Time for a plain old regular Bankruptcy Bill cartoon.  (FYI, I had to go back to October 22, 2009 (Fantasy Bankruptcy #2) to find the last time we posted an independent, non-sponsored, non-special edition Bankruptcy Bill cartoon.)

Click here to see Bankruptcy Bill’s attempt at online dating.

********************

*WE DO CUSTOMIZED CARTOONS… Click here for more info.*

********************

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com or http://www.gideonkendall.com/blog.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets or (coming soon) Dino Pets 2, the wonderfully illustrated children’s books written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by Bankruptcy Bill’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

We check back in with our bankruptcy super hero in his battle to save a homeowner against the ominous and powerful Mortgantua.  Things were looking grim, but perhaps there is hope.  Click here for a refresher on ongoing the BAPCPA Man vs Mortgantua saga.

For more information on Max Gardner’s Bankruptcy Bootcamp, go to MaxBankruptcyBootcamp.com.  Click here to see the ABC News Nightline feature on Max Gardner’s Bankruptcy Bootcamp.  And click here to see the Wikipedia entry on Max’s eponymous grandfather who served a term as governor of North Carolina from 1929-33.

For additional information on mortgage and foreclosure, here are a few blog posts:

Bruce Weiner (Rosenberg Musso & Weiner) – NYBankruptcyNet (Brooklyn, NY)

• No Mortgage Cramdown Bill for Christmas

Haines & Krieger (Las Vegas, NV)

• Haines & Krieger’s Las Vegas Foreclosure Round-up
• Capitalism, bankruptcy, foreclosure and hell

Eugene Melchionne, Esq. – ConsumerBankruptcyTips.com (Waterbury, CT)

• Attorney Melchionne featured in NYTimes article on family’s fight against foreclosure in Connecticut
  

]]> http://bankruptcybill.us/2010/03/01/bapcpa-man-18-bapcpa-man-vs-mortgantua-6-max-gardners-bankruptcy-bootcamp/feed/ 2 http://bankruptcybill.us/2009/12/17/bapcpa-man-17-bapcpa-man-vs-mortgantua-5-mortgage-cramdown-fail/ http://bankruptcybill.us/2009/12/17/bapcpa-man-17-bapcpa-man-vs-mortgantua-5-mortgage-cramdown-fail/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:26:50 +0000 BankruptcyBill http://bankruptcybill.us/?p=2657 Note:  This site is best viewed using a Mozilla Firefox or Safari browser.  If you are viewing this site using Internet Explorer, you may not be able to view items in the sidebar.  Clicking on any page or post will cause sidebar items to appear.

*In case you missed it, here are the previous BAPCPA Man vs Mortgantua cartoons:  Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

*For additional information on mortgage cramdown, foreclosure and related mortgage and bankruptcy issues, have a look at the following blog posts:

Haines & Krieger (Las Vegas, NV)

• No Mortgage Cramdown Help from Congress for Las Vegas Homeowners
• Haines & Krieger Las Vegas Foreclosure Round-up 12.4.09

Bruce Weiner (Rosenberg Musso & Weiner) – NYBankruptcyNet (Brooklyn, NY)

• No Mortgage Cramdown Bill for Christmas
• Brooklyn Judge gives New York homeowners a fighting chance against foreclosure

Special thanks to the following bankruptcy attorneys for their help with the technical aspects of the cartoon:

• Christine Wilton, Esq. – Los Angeles Bankrkuptcy Law Monitor (Los Angeles, CA)
• Law Office of Gregory A. Holbus, Esq. – Wisconsin Bankruptcy Blog (Green Bay, WI)

************************

*WE DO CUSTOMIZED CARTOONS… Click here for more info.*

*Get your BAPCPA Man and Mortgantua T-shirts, Mugs, Cards and More!*

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com or http://www.gideonkendall.com/blog.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

It’s time to vote for your favorite song submitted for…

Bankruptcy Bill’s Bankruptcy Song Contest!
(Click here for rules and prizes.)

THE BANKRUPTCY SONG ENTRIES (click here to see lyrics):

1.  “AMEND IT MY WAY” by Judge Sheri Bluebond (United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California)

2.  CABARET” by Judge Sheri Bluebond (United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California) (Click song title or scroll down the page to see lyrics.)

