Bankruptcy Humour

 

Besieged by a foot and a half of snow that ended early this morning, and unable to leave my driveway to go to work, I awaited the plow by building a snowman with my wife and son.

 

Alas, the snowman ate my credit cards.

 

Kudos to my associate, Jason S. Leibowitz, who made it in to the Central Islip Bankruptcy Court this morning for five confirmation hearings before Judge Alan Trust, who rescheduled his calendar to begin an hour later because of the snow.

 

So what does a snowbound bankruptcy attorney who likes to take pictures do?  Here’s your answer — more fine art credit card snow photography:

 

 

 

 

 

The Bankruptcy Bill Song Contest has announced its winner.  First place goes to our very own Long Island Bankruptcy Court Judge Alan S. Trust.

 

  

The Judge’s entry, “Debts in Wrong Places,” is a humorous take-off of Garth Brooks’ country music hit song, “Friends in Low Places” — certainly a popular song in Texas, where Judge Trust practiced before ascending to the bench here in the Eastern District of New York.

 

Steven Horowitz and Gideon Kendall, creators of the Bankruptcy Bill cartoon strip, sponsored the contest and came up with a great new cartoon featuring the comic likeness of Judge Trust that you absolutely must see!!!  Click this link to see this new comic strip:  Bankruptcy Bill Song Contest Cartoon.

 

When I had told my wife, Arlene, of the contest last fall, she said she had to enter — just to poke fun at me.  Her song, “A Bankruptcy Wife’s Lament,” is about a bankruptcy attorney who is so busy that he ignores his wife and family (me???).

 

Her song won second place!  It is a hilarious take-off on “Sunrise Sunset” from Fiddler on the Roof.

 

My song, “Debt Free Girl,” a take-off on Billy Joel’s hit, “Uptown Girl,”didn’t win a prize, but I still think it’s great fun in any event.

 

I created the photo illustration from a photo I took of Judge Trust several weeks ago at a bankruptcy seminar.

 

 

 

Well the deadline for the Bankruptcy Bill Bankruptcy Song Contest has arrived and nine songs are competing for awards and recognition — including my song, “Debt-Free Girl,” and two other surprises.

 

The first surprise is that my wife, Arlene, submitted a song.  Since she is especially witty (she writes song parodies for my birthday almost every year, and also for lots of her friends), I challenged her to submit something.  So she surprised me by submitting “Bankruptcy Wife’s Lament” which is about a bankruptcy attorney who neglects his wife and son because he is so busy.  That apparently is me.

 

The second surprise is that our very own Central Islip Bankruptcy Court Judge, Alan S. Trust, also submitted an entry, “Debts in Wrong Places.”  Hailing from Texas for the past 24 years, it was no wonder that Judge Trust submitted a country music song based on Garth Brook’s “Friends in Low Places.”  His song pokes fun at the ridiculous aspects of the bankruptcy means test.

 

There are other songs from other bankruptcy attorneys and a bankruptcy judge in California, Sheri Bluebond.

 

My song, “Debt-Free Girl” is based on Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” and is about a girl who becomes debt-free through bankruptcy, thanks to her bankruptcy man.

 

 

The winner of the bankruptcy song is the one with the most votes.  To vote, you must send an e-mail to Bill@BankruptcyBill.us.  You can include your choice for first, second and third place.

 

“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

 

 

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I am quite proud to post the song my wife, Arlene Gross Robins, wrote for the Bankruptcy Bill song contest.

 

Arlene, a full-time newspaper reporter, is especially witty and regularly writes song parodies and satire for her family and friends.

 

 

Click on this link to see the original version of Sunrise Sunset on Youtube.

 

 

  

“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

 

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 Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq.

 

My friend, Steven Horowitz, the originator of the Bankruptcy Bill and BAPCPA Man bankruptcy comic strips, recently announced a bankruptcy song contest.

 

Although practicing bankruptcy is usually serious business, it’s still fun to make light of its humorous aspects.

 

I’m considering entering the song contest.  In the meantime, I will post some already-written bankruptcy songs. 

 

Here is one by Michael Silverstein, who was previously a senior editor with Bloomberg Financial News.  He wrote this to make light of how consumers were hurrying to file their bankruptcy petitions before the law changed in 2005.

 

 

Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq.

I am pleased to post antoher cartoon strip of BAPCPA MAN, the new comic strip from New York bankruptcy attorney Steven Horowitz and and artist Gideon Kendall.   Here is strip number 13.   BAPCPA MAN is designed to entertain both consumers and bankruptcy attorneys. 

Steve and Gideon originally came up with the well-received Bankruptcy Bill cartoon strips, about a hapless New York City bankruptcy attorney associate at a large bankruptcy firm.

 

“BAPCPA”, an acronym universally known to all bankruptcy attorneys, stands for The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act.  This is the new bankruptcy law that went into effect in 2005.

 

 

Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq.

I am pleased to post the seventh cartoon strip of BAPCPA MAN, the new comic strip from New York bankruptcy attorney Steven Horowitz and and artist Gideon Kendall.   Here is strip number seven.   BAPCPA MAN is designed to entertain both consumers and bankruptcy attorneys. 

Steve and Gideon originally came up with the well-received Bankruptcy Bill cartoon strips, about a hapless New York City bankruptcy attorney associate at a large bankruptcy firm.

 

“BAPCPA”, an acronym universally known to all bankruptcy attorneys, stands for The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act.  This is the new bankruptcy law that went into effect in 2005.

 

 

Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq.

I am pleased to post the sixth cartoon strip of BAPCPA MAN, the new comic strip from New York bankruptcy attorney Steven Horowitz and and artist Gideon Kendall.   Here is strip number six.   BAPCPA MAN is designed to entertain both consumers and bankruptcy attorneys. 

Steve and Gideon originally came up with the well-received Bankruptcy Bill cartoon strips, about a hapless New York City bankruptcy attorney associate at a large bankruptcy firm.

 

“BAPCPA”, an acronym universally known to all bankruptcy attorneys, stands for The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act.  This is the new bankruptcy law that went into effect in 2005.