Court Updates

Local Form Revisions (March 21, 2016)

LBF 1300.14 has been modified to correct references to amounts on the proof of claim form in Paragraph 2(b)(1). Follow the links under News & Announcements for the updated form, which debtors’ attorneys should begin using as soon as practicable. Further, because severance of a chapter 13 case may affect plan payments for both debtors, the court’s orders granting motions to sever cases with joint chapter 13 debtors will now provide that the trustee shall make no further distributions in the original case without order of the court or approval of a modified plan.

Pending Changes in National Bankruptcy Forms (March 21, 2016)

Automatic adjustments will be made on April 1, 2016, to dollar amounts in various provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, one provision in Title 28, seven Official Bankruptcy Forms, the Instructions for Individual and Non-Individual Debtors, two Director’s Forms, and one set of instructions for a Director’s Form. The adjustments will apply to cases filed on or after April 1, 2016. More details and a list of the provisions to be adjusted is at the link under News & Announcements.

Judicial Vacancy Announcement (March 9, 2016)

The Ninth Circuit invites applications from candidates for the position of Bankruptcy Judge for the District of Oregon, to be based in Portland. All details (as well as application materials) are available via links under News & Announcements on the court’s home page. May 12, 2016, is the deadline for receipt of all completed application materials.

New Address for Chapter 12 Trustee (February 26, 2016)

As of February 25, the address for the chapter 12 trustee is 5506 Sixth Avenue S #207, Seattle, Washington 98108. Main telephone 206-441-0203; VB direct dial 206-441-0205; fax 206-624-2631.

Availability of Audio Files of Court Proceedings on the Docket (February 26, 2016)

On February 25, the court began making digital audio files of court proceedings available to the public over the internet using a program called CourtSpeak. Additional details about the program are available via the link under News & Announcements. It will be the responsibility of counsel to notify the courtroom deputy before or during the hearing if they wish to restrict audio from the internet.

Court Closure (February 9, 2016)

The court will be closed Monday, February 15, for the holiday.

Court Closure (January 12, 2016)

The court will be closed Monday, January 18, for the holiday.

Court Closure (December 22, 2015)

The court will be closed Friday, December 25, for the Christmas holiday. The court will be open December 24 from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. The court will also be closed New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2016.

Court Closure (November 24, 2015)

The court will be closed Thursday, November 26, for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

Local Rule and Form Changes (November 24, 2015)

Local rule and form changes are effective December 1, 2015. Links to the changes are available under News & Announcements on the site.

ECF Down Time (November 24, 2015)

On Monday, November 30, 2015, from 6 p.m. until midnight Pacific Time, Electronic Case Filing (ECF), PACER, filling claims via the court website (ePOC), filing financial certificates via the court website (eFinCert), website calendars, and VCIS will be unavailable to all users as the court upgrades for new Official Bankruptcy Forms effective December 1, 2015. Please plan accordingly.

New Location for Bend Creditor Meetings (November 10, 2015)

Starting on January 1, 2016, Bend chapter 7 and chapter 13 creditor meetings will be held at the Bend Juvenile Justice Building, 63360 Britta St #1, Bend, Oregon 97701.

Court Closure (November 10, 2015)

The court will be closed Wednesday, November 11, for the Veterans Day holiday.

Scam Targets Bankruptcy Filers (October 26, 2015)

Phone scammers are targeting bankruptcy filers in several states, using personal information from filings and posing as attorneys to get intended victims to immediately wire money to satisfy a debt.

The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys issued a warning: “Under no circumstances would a bankruptcy attorney or staff member telephone a client and ask for a wire transfer immediately to satisfy a debt. Nor would the bankruptcy attorney and staff ever threaten arrest if a debt isn’t paid.”

Typically the calls come late in the evening or during non-business hours to make it difficult for intended victims to verify the call by contacting their attorney. Consumers receiving this kind of call should hang up and contact their bankruptcy attorney as soon as possible. Do not give any personal or financial account information to the caller.

