This was not as knee rattling of an experience as the 341 Meeting for me, as my attorney already prepped me that my argument is I could pay, he would argue I couldn't, and he would win. That's exactly what happened.
There were about 20 of us in the room, and a couple of attorneys on the phone with their clients present in the courtroom. My attorney was there, as well as another pair of clients of his. He greeted his other clients, then came to me and asked me if I had filed my taxes yet, as the judge may grant the re-affirm since I had a huge refund last year. I told him I didn't file, and I wasn't in a rush to file, as I took out a hardship withdrawal from my 401K to catch my mortgage up so I was going to have an additional tax burdon. He asked how much I took out, I told him, and he said that he was going to argue this as additional hardship, and I was definitely going to "Lose".
The judge dealt with the phone attorneys first. They're cases were called by the clerk, and the judge asked the attorneys if they felt that their clients could handle the hardship. Both attorneys on the phone said their clients could not handle the debt, as they were hardship cases. The judge looked through their papers, agreed, and ordered both their affirmations denied. Two minute phone conversations for each. The clients sat at the table, while the judge talked with each attorney on the phone. As they were denied, he thanked everyone, and the clients present left the courtroom.
The judge then called cases via alphabetical order by attorney. I've never seen this in any courtroom, so I was amazed at the efficiency of it. One attorney stood at the podium for 3 straight cases. Bing bang boom, they all had the same 2 minute conversation.
One attorney had a gentlemen with a re-affirm with a Care 1 credit card for medical expenses. The creditor negotiated with him to pay $150 a month for a 5K debt, and the attorney argued that since it was medical, and her client felt obligated to pay, and his expenses looked like he could afford it, to go ahead with it. His re-affirm was granted.
I was called shortly thereafter. I was the first of my attorneys cases called. He went to the podium, and I sat in a chair behind him. He said to my attorney, "Mr. D., this is regarding your client's 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe, what is your opinion regarding your client's request of re-affirmation? He said, "Your Honor, my client can not take on this hardship. Her financial condition has not changed from the initial filing." The Judge said, "Agreed, let the record reflect that I am Ordering this Re-affirmation denied. Thank you."
And I was out the door. I was in the courtroom for 45 minutes from the time I was supposed to be there until I was in my car. So, being a "Loser" today was a good thing.
There were about 20 of us in the room, and a couple of attorneys on the phone with their clients present in the courtroom. My attorney was there, as well as another pair of clients of his. He greeted his other clients, then came to me and asked me if I had filed my taxes yet, as the judge may grant the re-affirm since I had a huge refund last year. I told him I didn't file, and I wasn't in a rush to file, as I took out a hardship withdrawal from my 401K to catch my mortgage up so I was going to have an additional tax burdon. He asked how much I took out, I told him, and he said that he was going to argue this as additional hardship, and I was definitely going to "Lose".
The judge dealt with the phone attorneys first. They're cases were called by the clerk, and the judge asked the attorneys if they felt that their clients could handle the hardship. Both attorneys on the phone said their clients could not handle the debt, as they were hardship cases. The judge looked through their papers, agreed, and ordered both their affirmations denied. Two minute phone conversations for each. The clients sat at the table, while the judge talked with each attorney on the phone. As they were denied, he thanked everyone, and the clients present left the courtroom.
The judge then called cases via alphabetical order by attorney. I've never seen this in any courtroom, so I was amazed at the efficiency of it. One attorney stood at the podium for 3 straight cases. Bing bang boom, they all had the same 2 minute conversation.
One attorney had a gentlemen with a re-affirm with a Care 1 credit card for medical expenses. The creditor negotiated with him to pay $150 a month for a 5K debt, and the attorney argued that since it was medical, and her client felt obligated to pay, and his expenses looked like he could afford it, to go ahead with it. His re-affirm was granted.
I was called shortly thereafter. I was the first of my attorneys cases called. He went to the podium, and I sat in a chair behind him. He said to my attorney, "Mr. D., this is regarding your client's 2009 Hyundai Santa Fe, what is your opinion regarding your client's request of re-affirmation? He said, "Your Honor, my client can not take on this hardship. Her financial condition has not changed from the initial filing." The Judge said, "Agreed, let the record reflect that I am Ordering this Re-affirmation denied. Thank you."
And I was out the door. I was in the courtroom for 45 minutes from the time I was supposed to be there until I was in my car. So, being a "Loser" today was a good thing.
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