October Term 2009 · Docket 08-538
Does a debtor keep specific property or its cash value when claiming an exemption?
The dispute centers on whether a debtor retains specific kitchen equipment or receives its cash equivalent after claiming a statutory exemption.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Goldblatt argued the debtor's exemption claim was fully proper.
Mr. Goldblatt stated the trustee did not object because the claim was unobjectionable.
Mr. Brunstad argued the debtor indicated intent to exempt the property in full.
Mr. Brunstad stated the trustee denied the debtor an opportunity to allocate the exemption.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-39
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
A debtor claimed an exemption for specific kitchen equipment. The trustee sought to sell the property and pay the debtor the cash value. The lower court ruled in favor of the debtor keeping the equipment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
What each side wants
The debtor wants to keep her specific kitchen equipment.
The trustee wants to sell the equipment and pay the debtor the cash value.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-19
What each side says
The debtor argues her claim was proper and unobjectionable.
The trustee argues the debtor claimed more than she was entitled to.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-19
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the debtor's claim was improper because she claimed more than entitled.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the debtor wanted the equipment rather than the money equivalent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-39
Why it matters
This case determines whether debtors retain specific property or receive cash value. It affects how bankruptcy exemptions protect household goods. It clarifies the rights of debtors and trustees in asset liquidation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-19
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-39
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-19
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.