taylor freeland kronz argued march decided april schedule filed pursuant bankruptcy code debtor davis listed exempt property expected proceeds pending employment discrimination suit petitioner taylor trustee davis bankruptcy estate object claimed exemption within period allowed federal rule bankruptcy procdure however upon later learning discrimination suit settled substantial sum taylor filed complaint bankruptcy respondents davis attorneys suit demanding turn settlement proceeds property davis estate concluding davis statutory basis claiming proceeds exempt ordered respondents return taylor sum sufficient pay davis unpaid creditors district affirmed appeals reversed holding bankruptcy erred davis claimed money question exempt taylor failed object claimed exemption timely manner held trustee may contest validity claimed exemption rule period expired even though debtor colorable basis claiming exemption pp parties agree davis statutory right exempt small portion lawsuit proceeds let alone full amount taylor apparently made valid objection provides inter alia property claimed exempt exempt nless party interest objects specify time objecting acted promptly rule establishes objections period trustees creditors unless within period time granted pp however taylor failure promptly object precludes challenging validity exemption time regardless whether davis colorable statutory basis claiming negative implication rule indicates trustee may object days unless extension time granted extension allowed bankruptcy case made settlement proceeds exempt rejects taylor argument order discourage debtors claiming meritless exemptions merely hopes one object may invalidate exemption expiration period debtor good faith reasonably disputable basis claiming extent various code rules provisions aimed penalizing debtors attorneys improper conduct fail limit bad faith exemption claims congress rather may rewrite include good faith requirement pp taylor assertion code permits courts disallow exemptions claimed good faith despite absence timely objections exemptions considered since argument first raised taylor opening brief merits neither raised resolved lower courts pp thomas delivered opinion rehnquist white blackmun scalia kennedy souter joined stevens filed dissenting opinion post timothy dyk argues cause petitioner briefs stephen goodman peter lieb gary short phillip simon argued cause respondents brief kenneth simon gary klein daniel haller filed brief mon valley unemployed committee et al amici curiae urging affirmance justice thomas delivered opinion section bankruptcy code requires debtor file list property debtor claims statutorily exempt distribution creditors federal rule bankruptcy procedure affords creditors bankruptcy trustee days object claimed exemptions must decide case whether trustee may contest validity exemption period debtor colorable basis claiming exemption debtor case emily davis declared bankruptcy pursuing employment discrimination claim state courts relevant proceedings began davis filed complaint pittsburgh commission human relations davis alleged employer trans world airlines twa denied promotions basis race sex commission held davis liability calculate damages owed twa pennsylvania common pleas reversed commission pennsylvania commonwealth reversed reinstated commission determination liability twa next appealed pennsylvania october appeal pending davis filed chapter bankruptcy petition petitioner robert taylor became trustee davis bankruptcy estate respondents wendell freeland richard kronz law firm represented davis discrimination suit schedule filed bankruptcy davis claimed exempt property money expected win discrimination suit twa described property proceeds lawsuit davis twa claim lost wages listed value unknown app performing duty trustee taylor held required initial meeting creditors january see rle bkrtcy proc meeting respondents told taylor estimated davis might win suit twa several days meeting taylor wrote letter respondents telling considered potential proceeds lawsuit property davis bankruptcy estate also asked respondents details suit respondents described procedural posture case expressed optimism might settle twa taylor decided object claimed exemption record reveals taylor doubted lawsuit value taylor one point explained past experience examining debtors indicate potential lawsuits turn advantageous many might wind settling far within exemption limitation app taylor also said thought davis discrimination claim twa might nullity taylor proved mistaken october pennsylvania affirmed commonwealth determination twa discriminated davis subsequent settlement issue damages twa agreed pay davis total twa paid part amount issuing check made davis respondents davis apparently signed check respondents payment fees twa paid remainder means upon learning settlement taylor filed complaint respondents bankruptcy demanded respondents turn money received davis considered property davis bankruptcy estate respondents argued keep fees davis claimed proceeds lawsuit exempt bankruptcy sided taylor concluded davis statutory basis claiming proceeds lawsuit exempt ordered respondents return approximately taylor sum sufficient pay davis unpaid creditors davis bkrtcy wd district affirmed davis wd appeals third circuit reversed appeals held bankruptcy require respondents turn money davis claimed exempt taylor failed object claimed exemption timely manner granted certiorari affirm ii debtor files bankruptcy petition property becomes property bankruptcy estate see code however allows debtor prevent distribution certain property claiming