Court Connection: e-Edition

The Court is proud to share the e-edition of the Court Connection.

For readers who prefer to read the newsletter on paper, it can be printed in its entirety by downloading a full-text PDF version.

Click here for the PDF version.

Local Bar Events       Click here for a list of upcoming events around the district.

Local Bar Associations News and events from your local bar association

By: John J. Freeman, Esq. President

On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, the JBBA held a Brown Bag CLE Luncheon titled “Chapter 13 District Wide Uniformity Re-Boot Camp: Re-visiting District Wide Uniformity after Entry of the Fifth Administrative Order Prescribing Procedures for Chapter 13 Cases, Recently Updated Chapter 13 Model Plan and Adoption of New Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Affecting Chapter 13 Cases.”

Click here for more details.

By: Esther McKean & Danielle Merola

At the CFBLA February luncheon, Judge Jennemann presented Justin Luna with this year’s Kevin E. Mangum Memorial Volunteer Service Award in recognition of his outstanding service and dedication to the Bankruptcy Pro Se Assistance Clinic.

Click here for more details.

By: Joshua J. Tejes, Esq. Chair

In February, Matthew O’Brien, Esq., of Bridge Legal gave a presentation regarding increasing productivity through automation. Specifically, Mr. O’Brien addressed using technology to help with converting marketing into leads, decreasing time spent inefficiently, and increasing firm revenue.

Click here for more details.

Tampa Pro Se Clinic

1st Quarter 2019

Click here for more details.

for the Attorney Resource Room

In addition to the front counter area of the Clerk’s office in the Tampa Division, the 9th Floor Attorney Resource Room now has a computer available with public CM/ECF access. Click here for a larger picture.

Around the District

Click here for more information.

Editors:

Bradley M. Saxton & C. Andrew Roy Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman, P.A.

Eleventh Circuit Cases

In re Fundamental Long Term Care, Inc.

753 Fed. App’x 878 (11th Cir. Feb. 25, 2019)

Eleventh Circuit affirmed award of costs for deposition transcripts under Rule 7054(b) and 28 U.S.C. § 1920. In doing so, the Eleventh Circuit rejected an argument that costs were not recoverable because the transcripts were not used in the specific dismissal motion that resulted in the defendant/movant being dismissed from the adversary proceeding.

Bankruptcy Court Cases

In re Zalloum

2019 WL 548545 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. Feb. 11, 2019) (Jennemann, J.)

Bankruptcy court entered detailed order overruling debtor’s objection to bank’s claim to stop debtor from making “a mockery of judicial system for years by frustrating the claims of legitimate secured creditors” and prohibit the debtor from continuing to “manipulat[e] the bankruptcy system and wast[e] the time of numerous appellate and state courts hoping to get two free homes.”

In re Anthony

Case 8:13-ap-00629-RCT (Bankr. M.D. Fla. Feb. 28, 2019) (Colton, J.)

In case involving the infamous Casey Anthony, court granted the debtor/defendant’s motion for summary judgment and concluded that plaintiff’s defamation claim against her failed to meet the standard for nondischargeability under § 523(a)(6).

In re Malave

2019 WL 259427 (Bankr. M.D. Fla. Jan. 17, 2019) (Jennemann, J.)

Debtor failed to credibly explain why she transferred $12,000 to an account she held with her son shortly before filing her bankruptcy case, and debtor listed account as having $0 balance and solely owned by her son. Instead of amending her schedules, she removed herself (post-petition) from the account. The bankruptcy court denied the debtor’s discharge.

Click here for case law.

Click here for the latest statistics.

Dear Point & Click: Answers to Technical Questions

Dear Point and Click,

Question #1: I have a deadline to file a document and I am unable to access the Court’s CM/ECF System. What do I do?

For the Answer, click here.

The Court Connection is published quarterly.  Please submit items for inclusion in the next edition by June 30, 2019 to:

newsletter@flmb.uscourts.gov

What's Happening with Our Case Filings? By: Chief Judge Michael G. Williamson

All the business news these days is that the economy is doing very well. Unemployment is at historically low numbers. The stock market is doing well. Yet, for some reason, for the first time in the last decade, our filings have started going up. Something is going on, and I can’t figure it out.

Click here for the full story.

Judge's Corner

Swearing in a New Attorney

Judge McEwen swears into the Bar, new lawyer Cynetra Jackson. Cynetra is a graduate of WMU Cooley Law School and had taken Judge McEwen’s bankruptcy class. 

Click here to view larger image of pictures.

Ferrell Middle School Magnet School Tour

By: The Honorable Judge Catherine Peek McEwen

Judge McEwen and the George Edgecomb Bar Association (GEBA) hosted about 35 middle school girls from Ferrell Legal Magnet School in March during National Judicial Outreach Week.

Click here to read the full story.

By: The Honorable Judge Catherine Peek McEwen

Make Me Smile Moment #1:

Good-hearted Patti Halloran helped a debtor in the clinic one recent afternoon and then came back down to the courtroom with the debtor after the clinic closed to help the debtor some more. Patti ended up staying a half hour past the time of her commitment. Thank you, Patti.

Make Me Smile Moment #2:

A pro se debtor in a hearing today: "The lawyers in the clinic are wonderful, especially Mr. (Robert) Geller and Mr. (Tim) Sierra."

Click here for more details.

Judge McEwen agrees to be Raymond's Valentine!

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THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!!!

In February, the Tampa Judges held a “Thank You!” luncheon to show their gratitude to the 2018 Tampa Courthouse Pro Se Clinic Volunteers.  

Click here for more information.

Judge McEwen's Annual

Mardi Gras Celebration

And the annual Baby King Cake winner is.... A year of good luck to Debbie Kerkes, who found the baby in her slice of King Cake. On Fat Tuesday (March 5th), the Tuesday case management staff in Tampa participated in Judge McEwen's annual Mardi Gras celebration.

Click here for the full story.

Proposed New & Amended Local Rules Posted For Public Comment

The judges of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida are considering proposed amendments to the Local Rules. The proposals are posted on the Court’s website for public comment.

Click here for the full story.

UNITED STATES TRUSTEE'S CORNER By: Jill Kelso, Orlando Office of the U.S. Trustee

Orlando Office of the United States Trustee to Host Region 21 Chapter 7 Panel Trustee Training in Orlando on June 6-7, 2019

The Orlando Office of the United States Trustee will be hosting training for approximately 95 Chapter 7 Panel Trustees located throughout Region 21, which comprises Florida, Georgia and Puerto Rico.

Click here to read the full story.

Procedure Manuel Committee Update

The Procedure Manual Committee was busy at the beginning of 2019. Our January update was delayed due to the partial government shutdown. We finished this update on March 15, 2019. We added nine new procedures, created seven new forms, and revised nine existing procedures. Remember, you can identify the new or updated procedures when there is red text next to the procedure in the Table of Contents.

Click here for the full story.