3.  “DON’T CRY FOR ME HOUSEHOLD FINANCE” by Judge Sheri Bluebond (United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California) 

4.  “DEBTS IN WRONG PLACES” by Judge Alan S. Trust (United States Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern District of New York)

5.  “‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE FILING” by Mark Sippel, Esq. (Sippel & Carroll PLLC (Kingman, AZ))

6.  “PHARAOH OBAMA – LET THE DEBTORS GO” by Mark Sippel, Esq. (Sippel & Carroll PLLC (Kingman, AZ))

7.  “THE BANKRUPTCY ABUSE SONG” by Mark Sippel, Esq. (Sippel & Carroll PLLC (Kingman, AZ))

8.  “DEBT-FREE GIRL” by Craig Robins, Esq. (Woodbury, NY)

9.  “BANKRUPTCY WIFE’S LAMENT” by Arlene Robins (Woodbury, NY)

************************

VOTING PROCESS

HOW DO I VOTE? E-mail bill [@] bankruptcybill [.] us with your choice for favorite song.  Feel free to include your second and third choices as well for which points will be awarded. (Update:  The email address has been corrected to “.us” instead of “.com”.  If you sent your vote to “.com,” then it was not received.  We’re very sorry for any inconvenience.)

JUDGING CRITERIA: You’re voting based on the lyrics, not the tune.  But you know what you like, so go with your gut.

VOTING DEADLINE: December 31, 2009 by 12:00 p.m.

************************

THANKS! Bankruptcy Bill would like to thank the below-listed parties for their support of the first-ever (to our knowledge) Bankruptcy Song Contest and for collectively making a donation to the National Consumer Law Center in the amount of $25 for each song submitted:

• Bruce Weiner (Rosenberg Musso & Weiner) – NYBankruptcyNet (Brooklyn, NY)
• George Haines & David Krieger (Haines & Krieger) (Las Vegas, NV)
• Russell A. Demott – Charleston Bankruptcy Blog (Charleston, SC)
• Nancy Rapoport (nancyrapoport.blogspot.com), the Gordon Silver Professor of Law at the William S. Boyd School of Law (UNLV)

Click image to hear "Bankruptcy Lover" by Bankruptcy Bill & The Fresh Starts, the original country song about corporate bankruptcy!

And now without further ado, here are the songs submitted….

**************************************************************

**************************************************************

Submitted by:  Sheri Bluebond, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern District of New York

Sheri is a bankruptcy judge for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, sitting in Los Angeles. She was appointed in February of 2001.

********************

Bankruptcy Song Entry #1 (by Sheri Bluebond)

“AMEND IT MY WAY”
(To the tune of the Frank Sinatra standard “My Way“)

And now, the need is clear
It’s time to seek a bold solution
And so, Obama dear, don’t get bogged down in the minutia
Here’s what you need to do
To see us through this mortgage meltdown
Repeal one little line
Amend it my way

The banks have their plans too
But they have barely scratched the surface
And, true, what I propose has clearly made the lenders nervous
But this is what we do
It’s easy stuff.  It’s a no-brainer.
Repeal one little line
Amend it my way.

Yes there were folks, I’m sure it’s true
Who bit off more than they could chew
But how ’bout those who did no wrong?
They need some help to get along
There’s one good way to save the day –
Amend it my way.

Subprime.  C’mon it’s time
To give a bailout to the people
Right now, as values slide
Existing plans all sound so feeble
Amend chapter 13 to let us modify their mortgage
Let’s keep them off the street.  Amend it my way.

For what is a man.
What has he got
If not a home, then he has naught
And while supply exceeds demand
Have you devised a better plan?
Make Congress meet.  Turn up the heat.  [Alt:  Get on with it.  Just take the hit.]
Amend it my way.