Proposed Local Rule and Form Changes – Comment by 10/30/15(October 14, 2015)

Proposed changes to the Local Bankruptcy Rules (LBRs) and Local Bankruptcy Forms (LBFs) are posted via a link on the site for review. If adopted, these changes will be effective December 1, 2015. Comments on the proposed changes are invited and must be submitted by October 30, 2015. To submit comments, follow the link on the home page to the link on the explanation.

Judge Trish M. Brown Designated as Chief Judge (October 14, 2015)

Judge Trish M. Brown has been designated Chief Judge of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon effective October 1, 2015, for a five-year term. Per 28 USC §154(b), the chief judge shall ensure that the rules of the bankruptcy court and of the district court are observed and that the business of the bankruptcy court is handled effectively and expeditiously.

NextGen FAQs and Additional Web Training (September 16, 2015)

There are links on the home page to an updated version of NextGen Frequently Asked Questions, and to instructions for joining a web and telephone training session on Tuesday, September 22 at 8 a.m.

ECF Downtime September 25-27 (September 16, 2015)

The court’s CM/ECF and PACER systems, Voice Case Information System (VCIS), and website calendars will be unavailable from Friday, September 25 at 5 p.m. through Sunday, September 27 so the court may install the first release of NextGen CM/ECF software. As a reminder, after the court completes its upgrade, all ECF users must link their upgraded PACER account to their CM/ECF accounts before they can electronically file with the court. Instructions for linking your account are available at the link on the home page.

NextGen CM/ECF (August 18, 2015)

The court will go live with NextGen CM/ECF on Monday, September 28. CM/ECF users will need to complete preparatory steps before then, and an additional step after the court goes live. Click on the home page link for more information, including training opportunities and instructions.

Message from the Clerk – Internet Access in Eugene Courthouse (August 18, 2015)

To Eugene Bankruptcy Practitioners:
I am pleased to announce that the orx_attorney wireless network is now available in the 341 Meeting Room on the ground floor of the Morse Courthouse. The password is the same as for the courtrooms and the 5th floor conference room. If you do not know what it is, you can call the court at 541-431-4000 or ask a courtroom deputy.

I am sorry this project took so long, but very glad that we have arrived at the finish line. I hope it facilitates your creditor meetings.

Charlene M. Hiss, Clerk of Court

Bend Meeting of Creditors – Change in Location (June 23, 2015)

Due to the closure of the Bend National Guard Armory, chapter 7 and chapter 13 creditor meetings will be held at Hilton Garden Inn Bend, 425 SW Bluff Drive, Bend 97702, until further notice.

Updated Means Testing Information (June 9, 2015)

Updated means testing information, applicable to petitions filed on or after May 15, is available at http://www.justice.gov/ust/means-testing

Local Form Updates (June 9, 2015)

Click on the link under News & Announcements. LBF 1351E has been updated to reflect the new payment address for Eugene Chapter 13 trustee Naliko Markel. Effective June 1, the new payment address is: Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee, PO Box 613199, Memphis, TN 38101-3199.

LBF B254, B255, B256, and B257 are new fillable versions of the official subpoena forms for Rule 2004 examinations, to appear and testify at a hearing or trial, to testify at a depositio n, and to produce documents or permit inspection of premises. These forms may be used in bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings in any district.

LBF 763, the claim objection form, has been updated later to correct an issue with the order language encroaching on the document heading.

Change of Chapter 13 Trustee Address (May 5, 2015)

Effective June 1st, the payment address for Naliko Markel, Chapter 13 Trustee in Eugene, will change to PO Box 613199, Memphis, TN 38101-3199.

Responses to Survey (May 5, 2015)

The court extends a big thank you to everyone who responded to its recent survey concerning how to improve its procedures. The responses were very helpful, and several of the ideas and issues presented are still under consideration. While the survey is now closed, you can always send comments and suggestions by clicking “Contact Us” at the bottom of the website, www.orb.uscourts.gov.

A suggestion that was enthusiastically endorsed by the members of the Debtor-Creditor Section was to move the PDF headers, which contain the case number, document number, and filing date for the filed documents, from the top to the bottom of the page so the information is more easily viewable when the document is placed in a two-hole punched file. This change was made on April 21. Please note that the PDF header (now footer) may be positioned over other footers such as the law firm address. The court is not concerned about this, but firms may want to view some of their filed documents and consider whether to change their stationery if there is a conflict.

