Michael G. Dana, Attorney at Law
Areas of Practice
- Federal and State Tax Problems
- Bankruptcies & Reorganizations
- Consumer Finance & Mortgage Litigation
- Complex Financial Matters
- Debt Negotiation & Resolution
- Commercial Litigation
Industry Experience:
Michael Dana focuses his legal practice on representing individuals with complex financial problems. In particular, Mr. Dana represents delinquent taxpayers before federal and state tax agencies; consumer and business debtors in complex Chapter 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcies; borrowers in lawsuits against creditors, particularly mortgage companies; and represents both plaintiffs and defendants in lawsuits related to commercial transactions. Mr. Dana regularly appears before the United States Bankruptcy Court and interacts with the Internal Revenue Service, the Comptroller of Maryland and the Virginia Department of Taxation on behalf of his clients.
Mr. Dana has been successful in:
- Assisting taxpayers through turbulent collection activity by tax agencies;
- Preventing foreclosures and garnishments by creditors;
- Challenging illegal, fraudulent, and inaccurate claims by creditors, particularly mortgage companies;
- Reducing principal owed on secured loans in bankruptcy;
- Unilaterally modifying interest rates on secured loans in bankruptcy;
- Favorably reorganizing the financial affairs of debtors in Chapter 11 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies;
- Negotiating favorable settlements with creditors; and
- Litigating commercial disputes in state circuit court.
Along with Mr. Fried, Mr. Dana has spoken to groups of consumer bankruptcy attorneys regarding the interaction of the Internal Revenue Code and the United States Bankruptcy Code. In particular, Mr. Dana and Mr. Fried have spoken on the ability to discharge taxes in bankruptcy, the nature of federal tax liens vis-à-vis an individual bankruptcy, and the issues related to resolving tax matters in a bankruptcy where debtors have significant retirement assets.
Prior to representing persons and businesses with financial problems, Mr. Dana served as an Attorney-Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Education. In that capacity, Mr. Dana advised the Assistant Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement in connection with issues arising under Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (concerning the rights of persons with disabilities). Last, but not least, Mr. Dana investigated complaints of race, sex, and disability discrimination submitted to the Office for Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education.
Education:
- Georgetown University Law Center, Juris Doctor
- The Catholic University of America, Bachelor of Arts
Court Admissions:
- Maryland Court of Appeals
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court of Virginia
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland
- Maryland Court of Appeals
Community Involvement:
- National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys: 2005 – Present
- Bankruptcy Bar Association of Maryland: 2006 – Present
- District of Columbia Court of Appeals
- William B. Bryant American Inn of Court: August 2004 – Present
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce: July 2006 – Present
- Tenley Achievement Program: Mathematics Coordinator, October 2004 – May 2005