exempt section allowed davis choose exemptions afforded state law federal exemptions listed section procedure claiming exemptions objecting claimed exemptions follows debtor shall file list property debtor claims exempt subsection section unless party interest objects property claimed exempt list exempt trustee creditor may file objections list property claimed exempt within days conclusion meeting creditors held pursuant rule unless within period time granted taylor acknowledges rule establishes period objecting exemptions nless party interest objects property claimed exempt exempt argues nonetheless failure object preclude challenging exemption time taylor view rule serve narrow judicial inquiry validity exemption days preclude judicial inquiry altogether particular maintains courts may invalidate claimed exemption expiration period debtor good faith reasonably disputable basis claiming case taylor asserts davis colorable basis claiming lawsuit proceeds exempt thus lacked good faith taylor justifies interpretation arguing requiring debtors file claims good faith discourage claiming meritless exemptions merely hopes one object taylor stand alone reading several courts appeals adopted position upon similar reasoning see peterson dembs sherk reject taylor argument davis claimed lawsuit proceeds exempt list filed bankruptcy section repeat says nless party interest objects property claimed exempt list exempt rule gives trustee creditors days initial creditors meeting object negative implication rule indicates creditors may object days unless within period time granted bankruptcy extend period section therefore made property exempt taylor contest exemption time whether davis colorable statutory basis claiming deadlines may lead unwelcome results prompt parties act produce finality case despite respondents repeatedly told taylor object claimed exemption taylor know value potential proceeds lawsuit sought hearing issue see rule asked bankruptcy extension time object see rule done neither taylor seek deprive davis respondents exemption taylor suggests holding create improper incentives asserts lead debtors claim property exempt chance trustee creditors whatever reason fail object claimed exemption time asserts requirement good faith prevent eighth circuit termed exemption declaration peterson supra concern however cause us alter interpretation debtors attorneys face penalties various provisions engaging improper conduct bankruptcy proceedings see authorizing denial discharge presenting fraudulent claims rule requiring filings verified contain unsworn declaration truthfulness penalty perjury rule authorizing sanctions signing certain documents well grounded fact warranted existing law good faith argument extension modification reversal existing law imposing criminal penalties fraud bankruptcy cases provisions may limit bad faith claims exemptions debtors extent congress may enact comparable provisions address difficulties taylor predicts follow decision authority limit application exemptions claimed good faith taylor also asserts courts may consider validity exemption different provision bankruptcy code despite failure object timely manner provision may issue order process judgment necessary appropriate carry provisions title provision title providing raising issue party interest shall construed preclude sua sponte taking action making determination necessary appropriate enforce implement orders rules prevent abuse process ibid emphasis added decline consider case taylor raised argument first time opening brief merits rule makes clear nly questions set forth petition certiorari fairly included therein considered rule brief merits raise additional questions change substance questions already presented petition see yee escondido addition said rdinarily decide questions raised resolved lower youakim miller per curiam principles help maintain integrity process certiorari cf oklahoma city tuttle decides questions consider procedures allowing able counsel argue us alter questions devise additional questions last minute thwart system see unusual circumstances warrant addressing taylor argument time berkemer mccarty judgment appeals affirmed authority limit application exemptions claimed good faith ante deny however ample authority hold doctrine equitable tolling applies limitations period federal rule bankruptcy procedure view result supported strong equitable considerations also common law widespread practice bankruptcy courts text rule derived code part former bankruptcy rule shifted emphasis earlier rule placing burden debtor list exemptions burden parties interest raise objections rule particular fills gap remains silent time parties interest must file objections rule provides period objections although adoption rule furthered interest orderly administration suggestion put effect order avoid prejudice debtor thus identifiable reason ordinary tolling principles apply contexts also apply bankruptcy proceedings indeed generally equitable character bankruptcy makes especially appropriate apply rules context familiar learning harsh consequences federal statutes limitations avoided times relying either fraudulent concealment undiscovered fraud toll period limitation example bailey glover wall described two situations strict letter general statutes limitation followed first situation ignorance fraud produced affirmative acts guilty party concealing facts second party injured fraud remains ignorance without fault want diligence care part former involves fraudulent concealment latter defines undiscovered fraud concluded bailey fraudulent concealment issue