United States Fifth Circuit

In bankruptcy proceedings arising after a civil administrative board sustained charges against debtor-practicing dentist, revoking his dental license and assessing the costs of the proceeding, bankruptcy court's judgment holding the costs to be nondischargeable is reversed where the district court erred in holding that the costs assessed by the board were a "fine, penalty, or forfeiture" and were not "actual compensation for pecuniary loss" under 11 U.S.C. section 523(a)(7).

Appellate Information

• Decided 01/24/2008
• Published 01/25/2008

Judges

• PATRICK E. HIGGINBOTHAM, Circuit Judge:, Before JOLLY, HIGGINBOTHAM and PRADO, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fifth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Claude C. Lightfoot, Jr. (argued), Law Offices of Claude C. Lightfoot, Jr., New Orleans, LA, for Schaffer.


• For Appellees:
  
• Celia Rhea Cangelosi (argued), Baton Rouge, LA, Arthur Anthony Vingiello, Steffes, Vingiello & McKenzie, Baton Rouge, LA, for Appellee.