U.S. Bank National Assn. v. Crawford

Summary

The court held that it could review the committee's writ of error despite the interlocutory nature of the trial court's order because the order conclusively affected a separate and collateral right and otherwise would evade review. Although the claim became moot when the bankruptcy stay terminated, it remained reviewable under the capable-of-repetition-yet-evading-review exception. On the merits, the court held that state courts may interpret whether the automatic stay applies by its own terms but lack jurisdiction to extend or modify the stay as to proceedings against nondebtors, and therefore remanded for consideration of the committee's fee motion.