ABI Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy – First Public Meeting is May 6, 2017

By | April 13, 2017 | Community, Current Events | No comments

From Prof. Bob Lawless,

As you may have read, the American Bankruptcy Institute has announced the formation of a Commission on Consumer Bankruptcy (https://consumercommission.abi.org/). The Commission has been given the task of recommending improvements in consumer bankruptcy at all levels. Chaired by retired Bankruptcy Judges William Houston Brown and Elizabeth Perris, the Commission is composed of seventeen experts who broadly represent the various stakeholders in the consumer bankruptcy system. The Commission has been saddled with me as its reporter. The Commission will issue a final report in December 2018.

The Commission’s first public meeting will be held during the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys’ (NACBA) 2017 Annual Convention on May 6 from 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM in Oceanic Room 1 of the Walt Disney Dolphin Hotel, the conference hotel. The Commission invites interested persons to request time to make an oral statement at this public meeting, and in addition (or alternatively) to submit a written statement to the Commission. To request a time for a public statement or to send a written statement, please use the Commission’s public email address: ConsumerCommission@abiworld.org. (I monitor this account.) Read more…

Sign up for the Legal Specialization Exam

By | April 12, 2017 | Specialist Information | No comments

The one-day State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization examination takes place on Tuesday, October 24, 2017.  The examination will not be offered again until 2019, so why wait to earn your board certification?

If you sign up before May 1, 2017, the fee is only $100.  If you wait it will be $650.

Attorneys can earn certification in the following areas: Admiralty and Maritime Law, Appellate Law, Bankruptcy Law, Criminal Law, Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law, Family Law, Franchise and Distribution Law, Immigration and Nationality Law, Legal Malpractice Law, Taxation Law and Workers’ Compensation Law.

The State Bar offers free preparation packets and information about the other certification requirements. For more information, see the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization website.

San Fernando Valley Bar Association — Bankruptcy Section Program: Judge Russell and J. Scott Bovitz on Sec. 523(a)(2)(A)

By | March 2, 2017 | Programs | No comments

I went to the presentation that Scott Bovitz and Judge Russell gave last year at the San Fernando Valley Bat Assoc. and it was amazing — Steve Fox sent out the following info re their program this year: 

We try each year to have Judge Barry Russell and J. Scott Bovitz speak about Section 523(a) issues of interest. They are an entertaining and informative pair. They educate; they delight; they teach and we learn. Here is a summary of material of what this duo will discuss:

• Tips for litigating fraud cases under 11 U.S.C. §523(a)(2)(A)” will be of interest to both debtors and creditors. Read more…

Gerry McNally RIP

By | February 9, 2017 | Community | No comments

Image result for gerald mcnally attorneyDear Friends and Colleagues:

Some of you already know that our colleague Gerry McNally passed away recently.  I was able speak to a staff member at his office this morning to get more detail.  Gerry passed away January 16, 2017 from a massive stroke.  He is survived by his wife, two children and two stepchildren.

Services will be held on February 18, 2017 at 1:00pm at the Church of Scientology, Advanced Organization Building, 1306 L. Ron Hubbard Way, Los Angeles.  For those of you unfamiliar with the area, the church is just west of Vermont on Sunset, across from the Kaiser Hospital.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.

Pat

Patrick T. Green
Attorney at Law
Fitzgerald & Green, Attorneys at Law

Court is Asking for Local Students to Participate in 9th Circuit Civics Contest

By | February 9, 2017 | Court Clerk Information | No comments

The U.S. District and Bankruptcy Courts for the Central District of California are encouraging high school students to participate in the 2017 Ninth Circuit Civics essay and video competition (the “Contest”).

The theme of the Contest is “Not to be Forgotten: Legal Lessons of the Japanese Internment.”  Students are asked to relate the legal history of the Japanese internment to current government efforts to protect the nation against terrorism.  The focus is on constitutional conflicts that can arise when national security and individual rights are both at stake. Student winners will receive cash prizes and other recognition.

