Court Updates

Local Form Updates (May 7, 2013)

The court has a new procedural form, LBF #9021, listing motions for which an order should not be submitted. The court has also updated LBFs 115, 728 and 1191.3. The link to forms appears under Court News and Announcements on the home page.

Survey Results (April 23, 2013)

Results of the survey that was sent in conjunction with the Saturday Session invitation have been posted on the Debtor-Creditor website: http://www.osb-dc.org/index.php.

Trustee Information Link (April 23, 2013)

A new link on the home page under Information for Attorneys will take you to the Debtor-Creditor Section’s website page linking and listing resources relating to trustees.

New Claims Transfer Fee to Take Effect May 1 (April 23, 2013)

Effective May 1, 2013, bankruptcy courts will begin charging a $25 fee for each claim transferred. The fee will be assessed upon the filing of the claim transfer, whether filed by a transferee or transferor. Additional information is available on the home page under Court News and Announcements.

Enhancements to ECF (April 23, 2013)

Information on new ECF features is available on the home page under Court News and Announcements.

Electronic Proof of Claim (April 23, 2013)

The electronic Proof of Claim system (ePOC) became available on April 15. Using ePOC does not require an ECF login and provides an electronic filing receipt and the ability to view and save a copy of the filed document. Click the link under Information for Creditors for instructions and links.

More on Electronic Notice to Creditor Efilers (April 2, 2013)

Effective March 18, creditors using limited-filer ECF accounts receive email notifications of documents filed in that case with no “free look.” Recovery Management Systems Corporation and Atlas Acquisitions LLC are two limited-filer (i.e., non-attorney) creditors that electronically filed special notice requests in approximately 5,000 cases in 2012. These requests resulted in their being added to the “manual notice” list in ECF, and other parties in their cases have been serving them via U.S. mail. Now that the court has turned on electronic notification to non-attorney creditors and these two high-volume creditors have agreed to accept service electronically, Section members will benefit by avoiding the labor and expense of mailing notices to them.

ECF Training (April 2, 2013)

Currently scheduled ECF training dates in Portland and Eugene are: April 18, May 15, June 20 and July 17. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Chapter 7 Trustee Opening (April 2, 2013)

The US Trustee seeks resumés from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to the panel of chapter 7 trustees, for cases filed from Marion, Polk, and Lincoln Counties in the Bankruptcy Court in Eugene. See the notice on the home page under Court News & Announcements for complete details.

ECF and PACER Downtime (March 19, 2013)

The court anticipates ECF and PACER downtime on the weekend of April 13 for its upgrade to version 5.1.

Survey Results (March 19, 2013)

Results of the survey that was sent out in conjunction with the Saturday Session invitation will be posted soon on the Debtor-Creditor website.

Message from Clerk on FRBP 1007(b)(7) (March 19, 2013)

FRBP 1007(b)(7) states: An individual debtor in a chapter 7 or chapter 13 case shall file a statement of completion of a course concerning personal financial management, prepared as prescribed by the appropriate Official Form. Notwithstanding the reference to Official Form #B23, the clerk accepts the provider certificate as adequate proof of compliance with this requirement.

Change of Address Form and Procedure Modifications (March 19, 2013)

LBF #101, Change of Address, has been replaced by LBF #101C, Change of Creditor Address, and LBF #101D, Change of Debtor Address. Other parties may submit a signed request for address change. Creditors that have filed a claim no longer need to file an amended claim to update the payment address. Address changes for claimants will appear on the claims register.

Electronic Notice to Creditor Efilers (March 19, 2013)

Effective March 18, creditors using limited-filer ECF accounts will receive email notifications of documents filed in that case with no "free look."

Adjustments Effective April 1 (March 19, 2013)

Automatic adjustments to certain dollar amounts in the Code and Official Forms will apply to cases filed on or after April 1. Details are available under Court News & Announcements on the home page.

Shutdown of Services (February 19, 2013)

All on-line court services will be shut down from 7:00 pm on Friday, March 1, through 8:00 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013. No VCIS, no PACER, no court website, no ECF case filing, no access to court information via website or telephone. For more information, look under Court News & Announcements on the home page.

Law Clerk Position Open (February 19, 2013)

Judge Elizabeth Perris is accepting applications for the full-time position of term Law Clerk with administrative duties. To ensure consideration, submit application no later than March 1, 2013. The vacancy will be open until filled. For more information, click on the link under Court News & Announcements on the home page.