case tolls running statute limitations fraud concealed character conceal hold otherwise reasoned make law designed prevent fraud means made successful secure holmberg armbrecht extended reach tolling doctrine observed read every federal statute limitation case even fraud even assumed trustee failed exercise due diligence remains true parties injured trustee failure object within period innocent creditors moreover apparently undisputed legitimate basis claim exemption entire award see ante circumstances unless debtor establish prejudice caused trustee failure object promptly hold filing frivolous claim exemption tantamount fraud purposes deciding period begins run ii essence also position adopted numerous bankruptcy courts three courts appeals period years held failure make timely objection dispositive rule notwithstanding example hackett ed explained quitable considerations dictate debtor allowed exemptions obviously entitled view echoed rollins ed debtor make property exempt simply claiming exempt apparent legal basis exemption situation trustee failure object claim exemption within time limit rule create exemption recently ehr ed reaffirmed approach staniforth wd one explained read strictly rule section support appellants position concerning waiver courts followed appellants interpretation provisions instead courts hold exemption must apparent legal basis exemption overcome untimely objection stutterheim equitable principles motivated bankruptcy courts best encapsulated bennett wd explained apply rule rigidly encourage debtor claim property exempt thus leaving trustee creditors sift myriad claimed exemptions assess validity policy result reversion law streets bare possession constituting nine ten parts law orderly administration estates replaced uncertainty constant litigation outright anarchy although several courts appeals bankruptcy courts go far courts preferring instead case untimely objection examine claimed exemption determine good faith statutory basis exemption nevertheless eschewed literal reading statute rule adopted today believed important strike proper balance avoiding undesirable effect exemption declaration yet permitting trustee another bite debtor apple debtor claimed certain property exempt good faith peterson see sherk demos trustee succeed either approach whether always permitted entertain objection claimed exemption least case closed claimed exemption invalid whether claimed exemption lacks good faith statutory basis mean case review debtor claimed exemption parties acknowledge debtor claim statutory basis claimed exemption full award neither backpay tort recovery exempt iii practice lower courts motivated equitable considerations also requirement set forth section explicitly provides debtor shall file list property debtor claims exempt subsection section subsection limits exemptions claimed debtor property exempt federal law state local law applicable date filing petition debtor claims exemptions even arguably satisfy condition good reason hold filing comply therefore day objection period begin run one noted debtor may select manner exemptions purpose served inclusion terms kingsbury bkrtcy declined conclude congress added requirements property exempted federal law state law local law refused grant meaning ibid emphasis omitted iv disposition case straightforward regards meaning statute rule plain end case doubt however debtor trustee guilty fraud readily ignore treats insurmountable barrier plain meaning equities case strong fraud implicated power reach result despite plain meaning barrier exactly bailey glover wall bailey guided common law principles supported tolling statutes limitations addition experience bankruptcy courts recognized need similar rule achieve equitable results fair administration cases kind view mistake adopt strict letter approach justice requires searching inquiry accordingly respectfully dissent footnotes trustee creditor may file objections list property claimed exempt within days conclusion meeting creditors held pursuant rule filing amendment list supplemental schedules unless within period time granted copies objections shall delivered mailed trustee person filing list attorney person tolling statute limitations limited cases fraud medical malpractice suits example long endorsed view statute limitations bar claim one blameless ly ignoran injury rather statute limitations begin run knowledge injury urie thompson bankruptcy courts however read statute rule narrowly refused examine exemption absence timely objection see bradlow duncan wd payton wd tex kretzer gullickson wd although hawn ed took similar view least recognized result might different evidence debtor fraudulently negligently concealed facts trustee creditors bankruptcy courts understandably reluctant encourage policy contribute overburdening bankruptcy system counsel trustee explained last year bankruptcy filings bankruptcy judges deal filings real need part bankruptcy courts rely good faith debtors claiming exemptions otherwise whole system collapse tr oral arg example trustee alone approximately two three hundred cases year typical bankruptcy trustees across country parties stipulated debtor case never closed app debtor claimed exemptions case failed satisfy statutory basis also failed provide even basic information necessary inform trustee adequately exemption example debtor indicated schedule property claimed exempt form claiming roceeds lawsuit value unknown app although value full award ended amounting amount approximately required satisfy claims creditors debtor never amended schedule reflect precise value award