Financial Relief

Ryan Murphy was retained to represent a woman whose husband was an attorney who had been disbarred for SEC violations. Before she retired, the client supported her husband financially, including making payments on the mortgage and the tax liens that had been placed on the home due to the husband’s actions. The home was sold, and the limited equity was then used by the client to buy a new home in her name only, as the husband’s financial issues prevented his ability to contribute. The husband then filed a bankruptcy case, but the Bankruptcy Trustee asserted that the wife should have to repay half the amount used to buy the new home because that was the husband’s portion, which his creditors had an interest in. The husband negotiated a settlement whereby the wife would essentially pay the entire claimed amount back. The wife contacted us to advise on the settlement agreement. Despite the fact an agreement had already been reached in principle, Ryan negotiated a new settlement whereby the wife had to pay a very modest amount back and had many months to do so.