Free Income Tax Preparation and Family Services Events

By | February 4, 2013 | Pro Bono, Programs | 1 Comment

Hi everyone,

Please feel free to share this information with any individuals or organizations with clients who may benefit from these free services. The event is presented by Jerome E. Horton, Chairman of the California State Board of Equalization.

The events include featuring access to:

·Free tax preparation
·Low cost and free medical services
·Job preparation assistance
·Food and nutrition services
·Discount telephone services
·Low cost auto insurance information

*Language assistance in Spanish and English will be provided at the events*

Thank you,
Maggie

Magdalena Reyes Bordeaux
Supervising Attorney, Public Counsel

March 14, 2013 – FBA-LA State of the Circuit/District Luncheon

By | February 4, 2013 | Programs | 1 Comment

Los Angeles Federal Bar Association
State of the Circuit/District – Luncheon

Featuring:
Sr. Judge A. Wallace Tashima, United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
Chief Judge George H. King, United States District Court, Central District of California
Chief Magistrate Judge Suzanne H. Segal, United States District Court, Central District of California
Chief Bankruptcy Judge Peter H. Carroll, United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California

Thursday, March 14, 2013
Registration: 11:30 am
Lunch & Program: 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Doubletree Hotel (formerly Kyoto Grand)
120 S. Los Angeles St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Read more…

Info from Prof. Katie Porter re Reducing Principal on Loans Under the Settlement

By | February 2, 2013 | Community, Current Events | 2 Comments

The nation’s five largest mortgage servicers-Ally Financial, Bank of America, Citi Financial, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo-can receive credit towards their consumer relief obligations under the National Mortgage Settlement for reducing principal on loans they service, including second mortgages.

The Settlement only requires the servicers to perform second-lien modifications in two instances.  First, a servicer must modify a second lien when it has modified a first lien via its proprietary modification process, including a Settlement modification, and another servicer that agreed to the Settlement owns the second lien.  Second, a servicer must modify a second lien when another settling servicer has performed a first-lien modification.

The servicers can also perform second-lien modifications in addition to those required by the Settlement.  For example, Bank of America implemented an extensive second-lien extinguishment program under the Settlement. Bank of America sends borrowers, including those who have filed chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy, a one-page letter informing them that their second lien will be extinguished.  A homeowner who does not want the lien extinguished must contact Bank of America within 30 days.  If the homeowner does not respond, the second lien is released and the associated debt forgiven.  Given the opt-out structure, it is not surprising that participation rates in this program are extremely high.  Bank of America reports these accounts to the credit bureaus as “paid in full” and “closed.”   This second-lien extinguishment program is unique to Bank of America.

Borrowers receiving second-lien forgiveness under the Settlement should consult with a qualified tax professional to discuss any potential tax consequences. These borrowers should also anticipate that their lenders will report any forgiven second-lien debt to the IRS using the appropriate 1099 form.

More information about the National Mortgage Settlement is available at the site of the California Monitor Program: www.californiamonitor.org. Questions specific to bankruptcy can be directed to California Monitor attorney,Angelica Ornelas, at aornelas@law.uci.edu .

Katherine Porter Professor of Law, UC Irvine California Monitor, A Program of the Attorney General

Position Available at Public Counsel

By | February 2, 2013 | Firm Announcements | No comments

Administrative Assistant position open.  The announcement is here. 

2013 Bankruptcy Reference Book

By | February 1, 2013 | Books & Articles, Community, Current Events | 1 Comment

The 2013 Bankruptcy Reference Book is available on Amazon.  It contains, in a single volume, the bankruptcy code, the FRCP, the Federal Bankruptcy Rules, the Central District local rules, the California exemptions, and the addresses of phone numbers of the Central District judges.

2013 Bankruptcy Cover

 

You can access the Amazon page here.

Process for Proposing Revisions to the Court’s LBRs, Forms, and Court Manual

By | January 30, 2013 | Court Clerk Information | No comments

A new process has been implemented to propose revisions to LBRs, Forms and the Court Manual.

For more information, http://go.usa.gov/458B

-ECF Help Desk

System Maintenance Scheduled for Thursday, January 31, 2013 (10:00 PM to 12:00 AM)

By | January 29, 2013 | Court Clerk Information | 1 Comment

The Court will be performing system maintenance on the above date and time.  As a result, the following electronic systems will not be available:

– LOU
– Viewing Posted Calendars
– CM/ECF Attorney Registration Application
– CM/ECF Procedure Manual (the actual CM/ECF application will be up and running)

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and encourage you to plan accordingly.

Best regards,
ECF Support
(213) 894-2365

LACBA Program on New Local Bankruptcy Rules – Wednesday, February 6, 2013

By | January 29, 2013 | Programs | 1 Comment

Learn about the new Local Bankruptcy Rule amendments from a judge and a law clerk who will be making sure you comply!  Get up to date on procedure changes, clarifications and other improvements in the Local Bankruptcy Rules.

Speakers:
Jeffrey R. Cozad, Law Clerk Hon. Vincent Zurzolo
Hon. Thomas B. Donovan, United States Bankruptcy Court
David A. Tilem, L/O Of David A Tilem

Parking:
Self Parking Available for $10.00, with validation.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Read more…

Some New 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Rules

By | January 25, 2013 | Appeals | 4 Comments

January 25, 2013

Dear constituency list members of the Insolvency Law Committee, the following is a summary of new procedures recently adopted by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:

Electronic Submission of Excerpts: Encouraged as of January 1, 2013 and required as of March 1, 2013. 

While paper copies are still required, parties are now strongly encouraged to submit electronically via Appellate ECF their (i) Excerpts of Record, (ii) Supplemental Excerpts, and/or (iii) Further Excerpts on the same day they electronically submit their brief, unless the Excerpts contain sealed materials. The electronic submission of all non-sealed Excerpts will become mandatory on March 1, 2013 for all parties registered for Appellate ECF.

After electronic submission, the procedure will mirror the current procedure for briefs. After the Court reviews the electronically-submitted Excerpts, the Court will direct parties to file 4 paper copies of the Excerpts with the Court. Parties shall serve a paper copy on any party not registered for Appellate ECF on the same day that the Excerpts are submitted electronically.

If the Excerpts contain sealed materials, parties are instructed NOT to electronically submit the Excerpts.

Read more…

February 6, 2013 – Presentation on New Order Processing Guidelines

By | January 24, 2013 | Programs | 1 Comment

Dear Colleagues!

An FYI!

On Feb 6th at noon, Jeff Cozad, Law Clerk to the Honorable Judge Vincent Zurzolo, will be giving a presentation at the LA County Bar Association about our LBR Revisions and the new Order Processing Guidelines. It is a one hour presentation, with our very own David Tilem moderating.

The handouts we will use are posted on the court’s website.

On the LBR page, there is a link to “Summary of LBR Revisions.” The link is not that great because it indicates “Redline and Summary of Local Bankruptcy Rules Effective January 2, 2013”. But if you click on the link, it takes you to a better link that indicates “Summary of Revisions to LBR Effective January 2, 2013”.

Also on the LBR forms page, click on F 9021-1.2.BK.NOTICE.LODGMENT. On the page where the form is located, there is a link to “Order Processing Guidelines.” That is the one-page reference that is posted outside Ctrm 1368 and posted on VZ section of the website.

Keith Higginbotham
cdcbaacheck@aol.com

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