Saturday Session (January 22, 2013)

The annual Saturday Session of the Debtor-Creditor Section will take place March 9, 2013, at the Salem Conference Center. The program will include discussions on court updates, local bankruptcy rules and forms, and the impact of budget reductions on the courts. Registration information and formal invitations are coming soon. For more information contact Loren Scott or Sarah Filcher.

Reappointment of Judge Trish Brown (January 22, 2013)

Judge Brown’s current term will expire in December 2013, and the Ninth Circuit is considering her reappointment for another 14-year term. The court invites comments from the bar and the public. More details are available on the home page under Court News & Announcements.

LBF Updates (January 8, 2013)

On December 17, 2012, LBF 525 was updated to place the certificate of service below the debtor’s signature lines. LBF 5005 was updated to revise the list of items at the top, so that it now reads: Petition (including Exhibit D if applicable), Chapter 7 Debtor’s Statement of Intention, Declaration Concerning Debtor’s Schedules, Statement of Financial Affairs, Statement of Monthly Income, and Other.

Court Closure (December 18, 2012)

The court will be closed December 25 for the holiday.

ECF Training (December 18, 2012)

ECF training dates for January through April 2013, in Portland and Eugene, are: January 16, February 14, March 20, and April 18. The remaining training date for 2012 is December 20. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Chapter 11 Filing Fee (December 4, 2012)

As of November 21, 2012, the fee for filing a chapter 11 case has increased to $1,213. Related fees have also increased. The updated fees list can be accessed via the link on the home page under Court News & Announcements, or by clicking on “Court Fees” on the dropdown menu under Filing.

Court Closure (November 20, 2012)

The court will be closed November 22 for the holiday.

Court Closure (November 7, 2012)

The court will be closed November 12 for the holiday.

Means Test Data (November 7, 2012)

Updated means test data for petitions filed on or after November 1 have been posted on the home page under Court News & Announcements.

New Local Bankruptcy Rules and Forms (November 7, 2012)

New local rules (effective December 1) and updated local forms (effective December 1 but can be used immediately) have been posted on the website. Click on links on the home page under Court News & Announcements.

Chapter 7 Trustee Vacancy (October 23, 2012)

The US Trustee is seeking resumés for a chapter 7 panel trustee to administer cases in Oregon’s northeastern counties. Resumés must be received by October 26, 2012. See link under Court News & Announcements on home page.

Returned Mail (October 9, 2012)

Some undeliverable mail sent by the Bankruptcy Noticing Center (BNC) is currently returned to the court rather than to the debtor’s attorney. Effective October 15, the BNC will process this returned mail and inform the debtor’s attorney by email. See notice under Court News & Announcements on home page.

Proposed Updates to Local Rules (October 9, 2012)

Proposed revisions to Local Bankruptcy Rules and Forms are available for public comment. Comments must be made by October 24, 2012. See link under Court News & Announcements on home page.

New Case Administration Assignments (October 9, 2012)

Case administration assignments have changed; refer to updated court contact information (home page under Court News & Announcements) for current case assignments.

Obtaining Copies of Documents from a Previous Bankruptcy Filing (September 6, 2012)

There is a new link on the home page under Information for Debtors, to a page that explains options for obtaining copies of case documents.

ECF Training (August 21, 2012)

ECF training dates through December 2012 for Portland and Eugene are: September 19, October 18, and December 20, 2012. In November the training dates are November 7 for Eugene and November 14 for Portland. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

New Email Reminder for Installment Payments (August 21, 2012)

The court has a new program to send email reminders to debtors approved to pay filing fees in installments. It will send an email reminder to the debtor 10 days before the installment payment is due. The program is available for installment applications filed on August 11, 2012 or later. For more information, see the notice on the home page under Court News and Announcements.

PACER Unavailable (August 7, 2012)

On Saturday, August 11, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., PACER, ECF (Electronic Case Filing), Judges’ Calendars and 341 Meeting Calendars accessed via the court website will be unavailable while the court performs system maintenance. See notice on the home page under Court News & Announcements.

Chapter 11 Filing Fee (July 25, 2012)

Effective November 21, 2012, the fee for filing a chapter 11 case will increase to $1,213.

Check Processing Change (July 25, 2012)

As of mid-July, the court will convert checks to scanned images for electronic processing, rather than depositing checks for fees and unclaimed funds with the bank. The court has updated its fee schedule, installment fee order and other fee-related forms to advise the public of this change. Click on the Court Fees link under Filing on the home page for the updated fee schedule.

ECF Training (July 25, 2012)

ECF training dates through December 2012 have been posted for Portland and Eugene: August 16, September 19, October 18, November 14 and December 20, 2012. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Court Closure (July 3, 2012)

The court will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, in observance of the holiday.

