03 B 02687

Unsecured creditor moved to file a tardy proof of claim and to be included in the debtor’s chapter 13 plan. The creditor alleged that notice of the proof of claim filing deadline was sent to an incorrect address. The court held that it lacked authority under the Bankruptcy Code or the Bankruptcy Rules to grant the creditor’s request to file a late claim. The court further held that the Due Process Clause did not provide an equitable exception to the otherwise strict terms of the chapter 13 claims bar date because the Bankruptcy Code, when construed as a whole, provides other forms of relief to creditors who do not have actual knowledge of a bankruptcy case in time to exercise procedural rights essential for protecting their claims.