Deborah J. Caruso

Partner

Location:

Indianapolis, Indiana

Phone:

317-844-7400 (888-457-2294)

Fax:

317-574-9426

E-mail:

E-mail Me

Deborah Caruso is a member of Dale & Eke, where she practices in the areas of bankruptcy, creditors' rights, and business litigation. She is a Chapter 7 Panel Trustee and represents debtors and creditors in business bankruptcy cases and out-of-court workouts. Ms. Caruso has litigated business and commercial cases for over 28 years in state and federal courts. Ms. Caruso has been active in the Indiana State Bar Association having served on the Executive Commitee, as counsel to the President and as president of the Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights Section. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Association and a frequent lecturer for ICLEF and the Indianapolis Bar Association. She was selected as an Indiana Super Lawyer in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Areas of Practice

Individual and Business Bankruptcy and Reorganization
Creditors' Rights
Chapter 7 Panel Trustee
Business Litigation

Bar Admissions

Indiana, 1981
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana, 1981
U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1991

Education

Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana
- J.D. (Cum Laude) - May, 1981
Indiana University
- A.B. - 1978

Published Works

Prebankruptcy Exemption Planning: The Pitfalls of Advising the Debtor Client-How Far is too Far, Indiana polis Bar Association, 2009
Judicial Estoppel: Debtor's Failure to Schedule a Cause of Action May Be Fatal to the Trustee's Future Pusuit and Recovery, Indianapolis Bar Assocaitions, 2009
Which Trusts are Excluded from the Estate?: A Review of the Law of Spendthrift Trusts in Indiana and Other States and the Application of Section 541, Indianapolis Bar Assocaitions, 2009
In Pari Delicto Defense May or May Not Bar A Trustee's Claim: An Update on the Application of the In Pari Delicto Defense Against a Trustees' Claim, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2009
Trustee's Rights to Search & Seizure, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2008
Spoliation of Electronic Evidence - Attorney's Duties, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2008
Non-Compete and Personal Services Contracts - Property of the Estate, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2008
Exemption of Out-Of-State Property Held as Husband and Wife, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2008
Failure to Object to an Exemption where the Property is Correctly Scheduled but the Valuation is Flawed - Does a Trustee have to Object to Exemptions in Every Case?, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2007
Trustee's Pursuit of TILA Recission Rights for the Debtor, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2007
Avoidance of Late-Filed Mortgages-The "Earmarking Defense", Indianapolis Bar Association, 2007
The Life or Death of the Individual Chapter 11 Debtro after BAPCPA, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2006
The Transient Debtor: What Exemptions will Apply? (11 U.S.C. 522(b)(3)(A)), Indianapolis Bar Association, 2006
The Application of 11 U.S.C. 522 (o) , (p) and (q) to the Indiana Debtor, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2006
Changes to the Marital Debt Dischargeability Exceptions under Sections 523(a)(5) & (a)(15), Indianapolis Bar Association, 2005
Preferences and Fradulent Transfers - Changes to Venue, Dollar Amounts, Look Backs and Exceptions to Avoidance, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2005
Sales of Property in Individual Chapter 11's - Can Tax be Avoided, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2005
Confirmation Process under Section 1129 and Other Changes, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2005
Ethics Scenarios - Bankruptcy Law, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2005
QDROS's and their Exemption: Are Interests in retirement Plans Acquired through QDRO's Property of the Estate? If so, are such Interests Exempt Under I.C. 34-55-10-2(b)(6)?, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2004
Conversion from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13: Can it be Done after the Granting of Discharge? Can it be Used Where Debtor Fails to Reaffirm in Time?, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2004
In re Byrd: A Judgment was Rendered and Appealed - Is the Debt Disputed so that the Debtor Cannot File an Involuntary Petition? When is a Debt Disputed?, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2004

Classes/Seminars

ICLEF 2009 Bankruptcy Institute, ICLEF
Region 10 2009 Chapter 7 Trustee Conference, United States Trustee
2009 IBA Advanced Individual Bankruptcy Roundtable, Indianapolis Bar Association
ICLEF 2008 Bankruptcy Institute, ICLEF
Region 10 2008 Chapter 7 Trustee Conference, United States Trustee
2008 IBA Advanced Individual Bankruptcy Roundtable, Indianapolis Bar Association
ICLEF 2007 Bankruptcy Institute, ICLEF
2007 IBA Advanced Individual Bankruptcy Roundtable, Indianapolis Bar Association
ICLEF 2006 Bankruptcy Institute, ICLEF
2006 IBA Advanced Bankruptcy Roundtable, Indianapolis Bar Association
ICLEF 2005 Bankruptcy Institute, ICLEF
2005 IBA Advanced Individual Bankruptcy Roundtable, Indianapolis Bar Association

Honors and Awards

Distinguished Fellow: Indianapolis Bar Foundation
Indiana Super Lawyer, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Top 25 Indiana Female Super Lawyer, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

Professional Associations and Memberships

Indianapolis Bar Association, Member
Indiana State Bar Association, Executive Committe, 2009; counsel to the President, 2009
American Bar Association, Member
American Association for Justice, Member
National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, Member

Fraternities/Sororities

Phi Alpha Phi