Stephen R. Harris

I have practiced law primarily in the chapter 11 business-bankruptcy arena for over 40 years in Northern Nevada.  My ‘extreme’ motivation to help debtors solve their business issues originated in my teenage years while living in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the mid-60's.  At age fifteen I worked for James E. Rogers, Esq. as his law- firm-runner and general all-around maintenance person.  Being in the presence of Jim Rogers on a nearly daily basis for over 3 years motivated me to go to college and then attend law school.  Jim Rogers was my mentor, constantly encouraging me. I was able to attend undergraduate school at the University of Southern California and then pursue my legal education at the University of San Diego; graduating in June 1974. I became a licensed attorney in the State of Nevada in September 1974.

I worked for Jim Rogers in his Las Vegas law firm for approximately 16 months. I then relocated to Reno, Nevada, taking a job with the Federal Public Defender’s office.  The desire to pursue my courtroom skills paid off. I was able to achieve 7 criminal jury acquittals out of 8 criminal jury trials in an approximate four-year time period.  In August 1976 I started private practice in Reno, Nevada and never looked back.

Since 1976 until the present day I have originated or been involved in over 1,000 Chapter 11 business reorganization cases, filed in excess of over 5,000 Chapter 7 liquidation cases and filed in excess of 400 to 500 Chapter 13 wage earner reorganization cases. I primarily represented the legal interests of debtors filing bankruptcy. Sometimes however, having served as a trustee for debtors, I also represented creditors. 

Often if legally appropriate I will counsel my client not to file a bankruptcy, or to file a bankruptcy when the timing is strategically correct for the client.

Suffice it to say . . . I love what I do!

• Free Consultation
  Let me work with you. Please make an appointment for your free, confidential and personal consultation to talk things over call Hannah or Norma at 775-786-7600 to make an apppointment.
• Contingent Fees

Nevada

State Bar of Nevada

ID Number: 1463

University of San Diego School of Law

J.D. (1974) | Law School

1971 - 1974

University of Southern California

B.A. (1971) | Economics and Business

1967 - 1971

State Bar of Nevada  # 1463

Member

Current

Q. Sir, I had filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy back in 2018. Will I give the Trustee my stimulus check which was approved?

April 15, 2020

A: According to a notice from the Justice Department, Trustees are limited in terms of what they can do with the stimulus payments. A stimulus check won’t be considered while calculating monthly income, and won’t be used in the calculation of disposable income that can be paid to creditors. This means receiving a stimulus payment won’t force an individual to repay a higher amount in bankruptcy than they would have if they hadn’t received it.

There are rare cases where the stimulus payments might be considered property of the estate, meaning it can be included in the pool of assets designated to repay debt, but the designated Trustee would have to notify the U.S. Trustee prior to taking this action or refusing a chapter 13 repayment plan. ... Read More