In Re Norbert Majewski in Re Muriel Majewski, Debtors, William J. Leonard, Trustee-Appellant v. St. Rose Dominican Hospital

Norman Majewski was hospitalized at St. Rose Dominican Hospital, and incurred substantial medical expenses. He later went to work for St. Rose, but in three years was unable to earn enough to discharge his medical debt. He then advised his employer that he intended to file for bankruptcy — but before he could actually file a formal petition, he was summarily fired.

Despite Congressional intent to enact legislation banning precisely such retaliation, the majority’s opinion gives employers free license to punish an employee’s good-faith efforts to become a protected debtor. Indeed, under today’s…