********************

Bankruptcy Song Entry #2 (by Sheri Bluebond)

“CABARET”
(To the tune of “Cabaret“)

What good is sitting alone in your gloom?
Discharge your debts today
Fund our retainer right away
Come get your automatic stay
Put down your assets, your debts and your gloom
It’s time for a holiday
Fund our retainer right away
Come get your automatic stay

Come hear them whine, Come hear them moan
If you need dough, Joe, grab that phone and
Tell them that we’ll prime their loan

No use permitting some prophet of doom
To take bank accounts away
Fund our retainer right away
Come get your automatic stay

My client had a lender out in Dallas
From whom he borrowed funds to build a palace
At maturity, his mood became quite sour
As a matter of fact, he threatened us for hours
The day we filed, I couldn’t help but snicker
His efforts didn’t get him money quicker
After thousands in attorneys’ fees to pay
It took him years to obtain relief from stay
I still recall his anguish to this day
So at every chance I get I like to say

What good is sitting alone in your gloom
Discharge your debts today
Fund our retainer right away
Come get your automatic stay
Put down your assets, your debts and your gloom
Time for a holiday
Fund our retainer right away
Come get your automatic stay

And as for me, and as for me
I made my mind up based on these things
Bankruptcy’s the sport of kings
Start by admitting six figures or so
Isn’t that much to pay
Fund our retainer right away
Fund our retainer here today
Come get your automatic stay

********************

Bankruptcy Song Entry #3 (by Sheri Bluebond)

“DON’T CRY FOR ME HOUSEHOLD FINANCE”
(To the tune of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from the musical “Evita”)

It will be easy
Don’t think it strange
Let me try to explain the result
Why I’ll still get relief after all that I’ve done
The judge will believe me
All she will see is a girl who meant well
Although she’s dressed up to the nine’s
And forced into 7 by you

I had to let it happen
I had to charge
Couldn’t live all my live down at Sears
Staring into the window staying out of the store
So I tried credit, running around buying everything new
What possessed me, I cannot recall
Then one day, the bills became due

Don’t come for me Household Finance
The truth is I meant to pay you
All through my wild days, my mad existence
I meant to pay you, so keep your distance.

And as for lawsuits and as for liens
Don’t think they’ll permit you to win
‘Though that may be, I’ll concede, the result you deserve
They are illusions. They are not the solutions they promise to be
The message should be clear by now
“I can screw you, but you can’t screw me.”

Don’t come for me Household Finance
For I am ordinary, unimportant and undeserving of such attention
Unless we all are. Perhaps we all are.
Don’t come for me Household Finance.
The truth is, I meant to pay you.
All through my wild days, my mad existence,
I meant to pay you. So keep your distance.

Have I said too much? There is nothing more that I can think of to say to you.
But all you need to do is look at me to know that every word is true.

**************************************************************

**************************************************************

Submitted by: Alan S. Trust, United States Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern District of New York

I have been a United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of New York since April 2, 2008. I am a native of upstate New York, a graduate of Syracuse University (1981) and NYU School of Law (1984). I was a practitioner in Dallas, Texas for 24 years prior to returning to New York to accept my appointment to the bench.

DISCLAIMER:   This song is written entirely as a satire. It does not reflect the views or opinions of this Judge, any members of this Judge’s court staff, of any Judge known to this Judge, nor of any other governmental or quasi-governmental official or employee.

********************

Bankruptcy Song Entry #4 (by Alan S. Trust)

“DEBTS IN WRONG PLACES”
(To the tune of “Friends in Low Places,” with apologies to Garth Brooks)

Blame it all on the rules,
for figuring who’s,
makin’ more than median income.

It’s based on locale,
and not on morale,
But some are just worth more than some.

The guidelines are tight,
but not worth a fight.
It’s zip code and numbers you see.

If you thought it wrong,
then just hear out this song.
Don’t argue population density.

Cause I’ve got debts in wrong places,
where the teachers make less than the waitress.
But not according you see,
to the IRC.

So I’m supposed to make Plan payments,
Not considering what my truck note’s takin’.
Cause I’ve got debts,
in wrong places.

It’s part IRS,
part Elliott Ness.
That tells you what you get to spend.

A house half the size,
what my family of five,
grew up runnin’ around.

Your land is immense,
if you’ve got a fence,
With room for a double wide.

And don’t even think,
that you get to drink,
unless it’s an off brand or lite.

Cause I’ve got debts in wrong places,
where the guidelines don’t reflect the prices,
that I really pay,
to live out each day.

