All posts in Community

April 26 – 28, 2013 – NACBA 21st Annual Convention

1. Members may register online by logging into www.NACBA.org with user name and password.

2. Non-members who register online will be prompted to create a New Visitor profile before proceeding to the Store to purchase a Convention registration.

3. Group Registration or Registration of Non-Attorney Staff: If you wish to register multiple firm attendees or to register non-attorney staff, you must submit the registration forms (one for each attendee) by mail or fax.

4. If you are purchasing Meal Tickets FOR YOUR GUESTS and/or tickets to the Bay Cruise or Baseball Game during the online registration process, you will be able to update the quantity that you wish to purchase in your shopping cart at Checkout, before finalizing your purchase.

5. The Early Bird Discount ends Friday, March 15, 2013.

6. The Registration fee includes:

• Written Convention materials;
• An app for your iPad, tablet or smartphone containing written convention materials and additional materials;
• A link to download the materials online to your computer;
• Breakfast Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Keynote luncheon on Friday, lunch on Saturday for Members only, and the Friday evening Reception.

Convention attendees do not need to purchase a meal ticket.

7. Attendees of NACBA’s 2013 Capitol Hill Meeting (Feb. 26-27, 2013) will receive a $100 discount on their Convention registration.

8. Each attendee will receive a compliementary copy of Recent Developments in Chapter 13 by Hon. Keith Lundin, Hon. William H. Brown and Henry Hilebrand and a complimentary e-book download of the 2013 Collier Pamphlet, containing the full text of the Bankruptcy Code and the Federal Rules Bankruptcy Procedure.

9. Roundtable Discussions are scheduled concurrently with other sessions and give attendees the opportunity in a small group setting to delve deeper into selected topics. They are available to NACBA members only and will be filled on a first-come, first-seated basis.

10. The Open Forums: Your opportunity to as questions on cases, business and advocacy efforts. CLE may not be available for Open Forums.

11. Refund policy
• Meal Tickets are N0N-REFUNDABLE, and should be purchased for
Guests only.
• Attendees do not need to purchase Meal Tickets; meals are covered by
tuition.
• Cancellations received:
o On or before 5 pm PST Friday, March 29, 2013: 100%
o On or before 5 pm PST on Friday, April 12, 2013: 50% + materials
o After April 12, 2013: Program materials only

Cancellation/refund requests must be received in an email to: admin@NACBA.org

12. If Non-Attorney support staff attends without a NACBA member attorney, Non-Member Pricing is in effect.

13. Guest Meal Pass Information

Guests who purchase a guest meal ticket will receive a name badge that is required in order to enter Convention meal events. Guests will also find plentiful dining options adjacent to the hotel if they opt not to purchase a guest meal ticket.

The $100 guest meal ticket includes:

• Breakfast Fri., Sat., Sun., April 26 – 28, 2013
• Keynote luncheon, Fri., April 26, 2013, but not Sat. Member Luncheon
• Coffee breaks on Fri., Sat., and Sun.

NOTE: A guest meal ticket is not required to attend the Friday evening reception

To sign up go to:
http://nacba.org/

Draft Strategic Plan for the Central District

The Central District Bankruptcy Court, with Judge Peter Carroll doing the yeoman’s work, has prepared a draft Strategic Plan.  You can access the Plan here.  If you wish to comment on the Plan, you have until May 15, 2013 to do so.  Judge Carroll commented that he is most interested in areas of concern that might have been missed.  Comments will be reviewed by the Board of Judges at its meeting in June 2103.

Leslie Cohen Law 5K to benefit Public Counsel’s Debtor Assistance Project (April 27th)

Hi everyone!  The LCL 5k (April 27 at 8 am at Reed Park in Santa Monica) is happy to announce that Bonk Breaker will be supporting our athletes with their new product, the Bonk Bites, as our official post-race snack.  Bonk Breaker is the premier energy bar and the official bar of Ironman – be sure to try them after your run/walk!  Also, Skechers has generously offered certificates for a free pair of Skechers to our top 3 male and female age 20+, top m/f age 15-19 and top m/f age 14 and under.  Bring the kids and let’s see who will win the shoes!!  The event is shaping up to be an awesome day with DJ Carlos spinning tunes to get everyone pumped, and lots of great prizes.  If you still need to register, here’s a link that you can copy and paste into your browser: https://www.imathlete.com/events/EventReg/EventReg_SelectType.aspx?fEID=14922&fNew=1

See you there!

Leslie Cohen

Law school drudgery chronicled in 2L’s hit parody video

This is great.  You can access the ABI Journal article and video here.  By West Virginia University 2L Andy Loud.

Here are some of the rap-style lyrics:

I’m at a law school / Trying to keep cool / All of my prospects looking blue / Just doing my readings / Motions and pleadings / And case briefing International Shoe

If the Eighth Amendment does exist / How are they allowing all of this?