For more information, please review the attached flyer.

Sixth Annual LCL 5K Benefiting Public Counsel’s Debtor Assistance Project!

By | February 8, 2017 | Current Events, Pro Bono | No comments

Registration is now open for the Sixth Annual LCL 5K Benefiting Public Counsel’s Debtor Assistance Project (“DAP”)!

For over 17 years, Public Counsel’s DAP has helped thousands of individuals and families struggling under crushing debt loads navigate the bankruptcy system. The DAP provides greatly needed pro bono legal services to close to 3,000 individuals and families every year.

This premier event is happening on Saturday, April 22 at 8 am at beautiful Dockweiler Beach in Playa Del Rey!   The 5k is an all flat, 100% ocean front, chip-timed course that will be enjoyable for everyone from elite runners to casual walkers (strollers welcome).  Free race photo downloads will be available for all participants.  Easy parking in the beach lot at the race start or free parking on Vista del Mar.  We are limited to 400 participants so please register soon, before the race fills up! Read more…

State of Washington & State of Minnesota v. Trump

By | February 7, 2017 | Community, Current Events | No comments

From Judge Martin Barash

For those of you that may be interested in following the Ninth Circuit appeal of the TRO enjoining the President’s executive order regarding immigration, here’s a link to the public webpage containing the case docket. This page contains links to all of the legal briefs filed in the appeal–on all sides of the issue–as well as the orders of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The final reply brief of the government is due later today, at 3pm Pacific.

The link is here.

cdcbaa 9th Circuit Review Video Conferencing Went Very Nicely

By | January 31, 2017 | Community, Programs | No comments

We had a pretty big crowd again at the 9th Circuit Review last Saturday at Southwestern Law School.  The classroom on the third floor was definitely full.  Judge Zurzolo and Judge Taylor were great.

We set up the program for video conferencing.  I say “we,” but Peter Lively did the work.  We had 8 or 9 people attend the program by video conference and the feedback was pretty good.  It wasn’t perfect but it will be a little more perfect on February 11.  I think I’m going to try it myself.  If you sign up and connect, you can sit at your computer at home or in the office and watch and listen to the speakers – live.  There is a Zoom app for smart-phones and tablets, so viewing can be from anywhere.

To attend the programs by video conferencing you just need to get a free account at Zoom.us.  Then you send an email to Peter Lively at peter@petermlively.com.  He will send you the materials for the program and the link the night before the program.  You must be a member of the cdcbaa as always to attend but there is no further cost after that.  The sign-in sheets and MCLE certificates are processed through emails with Linda after the program.

Give it a try.

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Good Time to Join the Business Law Section of the State Bar

By | January 30, 2017 | Community | No comments
Note from the Business Law Section, Insolvency Law eBulletin:
January 30, 2017
Dear Attorney,

Now is the perfect time to join the Business Law Section (BLS) of the State Bar and take advantage of all the BLS membership benefits, including up to 6.0 hours of free Ethics MCLE self-study.  The State Bar has extended the MCLE compliance and reporting deadline for those with last names beginning with N-Z (Group 3)  to March 1, 2017, so it is not too late to get those much needed credits if you join today.

Your Business Law Section membership will include: Read more…

Brown Bag on the Loan Modification Management Program – Feb 6, 2017 at Roybal

By | January 24, 2017 | Community, Judges Corner, Programs | No comments

Judges Barash and Bason are going to host a brown bag lunch presentation on the Loan Modification Management Program (“LMM”) currently in the pilot phase in cases pending before Judges Barash, Bason, Bauer, Brand and Yun.  The luncheon will be held on 2/6/17 at 12:00 p.m. at the Roybal building.    This is the link to the event page on the Court’s website.

I highly recommend attending this.  The courts need our input.  If they don’t get our input, they are flying blind to some extent.  There is certainly the desire on the part of the courts to help.

See you there.

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