Yeah, the plan I filed says I am thrivin’,
but my wife says we are barely survivin’.
Cause I’ve got debts,
in wrong places.

**************************************************************

**************************************************************

Submitted by:  Mark Sippel, Esq. – Sippel & Carroll PLLC (Kingman, AZ)

With over thirty (30) years of experience in courts throughout Arizona, Mark has a solid foundation in numerous areas within the practice of law.  Currently, for Mohave County, he focuses on finding creative solutions in the financial arena for both business and personal issues that impact all areas of our lives.  As a member of the Board of Directors of Northern Arizona Regional Behavioral Health Authority (NARBHA), Mark chairs the Finance Committee, which oversees funding of mental health care providers in Northern Arizona with a yearly budget over 120 Million dollars. Mark also serves on the Ethics Committee at Desert Highlands Care Center.

Bankruptcy Song Entry #5 (by Mark Sippel, Esq.)

“TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE FILING”

Twas the night before filing and at the office of the clerk
The computers were silent and the phone sat inert
And Jennie who stayed late, with head on her desk
Sighed “So many petitions and so little rest!”

Filings were stacking up high in the queue
Waiting for scanning their magic to do
The “stay of all stays” would go out to all
Frustrating bankers and credit card calls

But out in the yard there rose such a clatter
Jennie sprang from her desk to see what was the matter
Away to the front door she rose with a flash
Forgetting to save the memory cache

To her surprise, and in great horror
She could not believe who just walked in the door
Bernanke, Obama and Pelosi too
With bags on their shoulders just like You Know Who!

Their limo was seated with banks you abhor
BofA and Wachovia and yes there were more
Citibank Chase, Wells Fargo and Compass
And others each holding a claim up their rumpus

Without a word, they went right to work
Shredding petitions and stuffing their shirts
As if it was money or euros or worse ?
And into the limo like it was a hearse

Then Jennie remembered that there was a hero
Not Bond or Clark Kent, or Captain Zero
A Mighty Man, honest and full of valor
Could he possibly hear her loud holler?

Oh BAPCPA Man help me I fear a debacle
And to her surprise, she heard a loud cackle
“Never fear I am here, I know what they’re after
Their plans I will thwart” and then with great laughter

He waived his right hand, and the shred was undone
His left hand waved bye and the limo was gone
He laid his finger aside of his nose
and the bags all now empty to his back they arose

The Bankers are stymied their schemes are turned back
And BAPCPA Man shouted as he flew off with his pack
My job is completed, I’ve done my part!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a Fresh Start!

********************

Bankruptcy Song Entry #6 (by Mark Sippel, Esq.)

PHARAOH OBAMA – LET THE DEBTORS GO
(To the tune of “Louie Louie“)

Well the President called me just the other day
He said that the stimulus was on its way
The bankers they all clap and will say thanks a lot
Just adding more monies to the cash that they got

The banks are making money while the man on the street
Can’t house his family or put shoes on his feet
His family goes hungry and they don’t understand
How bankers getting fat from Congresses hand

Mark to the market is the way it should go
When home values fall below the debt that they owe
The banks made their choices and they took their risk
It wasn’t us investing in derivatives

If you paid out the monies to the man on the street
He’d buy clothes for the family buy them somethin to eat
He’d pay on his mortgage, charge cards and his car
The economy would jump start and we’d be better by far

I say
The credit card companies are mostly to blame
They handed out free credit and they fanned the flame
The consumer boomer spent it made economy grow
Now people can’t pay on the debt that they owe

Now listen up Mr. President the people are pissed
Its time for you and congress to get this all fixed
Before we all rise up, and with a clenched fist
Sing four part harmony in song to insist

Its time we rose up, and with a clenched fist, say
Pharaoh Obama whoa whoa let the debtors go

********************

Bankruptcy Song Entry #7 (by Mark Sippel, Esq.)

THE BANKRUPTCY ABUSE SONG
(2005, 2009 (c) Mark A. Sippel Attorney at law)

1. The Credit Industry worried
If B K reform was not hurried
Their profits would tumble
And pension plans fumble
And they all just might have to eat curry

2. The United States Congress
With all of its fondness
For money from credit card lobbies
Passed a bankruptcy bill
That’s made us quite ill
And left us all feeling quite wobbly

3. Big Banking cronies
And the lobbying Phonies
All lied about about Debtor abuses
They promised to fix the economies mix
And would not take any excuses

CHORUS
Oh, the Bankruptcy Bill is upon us
Now Debtors have got to be honest
But if you must squeeze
Those down on their knees
May [ the good lord] have mercy upon us!