Website Down (June 19, 2012)

The court website will be unavailable tonight, June 19, from 6:00 to 6:30 pm while the court performs maintenance.

Court Closure (May 22, 2012)

The court will be closed Monday, May 28, in observance of the holiday.

Internet Access in the Courtrooms (May 8, 2012)

For security reasons, the password for public internet access in the courtrooms is changed every six months. This email update will advise you when the password has changed (but will not provide the actual password).

ECF Training (May 8, 2012)

ECF training dates through September 2012 have been posted for Portland and Eugene: May 16, June 21, July 18, August 16 and September 19, 2012. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Means Test Update (May 8, 2012)

Updates to data required to complete Forms 22A and 22C (means testing) can be found on the link under Court News & Announcements. The data, posted by the US Trustee program, covers the period from November 1, 2011, to April 30, 2012.

National Mortgage Settlement (May 8, 2012)

The site now contains a link to the National Mortgage Settlement web page created by the US Trustee, which provides information about the program and links to related websites. On the home page, click on the link under Court News & Announcements, or National Mortgage Settlement Link under Information for Debtors.

ECF Training (April 4, 2012)

ECF training dates through June 2012 are: Portland: April 19; Eugene: April 26; Portland and Eugene: May 16 and June 21, 2012. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

341(a) Meeting Video (March 20, 2012)

A video of a §341(a) meeting of creditors has been added to the home page under Information for Debtors.

ECF Down March 24 (March 20, 2012)

From 7:00 am PDT on Saturday, March 24, through 7:00 am PDT on Sunday, March 25, ECF, PACER, Judges’ Calendars and 341 Meeting Calendars accessed via the court website will be unavailable to all users while the court installs ECF version 4.3. For more details, see the post on the home page under Court News and Announcements.

PACER Fee Increase (March 20, 2012)

Effective April 1, 2012, the electronic public access fee to the PACER system will increase from $.08 per page to $.10 per page. There will be no fee for PACER users who do not accrue charges of more than $15 in a quarterly billing cycle. For more details, see the post on the home page under Court News and Announcements.

In re Footen, Case No. 11-28619 (February 29, 2012)

§522(b)(3)(A)

The court addressed the question of what exemptions were available to debtors who had moved from Idaho to Oregon less than 730 days before they filed their bankruptcy petition. The court concluded that the debtors could claim federal exemptions under the unnumbered final paragraph of §522(b)(3)(A), based on a choice of law analysis and Idaho law on exemptions.

Saturday Session (February 7, 2012)

There are still available places for the Saturday Session, coming up on February 11 at the Salem Conference Center. More information and the registration form can be found on the section website: http://osb-dc.org/committees.php?committee=Saturday%20Session%20Committee

Bankruptcy Judgeship - Northern District of California - San Francisco (January 24, 2012)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications for a Bankruptcy Judge position for the Northern District of California. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is March 22, 2012. The position will be available December 1, 2012. The selection process may take up to ten months to complete. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ce9.uscourts.gov.

ECF Training (January 24, 2012)

ECF training dates through June 2012 have been scheduled for Eugene and Portland: February 16, March 21, April 19, May 16 and June 21, 2012. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Court Web Page (January 10, 2012)

The court web page will be unavailable on Thursday, January 12, from 6:00 to 6:30 pm PST. ECF, PACER, Judges’ Calendars and 341 Meeting Calendars accessed via the court website will be unavailable to all users on Saturday, January 14, from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon PST.

Court Closure (January 10, 2012)

The court will be closed January 16 in observance of the holiday.

Revisions to Home Page (December 20, 2011)

A Filing Checklist link has been added under Information for Debtors. The Information for Attorneys heading no longer contains links for Courtroom Wireless, Using Filing Agents and OSB Debtor-Creditor Website. Under Information for Creditors, a Proof of Claim link has been added and other links have been simplified.

Bankruptcy Judgeships – District of Arizona (December 20, 2011)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications for three Bankruptcy Judge positions for the District of Arizona – two in Phoenix and one in Tucson. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is February 23, 2012. The positions will be available in early 2013. The selection process may take up to ten months to complete. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ca9.uscourts.gov.

Court Closure (December 20, 2011)

The court will be closed December 26 in observation of the holiday.

Deadline Extended for Bankruptcy Judgeship – Southern District of California - San Diego (December 6, 2011)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications for the position of Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of California – San Diego. The deadline for receipt of all application materials has been extended to January 19, 2012. The position will be available on October 1, 2012. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ce9.uscourts.gov.

Court Closure (November 22, 2011)

The court will be closed on November 24 in observance of the holiday.

