United States Third Circuit

In a bankruptcy case, allowance of a state government's claim against debtor for damages for cleanup of contamination at a gas station is affirmed where: 1) the claim was subject to the police-power exception to the automatic stay against the pursuit of money judgments in bankruptcy cases; and 2) a state court had jurisdiction to enter a default judgment against debtor, notwithstanding that the state had already brought a related claim before the bankruptcy court.

Appellate Information

• Decided 10/16/2008
• Published 10/16/2008

Judges

• Before:  SLOVITER and AMBRO, Circuit Judges, and POLLAK, District Judge.

Court

• United States Third Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Albert A. Ciardi, III, Nicole M. Nigrelli, Ciardi Ciardi & Astin, Philadelphia, PA, for Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Oren L. Zeve, Office of Attorney General of the State of New York, New York, NY, for Appellee.