4.  For those who are bowed
From their credit card load
The burden is real and not phony
Congress cooked up a plan
13 or be damned
That ’s got Debtor’s by the cojones

5. And Now since the code was amended
The system is all but upended
And if you helped fulfill
This Bankruptcy Bill
I’m glad if you are offended

CHORUS:
Oh, BAPCPA is heavy upon us
Now Lawyers have got to be honest
But if you cannot trust those who are bust
May Allah have mercy upon us

6. What goes around surely comes back
The ‘06 workload became slack
Trustees are beserk
And they’re starving for work
They want us to bring them more business

CHORUS
Oh, BAPCPA is heavy upon us
Now everyone has to be honest
But when you have to get
Those in medical debt
May Doctors have mercy upon us!

(How about a shameless plug)

7.  If you find yourself in frustration
And SUFFER FROM DEBT strangulation
Credit card gouges
Lead to foreclosing houses
Please schedule your own consultation

8. You may think this song is too clever
But the facts are still true more than ever
If you’re in a pickle
Call Carroll and Sippel
And your debts may be banished for ever

CHORUS
Oh, the Bankruptcy Bill is upon us
Now everyone has to be honest
But if you cannot trust Those who are bust
May Starbucks have mercy upon us!

Well I sent this song off to be published
But the company said it was rubbish
But if I would encumber
My credit card number
They’d hook me just like a sucker

Before I lost out to the Boob Tube
I uploaded this song on to YouTube
And while there’s no monies
There’s no lack of honeys
Who might be called credit card groupies

(If you’ve had your fill of BAPCPA, join in the chorus and sing out!)

CHORUS:
Oh, the Bankruptcy Bill is upon us
Now Lawyers have got to be honest
When you try to squeeze
Those who are brought to their knees

May [ the good lord]
Allah
Buddha Shiva, those doctors who know they are god,
WalMart
Starbucks
Obama
Have mercy upon us.

**************************************************************

**************************************************************

Submitted by: Craig D. Robins, Esq. – Long Island Bankruptcy Blog (Woodbury, NY)

Craig D. Robins, Esq. is a Long Island bankruptcy lawyer, who is focused primarily on helping individuals and families throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County and Queens find solutions to their debt problems.  You can learn more about him and follow his blog at http://longislandbankruptcyblog.com.

Bankruptcy Song Entry #8 (by Craig Robins, Esq.)

“DEBT-FREE GIRL”
(To the tune of Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl“)

Oh wo oh oh oh oh oh oh. . . . .
Debt-free girl
She’s now living in a whole new world
No more bills or late-night collection calls
It is because – she finally got the balls

To become – a real debt-free girl
No more living in a creditor world
As long as anyone with bad debts can
Make an appointment with the bankruptcy man
That’s what I am

And when she learns that
She won’t have to pay
And then she can wake up
Stress free – there’s a stay

She’ll see it’s not so tough
Just because
I’ve made her into a debt-free girl
Filed her petition; no more creditor world
She got tired of the collection calls
Perhaps she overspent at stores and malls
She’s got a choice

Oh wo oh oh oh oh oh oh. . . . .
Debt-free girl
She filed a seven; now it’s her turn
She kept her assets – they were all exempt
Trustee overlooked the money she spent
It’s what she dreamt

She passed the means test
It’s really no big deal
Her lawyer knew best
Assisted with credit counseling

It’s really not so tough
To discharge
Lots of bills
Of a debt-filled girl
She’s been living in a bill-collecting world
As long as anyone with big debt can
And now she’s looking for a bankruptcy man
That’s what I am
[Oh wo oh oh oh oh oh oh. . . . .]

Debt-free girl
She’s my debt-free girl
You know I love to see
A real debt-free girl

My debt-free girl
Did you know I love to see
A real debt-free girl

My debt-free girl
Did you know I love to see
A real debt-free girl

**************************************************************

**************************************************************

Submitted by:  Arlene Gross Robins

Arlene Gross Robins is the wonderful wife of Long Island bankruptcy lawyer Craig D. Robins, Esq.

