NOT FOR PUBLICATION



UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY APPELLATE PANEL

FOR THE FIRST CIRCUIT

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BAP No. MB 97-082

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IN RE: GEORGIA A. KOKORAS,

Debtor.

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HAROLD B. MURPHY, TRUSTEE,



Appellant,



v.



GEORGIA A. KOKORAS,



Appellee.



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Appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court

for the District of Massachusetts

(Hon. Joan N. Feeney, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge)

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Before

Goodman, Haines and Carlo, U.S. Bankruptcy Judges



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Andrew G. Lizotte, Esq. and Hanify & King, P.C., on brief for the Appellant.



Jeffrey A. Schreiber, Esq., James S. LaMontagne, Esq. and Schreiber & Associates, P.C., on brief for the Appellee.



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September 9, 1998

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Per Curiam

Chapter 7 trustee, Harold B. Murphy, appeals the bankruptcy court's order overruling his objection to the debtor's homestead exemption claim. We affirm the lower court's ruling on the authority of our recently-promulgated decision in Bruin Portfolio, LLC v. Leicht (In re Leicht), BAP No. MW 97-067, 1998 WL 424174 (B.A.P. 1st Cir. July 7, 1998).

In re Leicht held that the Massachusetts homestead exemption's exception for contract debts incurred before the filing of a homestead declaration does not operate in bankruptcy. That case addresses and resolves (against appellant) all issues critical to the appeal. See In re Leicht, 1998 WL 424174, at *9-10.

Further explication is unnecessary.

The order of the bankruptcy court overruling appellant's objection to the debtor's homestead exemption is AFFIRMED.