Jerusalem District Court Judge Yosef Shapira has rejected a request to impound a bankrupt groom’s gifts at his wedding.
Bankruptcy trustee Shimon Ori had asked the court to allow him to hire a debt collector who would go to the bankrupt groom’s wedding and confiscate the wedding gifts as they arrived. Ori explained that the groom has not fulfilled the conditions set by the court, namely, to make regular payments, and that his debt has now climbed to 38,100 shekels ($10,000).
The collector, who was to receive 10,000 shekels for his services, was also to be permitted – according to Ori’s request - to search the guests for gifts, if necessary.
Judge Shapira turned him down flat.
“It must be taken into consideration that a wedding is a unique event not only for the bankrupt person himself,” the judge ruled, “but also for the bride, the families, and the guests. The requested actions would necessarily prejudice these third-parties’ right to privacy.”
Judge Shapira continued, “The requested action would also negate their rights to dignity, especially those of the third parties; is not appropriate to the spirit of the times; and is not directly proportional to the expected results. The conclusion is, therefore, that even though the monetary gifts of the bankrupt person belong to the trustee, they must be obtained in a manner that will not affect others, and with appropriate reasonableness. For instance, the trustee could try after the wedding to confiscate the gifts or demand that the bankrupt man be investigated as to the whereabouts of the gifts, or to take any other reasonable course of action as sanctioned by the court.”