Bankruptcy Song Entry #9 (by Arlene Gross Robins)

“A BANKRUPTCY WIFE’S LAMENT”
(To the tune of “Sunrise, Sunset” from “Fiddler on the Roof”)

Once I had a hubby who’d come home nights
We’d have our dinner; share a song
Life was so happy – filled with de-lights
What went wrong?

[REFRAIN]
Chapter seven
Chapter thirteen
Filing is his life
Rescuing clients from their huge debts
At the expense of his son and wife

When the BAPCPA laws were changed in ‘05
I thought we’d have a nice reprieve
Debtors would no longer discharge their debts
Or so, I did believe

Chapter seven
Chapter thirteen
Filing is his life
Rescuing clients from their huge debts
At the expense of his son and wife

But now there were hurdles one must jump through
Credit counseling and a means test: de rigeur
Lawyers learned laws like they were brand new
And, thus, charged more

Chapter seven
Chapter thirteen
Filing is his life
Rescuing clients from their huge debts
At the expense of his son and wife

For a few years our son got to know his poppa
Then the economy went bad
Now dad works 24/7, non-stopp-a
And we’re so sad

Chapter seven
Chapter thirteen
Filing is his life
Rescuing clients from their huge debts
At the expense of his son and wife

As the recession slowly recedes
We’re hoping our attorney will come home
If not there’s divorce settlement proceeds
Either way, I’m raising our son alone

Chapter seven
Chapter thirteen
Filing is his life
Rescuing clients from their huge debt
At the expense of his son and wife

**************************************************************

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE SONG: Email bill [at] bankruptcybill [dot] us

**************************************************************

SUBMIT YOUR OWN SONG!

Have your own bankruptcy song?  Want to add it to the liturgy?  Feel free to post your song in the Comments section or e-mail it to bill [/at/] bankruptcybill [/dot/] us.  It won’t count for the contest, but it will be fun to gather more bankruptcy songs here.

**************************************************************

NOTE ON COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY:

IP Irene Says: “All copyright and intellectual property rights associated with the lyrics in this post reside with the respective authors.  If you want to use them for commercial purposes, please get in touch with the authors first to get permission.  And if you do ever use these lyrics elsewhere, please be sure to give the authors appropriate credit.”

*In case you missed it, here are the previous BAPCPA Man vs Mortgantua cartoons:  Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

*For additional information on mortgage cramdown, foreclosure and related mortgage and bankruptcy issues, have a look at the following blog posts:

Haines & Krieger (Las Vegas, NV)

• Fear of possible mortgage “cramdown” legislation overblown?
• Will the “Cramdown Bill” Pass the Senate?
• Possible mortgage and foreclosure help from the federal government?

Bruce Weiner (Rosenberg Musso & Weiner) – NYBankruptcyNet (Brooklyn, NY)

• Foreclosure increase + jobless recovery = Trouble
• New York foreclosures likely to continue as ARMs begin to re-set over next 4 years

Special thanks to the following bankruptcy attorneys for their help with the technical aspects of the cartoon:

• Christine Wilton, Esq. – Los Angeles Bankrkuptcy Law Monitor (Los Angeles, CA)
• Law Office of Gregory A. Holbus, Esq. – Wisconsin Bankruptcy Blog (Green Bay, WI)

************************

Get your BAPCPA Man and Mortgantua T-shirts, Mugs, Cards and More!

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com or http://gideonkendall.com/blog.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

• Book specs:  20 pages–PDF–11″ width x 8.5″ height; 15 BAPCPA Man cartoons + cover and back page image.
• Each book customized to include your name/firm name + contact information.
• Option to include bio(s), photograph(s) and other graphics.
• Print out as many copies as you want for your clients, yourself or anyone else, and/or…
• Put them on a CD to give to clients, and/or…
• Include a link on your website for a downloadable PDF copy, and/or…
• Use them as slides in a presentation, and/or…
• Come up with other creative uses to impress your clients and friends!  (See Terms & Limits of use below.)