ECF Training (November 22, 2011)

ECF training dates through April 2012 have been posted for Eugene and Portland: December 15, 2011, and January 11, February 16, March 21 and April 19, 2012. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Court Closure (November 8, 2011)

The court will be closed Friday, November 11, in observance of the holiday.

New Bankruptcy Judge (November 8, 2011)

Tom Renn, a Portland bankruptcy lawyer since 1986 and bankruptcy trustee since 2002, has been appointed to serve as bankruptcy judge in Eugene. More information is available via a link on the home page under Court News & Announcements. Congratulations Tom!

New Local Bankruptcy Rules and Forms (November 8, 2011)

New Local Bankruptcy Rules, effective December 1, 2011, have been posted on the website. Several updated Local Bankruptcy Forms have also been posted. These are effective December 1 but may be used immediately. Click on the links on the home page under Court News & Announcements for both new LBRs and updated LBFs.

Data for Forms B22A and B22C Effective November 1 (October 25, 2011)

Updated Census Bureau State Median Family Income figures and IRS Bankruptcy Allowable Living Expenses were posted on the US Trustee Program website on October 14. The new figures apply to petitions filed on or after November 1, 2011. More information is available via the link on the home page under Court News & Announcements.

Fee Changes Effective November 1 (October 25, 2011)

The Judicial Conference has approved inflationary adjustments to many bankruptcy fees, effective November 1, 2011. More information is available via the link on the home page under Court News & Announcements.

Bankruptcy Judgeship – District of Alaska - Anchorage (September 28, 2011)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications for the position of Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Alaska – Anchorage. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is December 1, 2011. The position will be available on October 10, 2012. The selection process may take up to ten months to complete. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ce9.uscourts.gov.

Bankruptcy Judgeship – Southern District of California - San Diego (September 28, 2011)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications for the position of Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of California – San Diego. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is November 17, 2011. The position will be available on October 2, 2012. The selection process may take up to ten months to complete. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ce9.uscourts.gov.

Changes in PACER Access (September 28, 2011)

The Judicial Conference of the United States recently amended its policy to restrict the availability of documents using PACER in cases filed before December 1, 2003. More information is available via the link on the home page under Court News & Announcements.

BAP Brown Bag Lunch Presentation (September 28, 2011)

On Thursday, October 20, from noon to 1:30 pm, visiting judges and law clerks from the 9th Circuit BAP will give an informal presentation on the BAP. Section members are invited and their questions are welcomed. Location: 8th floor conference room, 1001 SW 5th Ave. (Portland office of the Bankruptcy Court).

Proposed Updates to Local Bankruptcy Rules (September 28, 2011)

Proposed revisions to Local Bankruptcy Rules and Forms are posted on the website; see the link on the home page under Court News & Announcements. Comments must be made by October 21, 2011.

ECF Version 4.1 (September 13, 2011)

On September 6, the court began using ECF version 4.1. Click on the link on the home page under Court News & Announcements to learn more about its features.

Eugene Chapter 7 Trustee Vacancy (August 23, 2011)

The US Trustee for Region 18 seeks resumés from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to the panel of trustees who administer chapter 7 cases, for cases filed in the District of Oregon, primarily the Eugene Division. Interested persons should send their resumés to U.S. Trustee, Attn: Barbara Mitchell, 700 Stewart Street Suite 5103, Seattle, WA 98101. Resumés should be received on or before September 9, 2011.

ECF Training (August 23, 2011)

ECF training dates have been posted through December for Eugene and Portland: September 21, October 20, November 16 and December 15, 2011. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Using Filing Agents (August 23, 2011)

On August 22, 2011, the court posted a procedure for using filing agents. A description of the procedure and an explanatory video can be accessed via either Using Filing Agents [NEW] under Information for Attorneys, or the drop-down menu under ECF (top of home page), Using ECF, Manuals.

ECF Will Be Down (August 23, 2011)

From Friday, September 2, at 6:00 pm until Tuesday, September 6, at 8:00 am, Pacific Daylight Time, the following will be unavailable to all users: ECF, PACER, Judges’ Calendars and 341 Meeting Calendars accessed via the court’s website. The court will be installing ECF version 4.1 during that time. See item on home page under Court News & Announcements.

Chapter 7 Trustee Panel – Application for Appointment (July 5, 2011)

The U.S. Trustee seeks resumés from persons wishing to be considered for appointment to the panel of chapter 7 trustees. All resumés should be received on or before July 27, 2011. For information on the submission process, click on the New Trustee Announcement link under Court News & Announcements on the home page.