April 18, 2013 – Thinking Like A New Federal Judge

Thinking Like A New Federal Judge
Featuring:
  • Hon. Jacqueline Nguyen, United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • Hon. Michael Fitzgerald, United States District Court, Central District of California
  • Hon. Jesus Bernal, United States District Court, Central District of California
  • Hon. Sandra Klein, United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California
  • Hon. Michael Wilner, United States Magistrate Court, Central District of California
Hear from recently appointed Judges Jesus Bernal, Michael Fitzgerald, Sandra Klein, Jacqueline Nguyen, and Michael Wilner about their experiences as new members of our federal court bench, and what they are looking for in those who appear before them. A great opportunity for seasoned practitioners and younger lawyers to learn about our newest federal judges and how to succeed in proceedings before them.
Date:
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Registration & Reception: 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Moderated Panel Discussion: 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm

April 1, 2013 – “Stay Away from the Dark Side: Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls in Bankruptcy”

“Stay Away from the Dark Side: Avoiding Ethical Pitfalls in Bankruptcy”

Come attend a lively discussion on such issues as conflicts of interest, breach of ethical requirements, disqualification from representation, and sanctions.

Panelists:
Hon. Vincent P. Zurzolo – U.S. Bankruptcy Judge
Hatty Yip – Office of the United States Trustee
Martin R. Barash – Klee Tuchin Bogdanoff & Stern LLP
Uzzi O. Raanan – Danning Gill Diamond & Kollitz LLP

Location:
The L.A.
333 South Figueroa St
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Apil 1, 2013
Doors open 6:00 PM
Dinner at 6:45 PM
Program at 7:30 PM
Lights out 8:45 PM

Read more…

California Man’s Foreclosure Scam Targeted Tarp Banks: Prosecutors

http://www.americanbanker.com/issues/178_38/california-man-foreclosure-scam-targeted-tarp-banks-1057011-1.html

A California man has been accused of running a scheme to prevent banks from foreclosing on properties.

Walter Bruce Harrell of Montara, Calif., has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bankruptcy fraud and making false statements in bankruptcy proceedings, the Office of the Special Inspector General of the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California said Friday. Many of the creditors that were prevented from foreclosing were banks that had received Tarp funds, the special IG said.

Harrell’s alleged scheme was a version of the so-called foreclosure-rescue scam, in which a troubled property owner hires someone who says he can forestall foreclosure proceedings.

Harrell’s scheme involved transferring part of the interest in a foreclosed-on property to a third party, whom Harrell would then pay to file for bankruptcy, according to the indictment. The “automatic stay” clause in bankruptcy law would then halt foreclosure sales.

The indictment charges Harrell with running this scheme on six properties in 2011 and making false statements in two bankruptcy trials. The maximum penalty is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Read more…

Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section Meeting – February 28, 2013

Event Description:

KNOW YOUR CHAPTER 7 TRUSTEE

Opportunity for consumer bankruptcy attorneys to meet with Chapter 7 Trustee and Trustee Administrators to:

•Discuss the needs of each Trustee
•Determine the best methods to keep a case moving along
•Obtain insight re: chapter 7 cases from the Trustee’s perspective
•Participate in an open forum for questions and answers

TRUSTEES:
Moderator: David M. Goodrich, Esq., Chapter 7 Trustee, Los Angeles, Marshack Hays LLP
Jeffrey I. Golden, Esq., Chapter 7 Trustee, Weiland, Golden, Smiley, Wang Ekvall & Strok LLP
Richard A. Marshack, Esq., Chapter 7 Trustee, Marshack Hays LLP
Jennifer S. Gregory, Esq., Trustee Administrator to John W. Wolfe
Alane C. Canzone, Trustee Administrator to Karen S. Naylor
Marissa Silva, Trustee Administrator to Thomas H. Casey

Location:
Tustin Banquet Center
721 W. First St.
Tustin, CA

Time:
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

Registration Fees:
Pricing varies depending on membership status and options selected.

Click Here for More Details and Registration Information!

February 19, 2013 – Section 363 Bankruptcy Sales and Sales Orders

Beverly Hills Bar Association – Section 363 Bankruptcy Sales and Sale Orders

The BHBA Bankruptcy Section has a wonderful program on the recent developments affecting Section 363 bankruptcy sales and sale orders.

The distinguished panel is:

Honorable Judge Julia W. Brand
Jeff Pomerantz of Pachulski Stang et al.
John Tedford IV of Danning Gill et al.
Rebecca Winthrop will moderate.

Date and Time:

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Read more…

CFPB to Closely Monitor Transfer Activity at Bank and Nonbank Servicers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 11, 2013

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU REMINDS MORTGAGE SERVICERS OF LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR CONSUMERS WHEN TRANSFERRING LOANS

CFPB to Closely Monitor Transfer Activity at Bank and Nonbank Servicers

WASHINGTON, D.C. —The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued a bulletin reminding mortgage companies of their legal obligations that protect consumers during loan transfers between mortgage servicers. When handing over the processing of loans, mortgage servicers should not lose paperwork, lose track of a homeowner’s loss mitigation plans, or hinder a consumer’s chances of saving their home from unnecessary foreclosure. The CFPB has a heightened concern about these practices given the large number and size of recent servicing transfers.

“Consumers should not be collateral damage in the mortgage servicing transfer process,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “This guidance directs all mortgage servicers, both banks and nonbanks, to follow the laws protecting borrowers from the risks of such transfers, and makes clear that we will be monitoring them for compliance.”

The bulletin is available at: http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201302_cfpb_bulletin-on-servicing-transfers.pdf
Mortgage servicers, among other things, collect and process loan payments on behalf of the owner of the mortgage loan. Mortgage servicing transfers are common and occur when a mortgage owner sells the right to service its loans or when the owner outsources the servicing duties. These transfers can be logistically challenging. A transaction could involve the moving of hundreds of thousands of loan documents.

Read more…