How it works:

1. Send e-mail to bill [/at/] bankruptcybill [/dot/] us to place your order.
2. Include relevant information in your email (e.g., your name or law firm name, contact info, headshot or link to headshot, etc.)
3. Make payment to us via PayPal (by clicking here).  (Or e-mail us for a snail mail address to send a check.)
4. After receiving payment, we will e-mail you your customized copy of the BAPCPA Man e-Book Vol. 1.

Read on to see some sample pages and for pricing information, customization options and more…

Pricing (per copy):

• Solo lawyers:  $75
• Rookie solo lawyers:  $50
• Law group/firm/practice – 2 to 9 lawyers:  $100
• Law firm/practice – 10 to 24 lawyers:  $200
• 25+ lawyers:  Contact us to discuss pricing.

Biographies & Additional Customization:

• Include biography page and photo:  $30
• Each additional bio:  $25
• Inclusion of logo and other graphics:  Contact us to discuss

Bonus: As a bonus for ordering your copy, we’ll also list your name, firm and website/blog (hyperlinked) in this post right here (i.e., visibility + a nice linkback).

1. Eugene S. Melchionne – Connecticut Bankruptcy (Waterbury, CT)
2. Craig D. Robins, Esq. – Long Island Bankruptcy Blog (Woodbury, NY)
3. Kent Anderson Law – Oregon Debt Relief Weblawg and Debt Law Network (Eugene, OR)
4. Russell A. DeMott, Esq. –Charleston Bankruptcy Lawyer (Charleston, SC)
5. Fears & Nachawati – Texas Bankruptcy Blog (Austin, Houston and San Antonio, TX)
6. (Your name here)

Terms and Limits of Use:

By purchasing a copy of the BAPCPA Man e-Book Vol.1, purchasers understand that they may print out copies of the e-Book–or selected pages from the e-Book–in any form and quantity.  And they may put the e-Book (or pages from the e-Book) on a CD, or include a link on their website or blog that enables visitors to download a copy of the PDF version of the book.  Heck, they can even turn the book into PowerPoint slides and use it in presentations.

What we’re not giving permission to do, however, is to re-post the images on your blog or website.  (Of course, if you would like to be able to post images on your site, just contact us and we can work something out very easily for a reasonable price.)

We’re also not giving permission for the images to be used in any altered or photoshopped form, e.g., the cartoon image may not be separated from the page with the lawyer/firm name on it.  (Actually, we can’t prohibit you from doing this in the privacy of your own home.  You just can’t do it and then use it for business, law firm, marketing, etc. purposes.)

And lastly, we’re not giving permission for the e-Books to be re-sold.  If you want to do that, for some reason, then please contact us to discuss.

(Apologies for all the limitations and restrictions.  We’re just trying to come up with ways to make this accessible and helpful and also justify all our investment of time, money and energy.)

Questions about the Terms & Limits of Use? Just contact us and we’ll discuss and clarify.  We’re easygoing and good at coming up with solutions to make everyone happy.

Comments, feedback, suggestions for other ways to create a book that would be helpful to your practice?  Let us know.

Special thanks to the following bankruptcy attorneys for their help with the technical aspects of the cartoon:

• Christine Wilton, Esq. – Los Angeles Bankrkuptcy Law Monitor (Los Angeles, CA)
• Law Office of Gregory A. Holbus, Esq. – Wisconsin Bankruptcy Blog (Green Bay, WI)

For additional information on foreclosure and mortgage issues as they relate to bankruptcy, have a look at the following blog posts:

Bruce Weiner (Rosenberg Musso & Weiner) – NYBankruptcyNet (Brooklyn, NY)

• Loan modification scams and U.S. Foreclosure Relief

Haines & Krieger (Las Vegas, NV)

• Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
• Video: Channel 8 News report on Raul Cadenas foreclosure mediation case
• Las Vegas Foreclosure Round-up

************************

Get your BAPCPA Man and Mortgantua T-shirts, Mugs, Cards and More!

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com or http://www.gideonkendall.com/blog.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

Like this cartoon?  Want a customized version for your blog or to use as a greeting card?  We’ll be doing a Christmas/Chanukah holiday cartoon as well.  So get in touch now to place your order if you’d like a customized holiday cartoon image to share with your clients.

