed.
2024-12-02
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including January 27, 2025, for all respondents.
2024-11-27
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 26, 2024 to January 27, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
2024-11-26
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/13/2024.
2024-11-26
Response Requested. (Due December 26, 2024)
2024-11-08
Amicus brief of Law Professors Ralph Brubaker Jack Williams, George Kuney, Diane Lourdes Dick, Juliet Moringiello, Stephen Lubben, Kara Bruce, and David Kuney submitted.
2024-11-08
2024-11-06
Waiver of right of respondents Foundation Energy Fund IV-A, L.P., et al. to respond filed.
2024-11-06
Waiver of right of respondents Black Stone Minerals Company, L.P. and Entech Enterprises, L.L.C. to respond filed.
2024-10-30
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due December 2, 2024)

Attorneys

American Warrior, Inc., et al.
George Eric Brunstad Jr.Dechert LLP, Petitioner
Black Stone Minerals Company, L.P. and Entech Enterprises, L.L.C.
Lisa Schiavo BlattWilliams & Connolly LLP, Respondent
Sarah A. KirkpatrickBradley Murchison Kelly & Shea, LLC, Respondent
Foundation Energy Fund IV-A, L.P., et al.
Bradley Loy DrellGold, Weems, Bruser, Sues & Rundell, APLC, Respondent
Law Professors Ralph Brubaker Jack Williams, George Kuney, Diane Lourdes Dick, Juliet Moringiello, Stephen Lubben, Kara Bruce, and David Kuney
David R. KuneyDavid Kuney Law, Amicus