Case Summary:
The debtor owed approximately $147,000.00 in student loans. He was 52 years old, single, with no dependents. He had obtained an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree in computer science from Northwestern University. He finished his education in 1999. He worked in his field until 2003, when he lost his job and then worked as a contract computer technician. His last job in the computer science field was in 2007, and he worked as a carpenter for a time until his health prevented him from doing so. He had a heart condition which first manifested in 2004; this condition mandated several surgeries and required medication, regular medical appointments, and physical restrictions which would continue indefinitely. He also suffered from a physical condition which made it difficult to engage in computer keyboarding (and for which he had four unsuccessful surgeries). He began receiving social security disability payments in May of 2008. He had sought employment in the computer field and been unsuccessful. The Court concluded that his financial situation was likely to persist for a significant portion of the repayment period, thus satisfying the “certainty of hopelessness” mandated by the Seventh Circuit in In re Roberson, 999 F.2d 1132 (7th Cir. 1993), and Goulet v. Educ. Credit Mgmt. Corp., 284 F.3d 773 (7th Cir. 2002).

Statute/Rule References:
11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8) -- Nondischargeability - Student Loans

Key Terms:
Student Loans