Debtor-Creditor Section Website (June 13, 2011)

An archive of these court updates is maintained on the Debtor-Creditor Section website at http://osb-dc.org/court.php?category=Court Updates.

Wireless Internet Access in Courtrooms (June 13, 2011)

Wireless internet access is now available in the Portland and Eugene courtrooms. For more information, click on the item under Court News & Announcements on the home page.

ECF Will Be Down (June 13, 2011)

ECF, PACER and VCIS will be unavailable to all users on Saturday, June 18, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time while ECF 4.1 is installed in the court’s Train database. Upon completion, the Live database will continue to operate with ECF 3.4 until further notice.

After installation of the upgrade, users of Train will be required to change their passwords to comply with new security measures. Passwords must be a minimum of 8 characters, and must include both upper-case and lower-case alphabetic characters as well as at least one number or special character such as @, #, $, %, +, etc. Upon logging onto the Train database, users will be prompted to change their passwords.

Browser Updates for ECF Users (June 7, 2011)

ECF users are advised not to upgrade to Firefox 4.x or 5.x, as these versions are not fully compatible with the court’s ECF system. The recommended version of Firefox for use with ECF is 3.6.18. The recommended version of Internet Explorer is either 7.x or 8.x. For more information see the home page item under Court News & Announcements.

Court Closure (May 24, 2011)

The court will be closed Monday, May 30, in observance of the holiday.

Resources for Filing Without an Attorney (May 24, 2011)

The list of options under Information for Debtors on the home page has been revised. The first link is now Filing without an Attorney? The page it leads to contains abundant resources and information, including manuals, videos, and FAQs. It also recommends consulting with an attorney, and provides contact information for the OSB’s Lawyer Referral Service and volunteer lawyer resources, as well as the Bankruptcy Clinic sponsored by the Debtor-Creditor Section and Legal Aid Services of Oregon.

ECF Training (May 11, 2011)

ECF training dates through October have been posted. For Eugene and Portland they are: May 18, June 16, July 20, August 18, September 21 and October 20, 2011. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Bankruptcy Judgeship – Central District of California - Riverside (April 26, 2011)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications for the position of Bankruptcy Judge for the Central District of California – Riverside. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is May 31, 2011. The position will be available on February 16, 2012. The selection process may take up to ten months to complete. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ce9.uscourts.gov.

Mandatory Electronic Filing for Creditors (April 12, 2011)

Creditors filing more than 10 claims or other documents per year must file electronically as of June 1, 2011. More details are available under both Information for Creditors and Court News & Announcements on the home page.

Reappointment of Judge Randall L. Dunn (April 12, 2011)

Judge Dunn’s current term is due to expire in January 2012, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is considering reappointment. The Court invites comments from the bar and the public, which must be submitted no later than May 6, 2011. Click on Invitations for Public Comment under Court News & Announcements for more details.

Chapter 13 Installment Payments (March 8, 2011)

Effective April 1, 2011, any chapter 13 debtor requesting installment payments must tender $125 with the filing of the petition. This policy change is based on a study by the Court showing that 25% of chapter 13 debtors who are granted installment payments do not make any fee payments to the Court.

ECF Training (March 8, 2011)

Available ECF training dates for Eugene and Portland are March 16, April 21, May 18 and June 16, 2011. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

New Website Feature (February 3, 2011)

The “Courthouses” heading on the home page (top right) has been changed to “Court Info,” and has a new item under it, “Statistics.” The clerk will post comparative case filings by chapter, county, and year, as well as an interactive charting tool with which people can develop their own data queries. Statistics will be updated at the beginning of each month.

Requests to Appear by Telephone (February 3, 2011)

If you wish to appear by telephone, please file a written request using the event name “Request to Appear by Telephone” at least three business days before the hearing. The courtroom deputy will contact you to let you know whether your request has been granted. Please note that the court does not have the ability to conduct telephone hearings in Bend.

Request from Clerk of Court (February 3, 2011)

Some debtors’ attorneys continue to file a Certification pursuant to LBR 1001-1.G with their petitions and amended schedules. The local rules no longer require this certification and the court would prefer not to receive it.

Bankruptcy Judgeship – District of Oregon, Eugene (February 3, 2011)

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit invites applications for the position of Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Oregon – Eugene. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is March 17, 2011. The selection process may take up to ten months to complete. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ce9.uscourts.gov or under Court News & Announcements on the home page.

Case Assignments (February 3, 2011)

The system for assigning Eugene cases and adversary proceedings has changed. More information is available under Court News & Announcements on the home page. In brief, until a new Eugene judge is sworn in cases will continue to be filed in Eugene as previously, but some will be assigned to Portland judges; some pending Eugene cases will be reassigned to Portland judges.

