August Term 2022

(Argued: April 18, 2023 | Decided: August 2, 2023)

Docket No. 22-1000

KIMBERLY BRUCE, Debtor and Plaintiff on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, AKA Kimberly A. Bruce, AKA Kimberly Antrell Bruce,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

v.

CITIGROUP INC. and CITIBANK, N.A.,

Defendants-Appellants. 1 ______________ Before: WESLEY, PARK, and ROBINSON, Circuit Judges:

Defendants-Appellants Citigroup Inc. and Citibank, N.A. (collectively, “Citi”) appeal from the bankruptcy court’s order granting in part and denying in part Citi’s motion, pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 7012, to dismiss Plaintiff-Appellee Kimberly Bruce’s amended complaint, or, alternatively, to strike or dismiss the nationwide class action allegations therein.

On appeal, Citi advances two primary arguments. First, Citi argues that a bankruptcy court’s civil contempt power