Seeking Relief From The Automatic Stay – Personal Injury Claimants

Very often in the course of a bankruptcy proceeding, a creditor with a pending lawsuit against the debtor will need to obtain relief from the automatic stay in order to continue to prosecute the pre-petition litigation. For example, personal injury claimants who seek to recover solely against an insurance policy of a debtor may obtain relief from the automatic stay in certain circumstances. Such claimants will need to file a motion with the Delaware Bankruptcy Court to obtain relief from the stay in order to pursue their claim to a final judgment.

Relief from Stay

Under section 362(d)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code, the bankruptcy court "shall" lift the automatic stay for "cause." If a creditor seeking relief from the automatic stay makes a prima facie case of "cause" for lifting the stay, the burden going forward shifts to the debtor pursuant to Bankruptcy Code § 362(g). See In re 234-6 West 22nd St. Corp., 214 B.R. 751, 756 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 1997).

The Bankruptcy Code does not define "cause." Instead, whether cause exists to lift the automatic stay should be determined on a case by case basis. See Izzarelli v. Rexene Prod. Co. (In re Rexene Prod. Co.), 141 B.R. 574, 576 (Bankr.D.Del. 1992). See also, In re Texas State Optical, Inc., 188 B.R. 552, 556 (Bankr. E.D.Tex. 1995) (finding that "cause" for modification of the...