With no explanation, chose the best option from "A", "B", "C" or "D". benefit of the bankruptcy estate.’ ” Vasile v. Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., 20 F.Supp.2d 465, 499 (E.D.N.Y.1998) (quoting Carley Capital Grp. v. Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co., 889 F.2d 1126, 1127 (D.C.Cir.1989) (per curiam)). “Thus § 362(a) does not ‘prevent entities against whom the debtor proceeds in an offensive posture — for example, by initiating a judicial or adversarial proceeding — from protecting their legal rights.’ ” Dean Witter, 20 F.Supp.2d at 499 (quoting In re Financial News Network Inc., 158 B.R. 570, 573 (S.D.N.Y.1993)). Nevertheless, as several courts have recognized, counterclaims against a debtor in a lawsuit initiated by the debtor are stayed by the filing of a bankruptcy petition. See Educ. Res. Inst., Inc. v. Concannon, 69 A.D.3d 539, 896 N.Y.S.2d 306 (1st Dep’t 2010) (<HOLDING>); Derringer v. Fitch, No. Civ.-03-149, 2005 WL

A: holding judgment in violation of automatic stay void
B: holding that the protections of the automatic stay apply only to actions against the debtor
C: holding that the automatic stay applies to the debt ors appeal of an order entered in action brought against the debtor in the lower court
D: holding that although the automatic stay only applies to proceedings against the debtor  counterclaims seeking affirmative relief against a debtor implicate the automatic stay
D.