In re Geeslin (02-42227)

The Court held a hearing on the Motion of Arthur Geeslin, Jr. ("Debtor") for Contempt against Meriwether County District Attorney Peter Skandalakis ("Respondent") for violations of the automatic stay and the discharge injunction. The Court held that it had the inherent power to determine violations of the automatic stay and the discharge injunction, despite Respondent’s sovereign immunity argument. Further, the Court ruled: 1) the exception to the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(b)(4) did not apply to the actions taken by Respondent; 2) the debt was discharged, despite the language of 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(7); and 3) because damages were not proven, the issue of sovereign immunity would not be reached. The Court reserved judgment on issuing an injunction because an adversary proceeding had not been filed.

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Date: 
Thursday, July 17, 2003