E-mail: bill  @  bankruptcybill  .  us

(We’re just getting started with all the creative potential and possibilities.  So stay tuned for more or feel free to contact us to discuss your own ideas.)

In the meanwhile, have a look below at the customized Thanksgiving cartoons we did for the bankruptcy law firms of Haines & Krieger (Las Vegas, NV) and Allmand & Lee (Dallas, TX).

************************

************************

************************

Get your BAPCPA Man and Mortgantua T-shirts, Mugs, Cards and More!

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com or http://gideonkendall.com/blog.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.

Note:  This site is best viewed using a Mozilla Firefox or Safari browser.  If you are viewing this site using Internet Explorer, you may not be able to view items in the sidebar.  Clicking on any page or post will cause sidebar items to appear.

FYI, this cartoon also appears in the Fall 2009 issue of the newsletter for the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar of Texas along with a nice profile about the Bankruptcy Bill cartoons written by Eric Van Horn, a bankruptcy lawyer with Dallas firm Rochelle McCullough LLP and the writer of the Chapter 8 humor columns in the ABI Journal.  Also, thanks to Judge Alan S. Trust of the Eastern District of New York for his article in the Summer 2009 issue of the Bankruptcy Section newsletter (”Robes Without Stripes”) which provided helpful cultural background for the cartoon.

Highlights of the conference included:

1. Learning that both Professor Jay Westbrook and Judge Keith Lundin both have extensive collection of bankruptcy-related cartoons, and that both Texas and Tennesse have had bands comprised of musical bankruptcy judges who like to write and play bankruptcy-related songs.
2. Judge Lundin’s monogrammed bowling shirt with “High on BAPCPA” on the back.
3. A spirited discussion between Hugh Ray (McKool Smith) and Bruce Grohsgal (Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones) on the topic of “Who’s Really in Charge Here?  Reorganizations in the Shadow of Chrysler and GM.”
4. Learning that Byrnie Bass’ son Brett is a professional bass player and that he not only has played with Enrique Iglesias but currently plays in a band with former Spin Doctors lead singer–and my high school classmate–Chris Barron.  (Here’s an article about Brett from Lubbockonline.com.)
5. Cartoon brainstorming with Andrew Eckerman (Conway Mackenzie, Inc.), Melissa Hayward (Franklin Skierski Lovall Hayward), Jesse Moore (Hunton & Williams), Ian Roberts (Baker Botts), Tim Million (Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr) and Eric Van Horn (Rochelle McCullough).
6. Jogging around the lake and arriving at the Congress Avenue Bridge just in time to see the largest urban bat colony pour out for its evening activities.
7. Hearing Evelyn Biery (Fulbright & Jaworski) recount her role as Anna Nicole Smith for a previous bankruptcy conference musical send-up.
8. An in depth discussion of organic farming with Joe Martinec and Weldon Ponder.
9. The Third Annual Westbrook Bankruptcy Conference Cocktail Reception at Austin hotspot Lanai, hosted by the Young Lawyers Committee of the Bankruptcy Section of the State Bar of Texas.  (Thanks to Jay Ong (Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr), Layla Milligan (Staff attorney for Chapter 13 Trustee) and Eric Van Horn (Rochelle McCullough) for organizing!)
   

   "Ain't that Texas cookin' good!"

10. Obtaining valuable advice from Brian Abramson (Diamond McCarthy) on the topic of sleep training for infants.
11. Barbecue from Stubbs, Iron Works and (at the airport) Salt Lick.  (Thanks to Guy Clark for the inspiration!)
12. Keeping Austin Weird.
13. Having a chance to meet so many wonderful folks on my first-ever visit to the Great State of Texas.  The conference had an extremely friendly and collegial atmosphere, and everyone from associates to partners to judges were accessible and enjoyable to meet.

************************

Get your BAPCPA Man and Mortgantua T-shirts, Mugs, Cards and More!

*To see more of Gideon Kendall’s work go to www.gideonkendall.com.  Or order yourself a copy of Dino Pets, the wonderfully illustrated children’s book written by Lynn Plourde and illustrated by BAPCPA Man’s favorite illustrator, Gideon Kendall.