Another suggestion was to accommodate unavailable dates for 341 meetings. Regrettably, the court cannot do this with its present software. However, debtors’ attorneys agreed that being able to view upcoming 341 dates for each location would help them determine whether a delay in filing might avoid a 341 meeting conflict with their own or their client’s schedule. With the concurrence of the U.S. Trustee, the court is now publishing prospective 341 meeting dates on its website. You can view them at http://www.orb.uscourts.gov/prospective-dates-341-meetings. To find the list from the home page, click on Information for Attorneys, then on Prospective Dates for 341 Meetings in the QuickLinks box at the bottom left.

As a result of the survey, the court also became aware that the Judge Trustee Assignment program was not operating properly to set batches of cases filed together on the same 341 date. A fix has been installed.

Local Form Updates (May 5, 2015)

Local forms 1300.14, 1366, 391, 541, 541.1 and 541.5 have been updated. Click on the link under News & Announcements. The updated forms may be used immediately.

Programmer Analyst Vacancy (April 7, 2015)

The bankruptcy court is recruiting for the position of Programmer Analyst in its Portland office. See the Employment page (links at bottom of home page and under News & Announcements) for details. The position is open until filled.

Adjusted Census Bureau State Median Family Income Data Available(March 24, 2015)

Follow the links under the announcement on the home page to the U.S. Trustee Program website for new figures applicable to bankruptcy petitions filed on or after April 1, 2015. On April 29, the same website will make available new figures for IRS Bankruptcy Allowable Living Expenses and Chapter 13 Administrative Expense Multipliers. The new figures will apply to bankruptcy petitions filed on or after May 15, 2015.

Judge McKittrick Investiture (March 10, 2015)

Save the date! The formal investiture of Hon. Peter C. McKittrick will take place on April 2, 2015, at 4:00 pm in the 16th floor Ceremonial Courtroom of the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse. A reception will follow from 5:00 to 6:30 pm.

Notice from Clerk of 9th Circuit BAP (February 24, 2015)

For all cases opened at the BAP beginning February 1, 2015, all excerpts of record must be filed electronically and no paper copies will be necessary. In all other cases effective immediately any attorney or other electronic filer may file the excerpts electronically without submitting paper copies. Please see Rule 3 of the Administrative Order Regarding Electronic Filing in BAP Cases available on the BAP website at www.ca9.uscourts.gov/bap/.

Local Rules and LBF 763 Updates (February 12, 2015)

The Local Bankruptcy Rules have been modified to correct references to LBR 9021-1. Paragraph 2 of LBF 763 (objection to claim) has been modified to provide more space for “other” grounds for objection. The court will continue to accept the previous version of the form. See link under News & Announcements.

Programmer Analyst Vacancy (February 12, 2015)

The bankruptcy court is recruiting for the position of Programmer Analyst in its Portland office. See the Employment page (links at bottom of home page and under News & Announcements) for details. The position is open until filled; review of applicants will begin February 25.

Court Closure (February 12, 2015)

The court will be closed Monday, February 16, for the holiday.

Proposed Federal Rule and Form Changes for Comment by February 17 (January 27, 2015)

A number of rule and form amendments, including many proposed changes to bankruptcy rules and forms, have been published for public comment. Written comments are due by February 17, 2015. See the announcement on the home page under News & Announcements. The proposed changes are found at http://www.uscourts.gov/RulesAndPolicies/rules/proposed-amendments.aspx

Administrative Coordinator Vacancy (January 26, 2015)

The court is recruiting for an administrative coordinator in the Portland office. The position is available immediately, and a full description can be found on the Employment page – which advises submitting an application by January 27 to ensure consideration.

PACER and ECF Down Time (January 26, 2015)

The ECF, PACER and VCIS systems will be down on Saturday, January 30, from 8:00 am to around noon for a software upgrade.

Portland Case Reassignments and Local Form Changes (January 14, 2015)

Peter McKittrick assumed the office of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in Portland, Oregon on Monday, January 12; a number of cases have been transferred from Judge Elizabeth Perris to Judge McKittrick, