Erika Olivia Stevens
AMENDED ORDER DENYING MOTION TO EXTEND AUTOMATIC STAY AS TO GLENVIEW AUTO LOAN FUND, LLC1
THIS MATTER comes before the Court on the Amended Motion to Extend Automatic Stay (“Motion to Extend Stay”) filed by Erika Olivia Stevens (“Debtor”) on February 24, 2026 pursuant to
FACTS
This is Debtor’s second chapter 13 case pending within the last year. Debtor’s prior case (C/A No. 25-03392-eg) was filed on August 28, 2025, and dismissed on January 20, 2026, for failure to make payments resulting in her plan not being confirmed.6 The current case was filed less than a month later, on February 3, 2026 (“Petition Date”). Pursuant to
On the same day the Motion to Extend Stay was filed, Debtor filed a Motion to Temporarily Extend Automatic Stay, noting that the hearing on the Motion to Extend Stay was scheduled for March 17, 2026—past “the initial 30-day Automatic Stay that . . . expires on March 5, 2026.”11 The Court entered a text order granting the Motion to Temporarily Extend Automatic Stay and extended the stay until the hearing on March 17, 2026, to allow the Court to fully consider the merits of the Motion to Extend Stay.12 The text order noted that the extension was granted on an
A. Creditor’s Objection to Motion to Extend Stay
Creditor is the holder of a secured claim based upon a Retail Installment Sales Contract (“Contract”) executed on or about January 29, 2025, in the amount of $19,944.00, secured by a 2020 Honda Accord, VIN: 1 HGCV1F33LA102334 (the “Vehicle”). The Contract was signed by Debtor and her sister, Alexis Harling, and requires them to maintain insurance on the Vehicle with a collision coverage deductible not to exceed $500.00.13 In the Objection, Creditor raises two arguments: (1) The timing of the filing of the Motion to Extend Stay was improper pursuant to
B. Debtor’s Prior Bankruptcy Case – Case No. 25-03392-eg
Debtor’s prior chapter 13 bankruptcy was filed on August 28, 2025 (the “Prior Case”). During that case, Debtor was represented by the same counsel as in the current case. According to Debtor’s Schedule I,14 Debtor worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant, and her take home pay was listed as $1,654.38. No “other income regularly received” was listed on Schedule I.15 The
Debtor’s Statement of Financial Affairs (“SOFA”) indicated she was married, but Schedule I did not list any spousal income, and, on question five (5) on the SOFA, Debtor indicated she did not receive any other income including alimony and child support during the current year or the two previous calendar years. On September 16, 2025, Debtor filed a chapter 13 plan, proposing to pay $550.00 per month for sixty (60) months.16 The plan proposed that Creditor’s claim of $19,594.00 be paid in full at an interest rate of 9.00% with monthly payments of $400.00. Debtor’s plan further indicated that she intended to surrender a 2017 Nissan Rogue CUV. Debtor further proposed to assume her furniture and residential leases which she claimed had no prepetition arrearages.
The confirmation hearing was originally scheduled for November 18, 2025, but was subsequently continued to January 20, 2026, at the Chapter 13 Trustee’s request.17 The Prior Case was ultimately dismissed on January 20, 2026, because the proposed plan did not comply with the requirements of chapter 13 due to Debtor being behind on payments to the trustee.18
C. Debtor’s Current Case
Debtor’s current case was filed approximately fourteen (14) days after the dismissal of the Prior Case. The § 341 Meeting of Creditors was held on March 23, 2026, and the Confirmation Hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2026. According to Debtor’s Schedule I,19 Debtor’s occupation and employer are the same as in the Prior Case and her take home pay is listed as $1,748.89, which is $94.51 more than in the Prior Case. The payment advices20 filed in the current case show Debtor’s hourly pay remaining the same as in the Prior Case and that she works anywhere from twenty-eight (28) to fifty-eight (58) hours per pay period. Debtor again listed two children in her Schedule J and monthly expenses totaling $1,180.00, allotting: $350.00 for food; $25.00 for medical and dental; $0.00 for vehicle tax; $25.00 for entertainment, clubs, recreation, newspapers, magazines, and book; and $143.00 for furniture lease payments. The transportation expenses remained at $80.00. The overall expenses in the current case show a decrease of $212.00 from her previous case, resulting in a net monthly income of $568.89.21
The SOFA in Debtor’s current case again indicates Debtor is married and that she receives no other income including alimony or child support. The proposed plan payment in the current case is $560.00 per month for a period of sixty (60) months—a $10.00 increase from the previous plan payments.22 The plan proposes that Creditor’s claim, now listed as $19,685.75, be paid in full at an interest rate of 8.25% with monthly payments of $400.00. The remaining terms of the plan were similar or identical to the ones in the proposed plan in the Prior Case.
D. Hearing on the Motion to Extend Stay
At the hearing on the Motion to Extend Stay, Debtor testified that in the Prior Case she had fallen behind on her payments because she has a medical condition which caused her to miss three to four days of work per pay period.23 She further testified that the medical issue has been ongoing and has not fully been resolved, but that “it got better.” When questioned by Creditor’s Counsel how often she needs to take a step back from work, she stated that her medical condition only prevents her from working when she is not taking her medicine. She testified that during her previous case she was out of her medication, but she is now taking it again and is “on track.”
Debtor further testified that the Vehicle was repossessed before the Petition Date and then returned to her on March 9, 2026. Regarding Creditor’s assertions about her switching the Vehicle’s insurance policy, Debtor testified she originally had the correct deductible on her insurance policy as required by the Contract, but when Debtor’s Counsel requested the binder agreement, Debtor thought the deductible was supposed to be $1,000.00, so she had it changed to the higher amount to “make the process move faster.” When Debtor’s Counsel informed Debtor that the deductible was supposed to be $500.00, she claimed she promptly changed the policy back to reflect a $500.00 deductible. Debtor stated she never changed it back to $1,000.00.
Debtor testified that her bi-weekly pay after taxes is $1,100.00 and that she lives with her parents and pays $300.00 on rent. She is separated from her husband. Though she testified she receives child support from her husband, though not pursuant to a court order, Debtor’s Schedule I or SOFA do not list any alimony or child support.24 Debtor testified she is now able to work and can work overtime and thus will be able to maintain the insurance policy and bankruptcy case moving forward.
Creditor’s Counsel further argued that the Motion to Extend Stay was untimely as the Petition was filed on February 3, 2026, and Debtor waited two weeks to file the Original Motion to Extend Stay, scheduling the hearing for a date after the automatic stay would have terminated on its own terms by virtue of
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
The parties filed a joint statement of dispute which narrowed the issues to the following: (1) Was Debtor’s failure to maintain adequate insurance on the Vehicle, before receiving the Vehicle back, sufficient to determine that the filing was in bad faith; and (2) Is a properly filed Motion to the Extend the Stay which provides a hearing date more than thirty (30) days after the petition date filed untimely, even with a temporary extension.32
Examining each of these issues, in turn, the Court notes that
on the motion of a party in interest for continuation of the automatic stay and upon notice and a hearing, the court may extend the stay in particular cases as to any or all creditors (subject to such conditions or limitations as the court may then impose) after notice and a hearing completed before the expiration of the 30–day period only if the party in interest demonstrates that the filing of the later case is in good faith as to the creditors to be stayed.
Pursuant to
1-year period but was dismissed, other than a case refiled under a chapter other than chapter 7 after dismissal under section 707(b)— (A) the stay under subsection (a) with respect to any action taken with respect to a debt or property securing such debt or with respect to any lease shall terminate with respect to the debtor on the 30th day after the filing of the later case . . .
Good faith is not defined within
A. This Case Was Presumptively Filed Not in Good Faith
Debtor has had one case pending and dismissed within one year prior to the Petition Date; thus,
B. Presumption That Case Was Filed Not in Good Faith Has Not Been Rebutted
The Court finds that Debtor has failed to rebut the presumption that the case was filed in good faith with clear and convincing evidence. Debtor’s prior bankruptcy case and the fact that only fourteen (14) days passed between the dismissal of her first case and the filing of her second case weigh against Debtor. Debtor testified that the medical condition that led to the dismissal of the Prior Case has since been brought under control for work purposes, although the underlying condition remains ongoing and requires continued medication for management. While the Court is sympathetic to Debtor’s situation and is sensitive to her ongoing medical issues, the Court does not find Debtor’s testimony persuasive.
The Court finds that the expenses listed on Schedule J undermine the feasibility of the proposed plan and cast doubt on Debtor’s ability to make the proposed plan payments. While feasibility of the plan is an issue more pertinent for a plan confirmation hearing, it is also appropriate to consider at this time.36 Here, a closer examination of Debtor’s schedules supports
As to the impact of her repeat filings on Creditor, notably, Debtor has only made a few payments to Creditor since the Contract was signed in January 2025. Moreover, as set forth in more detail above, neither Debtor nor Debtor’s Counsel refuted that Creditor had asked Debtor for proof of an insurance policy with a deductible of $500.00 on February 17, 2026 and it took approximately two (2) weeks for Debtor to provide sufficient proof.37 Debtor’s testimony also reveals she in fact did not maintain the required insurance for at least some period of time. Debtor’s repeat filings have had a negative effect on Creditor, which has incurred costs related to holding a vehicle, turning it over, and counsel fees.
Debtor’s testimony also brought to light some inconsistencies on her schedules, including the omission of the income she receives from her husband each month. When considering the totality of the circumstances, and after being able to observe Debtor’s testimony and weighing all the evidence presented, the Court, while sympathetic to Debtor’s situation, concludes that Debtor
Jupiter, No. 06-00963-JW, 2006 Bankr. LEXIS 2378, at *3 (Bankr. D.S.C. Mar. 31, 2006) (explaining that the court may deny a motion to extend the automatic stay based upon a lack of plan feasibility); In re West, No. 23-20618-CMB, 2023 WL 4387030, at *3 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. July 6, 2023) (noting the court must be satisfied that the plan in the new case will succeed when determining if the case was filed in good faith); In re Hardy, No. 22-11277-WJ, 2022 WL 1196963, at *7 (Bankr. C.D. Cal. Apr. 21, 2022) (stating that feasibility is a central issue in considering a motion to extend the automatic stay under
Due to the language of
C. Timing of the Motion
Creditor argues the Motion was untimely. Filed weeks after the Petition Date, the Creditor argues it foreclosed Debtor’s ability to schedule a hearing within thirty (30) days, thereby precluding any extension. Due to Debtor not meeting her burden to prove that the case was filed in good faith, the Court need not decide the issue of whether the Motion to Extend Stay was timely filed. However, as the Court has previously made clear, motions to extend the automatic stay should, under most circumstances, be filed contemporaneously with the petition or immediately thereafter, and that delay in doing so risks denial of such relief.
This Court has made several announcements in recent years instructing debtors and counsel to avoid delays in filing Motions to Extend Stay. In March 2024, the Court reminded the bar that “[w]hile compliance with the 7-day requirement under SC LBR 9013-1 may sometimes be difficult depending on available self-scheduled hearing dates, it can be easily attained and unnecessary hearings avoided if the Motion is filed with the petition.”38 In July of 2025, the Court also stated in an announcement:
Motions to extend or impose the stay should be filed with the petition and scheduled for hearing within the first thirty days of the case. If you are unable to timely schedule a hearing on a motion to extend the stay, a temporary extension of the stay should be requested by a separate motion. The burden is on the party seeking an
Subsequently, in September of 2025, the Court announced the creation of a new CM/ECF event for requests to temporarily extend the automatic stay. In its announcement the Court stated, “[t]he ‘Extend Automatic Stay – Temporarily’ event may be used to file a Motion to Temporarily Extend the Automatic Stay if a hearing on a pending Motion to Extend the Stay cannot be held within 30 days of the petition date.”40 Though the Court has implemented a CM/ECF event to facilitate requests for temporary extensions of the automatic stay, its purpose is administrative efficiency only and it was not intended to modify, circumvent, or override the statutory requirements of
Under the facts of this case, the Court cannot conceive a reason why Debtor would wait two weeks to file the Original Motion to Extend and then wait an additional week to file the amended version to correct the hearing date, given the time sensitive nature of such request. In cases where a debtor, whose prior case was recently dismissed, waits an unreasonable amount of
CONCLUSION
For the reasons stated above, Debtor’s Motion to Extend Stay is DENIED as to Creditor.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
FILED BY THE COURT
06/09/2026
Elisabetta G. M. Gasparini
US Bankruptcy Judge
District of South Carolina
Entered: 06/09/2026