Death of Judge Radcliffe (February 3, 2011)

With much grief the court announces the unexpected passing of Judge Albert E. Radcliffe on January 19, 2011. More information is available under Court News & Announcements on the home page.

ECF Training (January 6, 2011)

Available ECF training dates for Eugene and Portland are: January 12, March 16 and April 21, 2011. There is also a Portland class on February 10 and a Eugene class on February 17. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Position Available – Intake Clerk (January 6, 2011)

The court is seeking qualified applicants for the part-time (30 hours per week) position of Intake Clerk in the Eugene office. All application documents must be received by January 18 to ensure consideration. For duties, qualifications and other details, click on the link under Court News and Announcements on the Court’s home page.

Bankruptcy Judgeships – Central District of California (December 21, 2010)

Two bankruptcy judgeship vacancies are announced for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is February 4, 2011. The selection process may take up to ten months to complete. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ce9.uscourts.gov.

Court Policy Changes (December 21, 2010)

1. The Court will begin promptly dismissing cases in which documents have not been filed within 14 days of the filing of the petition as required under FRBP 1007(c). Please read Paragraph 5 below for tips to ensure these documents are filed correctly.

2. Local form Exhibit C-1 is no longer required. If the applicable box is checked on Page 2 of the petition indicating that the debtor owns or possesses property posing a threat of imminent and identifiable harm to public health or safety, Official Form Exhibit C must be filed with the petition. Please notify the trustee of any property requiring the trustee's immediate attention.

3. Effective April 1, 2011, any chapter 13 debtor requesting installment payments must tender $125 with the filing of the petition. This policy change is based on a study by the Court showing that 25% of chapter 13 debtors who are granted installment payments do not make any fee payments to the Court.

4. When preparing reaffirmation agreements, we urge you to use the automated program on the New Jersey Bankruptcy Court website entitled Reaffirmation Agreement Package (www.njb.uscourts.gov, also available via a link on our website under Information for Creditors). It saves data entry and will avert any problems with data being overwritten when merging the Reaffirmation Cover Sheet with the Reaffirmation Agreement.

Also, the Court has been experiencing problems with reaffirmation agreements filed without the proper disclosures. The Court will return or strike these documents.

5. Tips for filing missing or deficient documents correctly:
- Use the Missing Documents Filed event under Miscellaneous to file most documents. The exceptions are Official Forms B22A, B22B, and B22C, the Chapter 13 Plan, and conversion documents, which are filed using separate events.

- Within the Missing Documents Filed event, be sure to check the correct boxes to designate what you are filing.

- Include both pages of the Summary of Schedules if the debtor is an individual.

- Include the Declaration to Debtor's Schedules when filing any schedule.

- Use current versions of the forms.

- Do not scan the forms. Use fillable pdfs.

- Include signatures in the “/s/ Name” format in all required places.

- Verify that you are attaching the correct pdf.

McVIS Service (December 7, 2010)

The Court encourages you to use its new Voice Case Information System, available at 866-222-8029. The system provides the same basic case information via your telephone as the current VCIS, which is being replaced due to its age and unreliability.

Court Closure (November 23, 2010)

The court will be closed Thursday, November 25, in observance of the holiday.

Employment Opportunity (November 23, 2010)

There is an opening for an intake clerk at the Bankruptcy Court in Eugene. Click on the link under Court News & Announcements on the home page for complete application information. Materials must be submitted by December 6, 2010, to ensure consideration.

ECF Training (November 11, 2010)

A new schedule of ECF training dates for Eugene and Portland has been posted. Available dates are December 16, 2010, and January 12, February 17, March 16 and April 21, 2011. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Award of Merit (November 11, 2010)

At the Debtor-Creditor Section Annual Meeting held on October 30, 2010, the Section presented its highest honor, the William N. Stiles Debtor-Creditor Section Award of Merit, to the Honorable Albert E. Radcliffe, Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court, Eugene, for his significant contributions to the Section.

New Local Bankruptcy Rules and Forms (November 11, 2010)

Now posted on the website are: new Local Bankruptcy Rules; updated Local Bankruptcy Forms 125, 541.7, 720.80, 720.90, 763.2, 1317 and 1317.5; and new LBF #B10A (Proof of Non-Professional Administrative Expense). Click on the links under Court News & Announcements on the home page. The new LBRs are effective December 1. The updated forms may be used immediately.

Court Closure (November 11, 2010)

The court will be closed Thursday, November 11, in observance of the holiday.

New Chief Judge (September 27, 2010)

Effective October 1, 2010, Judge Frank R. Alley will begin a five-year term as Chief Judge of the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon.

Proposed Changes to Local Rules and Forms (September 25, 2010)

Proposed revisions to Local Bankruptcy Rules and Forms are available for
public comment. Proposed changes are shown in "redline/strikeout"
format and are accompanied by notes explaining the basis for the changes.
Please direct comments to the bankruptcy court at:
http://www.orb.uscourts.gov/Home/comment_form.cfm by 10/24/10. Thank you!

Register of Qualified Mediators (July 27, 2010)

The Court has updated its register of qualified mediators. For more information, click on the link under Court News and Announcements on the Court’s home page.

Invalid Mailing Addresses (July 27, 2010)

The Bankruptcy Noticing Center no longer mails notices to creditors with invalid (undeliverable, per USPS) addresses. Click on the Court News and Announcements link for details.

Reaffirmation Agreements (July 27, 2010)

The New Jersey Bankruptcy Court has developed a program to automate the creation of reaffirmation cover sheets and agreements. See http://www.njb.uscourts.gov/rap.html.

Bankruptcy Judgeship – Northern District of California (July 13, 2010)

A bankruptcy judgeship vacancy is announced for the Northern District of California in Oakland. The position will become available in January 2011, and the deadline for receipt of all application materials is August 26, 2010. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ce9.uscourts.gov.

Job Opening – Courtroom Deputy (July 13, 2010)

The Court seeks applicants for the position of courtroom deputy. The position will become available on September 27, 2010, and all application documents must be received by July 23 to ensure consideration. For duties, qualifications and other details, click on the link under Court News and Announcements on the Court's home page.

ECF Training (June 29, 2010)

New ECF training dates through December 2010 have been posted. For Eugene and Portland they are: July 21, August 19, September 15, October 21, November 17 and December 16. For Portland only: August 5. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Court Closure (June 29, 2010)

The court will be closed Monday, July 5, in observance of the holiday.

Bankruptcy Judgeship – Western District of Washington (June 8, 2010)

A bankruptcy judgeship vacancy is announced for the Western District of Washington. The position will become available in January 2011, and the deadline for receipt of all application materials is August 5, 2010. The announcement and application form can be found at www.ce9.uscourts.gov.

New Bankruptcy Judge – Western District of Washington (June 8, 2010)

Brian Lynch, who was a Standing Chapter 12 and Chapter 13 Trustee for the Portland Division of the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon since 2004, was appointed to serve as a judge of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington.

Court Closure (May 25, 2010)

The court will be closed Monday, May 31, in observance of the holiday.

Surplus Equipment Sale (May 11, 2010)

The court has surplus equipment for sale. See item under Court News & Announcements on home page. All bids must be received by 11:59 pm on May 18.

Local Bankruptcy Forms (May 11, 2010)

Two LBFs were updated in April: B10 (Proof of Claim) and 201 (Application for Inclusion on Court’s Register of Qualified Mediators).

ECF Training (May 11, 2010)

Currently scheduled training dates for Eugene and Portland are: June 17, July 21 and August 19. There are openings in the May 19 class in Eugene; the Portland class is full. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

Adjustments to Dollar Amounts (May 11, 2010)

On April 1, automatic adjustments to certain dollar amounts in the Bankruptcy Code and official forms became effective for cases filed on or after April 1, 2010. More information and pending form changes are posted at www.uscourts.gov.bankform/index.html.

Bankruptcy Judgeships – Central District of California (May 11, 2010)

Two bankruptcy judgeship vacancies will become available in early 2011 in the Central District of California - Los Angeles Division. The deadline for receipt of all application materials is June 17, 2010. See www.ce9.uscourts.gov for the announcement and application packet.

Final §363(b) Sale Guidelines Posted (May 11, 2010)

LBF 363 (Guidelines Regarding Motions for Sales of All or Substantially All Assets and Sale Procedures Motions) is posted on the site under Rules and Forms.

ECF Waiver (May 11, 2010)

The court has approved a limited waiver of the ECF filing requirements for lawyers whose only work in bankruptcy court is on a pro bono basis for chapter 7 debtors. The waiver application and order forms are posted on the Debtor-Creditor section website at http://osb-dc.org/bankruptcyclinic.htm.

Local Rules Committee (May 11, 2010)

The Debtor-Creditor Section has reestablished a Local Rules Committee to review and discuss new local rules and forms on an ongoing basis. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please contact either Dave Hercher, dave.hercher@millernash.com, or Tom Renn, thomas.renn@7trustee.net.

