John L. Dean v. Trans World Airlines, Inc. Air Line Pilots Association, International

TROTT, Circuit Judge:

John L. Dean argues that the district court violated the automatic stay provisions of 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) when the court granted summary judgment to Trans World Airlines (TWA) and dismissed Dean’s action against it four days after TWA filed for bankruptcy. Dean’s argument requires us to revisit the issue of when a court may dismiss an action against a bankrupt defendant without violating the automatic stay. The trial court had jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1331. Jurisdiction over this timely appeal is proper un der 28 U.S.C. § 1291. This appeal raises an issue of law…