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Archived Court Updates

2010 Court Updates

• May 11, 2010
• April 27, 2010
• April 13, 2010
• March 24, 2010
• March 9, 2010
• February 16, 2010
• February 2, 2010
• January 19, 2010
• January 5, 2010

2009 Court Updates

• December 23, 2009
• December 8, 2009
• November 24, 2009
• November 10, 2009
• October 27, 2009
• October 13, 2009
• September 29, 2009
• September 15, 2009
• August 20, 2009
• August 6, 2009
• July 23, 2009
• July 8, 2009
• June 23, 2009
• June 9, 2009
• May 26, 2009
• May 12, 2009
• April 22, 2009
• April 9, 2009
• March 31, 2009
• March 24, 2009
• March 17, 2009
• March 10, 2009
• March 3, 2009
• February 24, 2009
• February 17, 2009
• February 10, 2009
• February 2, 2009
• Janury 27, 2009
• Janury 20, 2009
• Janury 13, 2009
• Janury 8, 2009

2008 Court Updates

• December 23, 2008
• December 16, 2008
• December 9, 2008
• December 2, 2008
• November 25, 2008
• November 18, 2008
• November 11, 2008
• November 4, 2008
• October 28, 2008
• October 21, 2008
• October 14, 2008
• October 7, 2008
• September 30, 2008
• September 23, 2008
• September 16, 2008
• September 9, 2008
• September 2, 2008
• August 26, 2008
• August 19, 2008
• August 12, 2008
• August 5, 2008
• July 29, 2008
• July 22, 2008
• July 15, 2008
• July 8, 2008
• July 1, 2008
• June 24, 2008
• June 17, 2008
• June 10, 2008
• June 3, 2008
• May 27, 2008
• May 20, 2008
• May 13, 2008
• May 8, 2008
• May 1, 2008
• April 22, 2008
• April 15, 2008
• April 8, 2008
• April 1, 2008
• March 25, 2008
• March 20, 2008
• March 11, 2008
• March 4, 2008
• February 26, 2008
• February 19, 2008
• February 12, 2008
• February 5, 2008
• January 29, 2008
• January 22, 2008
• January 15, 2008
• January 9, 2008
• January 2, 2008

2007 Court Updates

• December 26, 2007
• December 18, 2007
• December 11, 2007
• December 4, 2007
• November 27, 2007
• November 20, 2007
• November 13, 2007
• November 6, 2007 [Attachment]
• October 30, 2007
• October 23, 2007
• October 16, 2007
• October 9, 2007
• October 2, 2007
• September 25, 2007
• September 18, 2007
• September 11, 2007
• September 4, 2007
• August 28, 2007
• August 21, 2007
• August 15, 2007
• August 6, 2007
• July 31, 2007
• July 24, 2007
• July 17, 2007
• July 10, 2007
• July 3, 2007
• June 26, 2007
• June 19, 2007
• June 12, 2007
• June 5, 2007
• May 29, 2007
• May 22, 2007
• May 15, 2007
• May 8, 2007
• May 1, 2007
• April 24, 2007
• April 17, 2007
• April 10, 2007
• April 3, 2007
• March 27, 2007
• March 20, 2007
• March 13, 2007
• March 7, 2007
• February 27, 2007
• February 20, 2007
• February 14, 2007
• February 6, 2007
• January 30, 2007
• January 23, 2007
• January 17, 2007
• January 9, 2007
• January 3, 2007

2006 Court Updates

• December 26, 2006
• December 19, 2006
• December 12, 2006
• December 5, 2006
• November 28, 2006
• November 21, 2006
• November 14, 2006
• November 7, 2006
• October 31, 2006
• October 24, 2006
• October 17, 2006
• October 10, 2006
• October 3, 2006
• September 26, 2006
• September 19, 2006
• September 13, 2006
• September 6, 2006
• August 29, 2006
• August 22, 2006
• August 15, 2006
• August 8, 2006
• August 2, 2006
• July 25, 2006
• July 18, 2006
• July 11, 2006
• July 5, 2006
• June 27, 2006
• June 20, 2006
• June 13, 2006
• June 7, 2006
• May 30, 2006
• May 23, 2006
• May 17, 2006
• May 9, 2006
• May 3, 2006
• April 25, 2006
• April 18, 2006
• April 12, 2006
• April 6, 2006
• March 28, 2006
• March 21, 2006
• March 14, 2006
• March 8, 2006
• March 1, 2006
• February 22, 2006
• February 15, 2006
• February 8, 2006
• January 31, 2006
• January 24, 2006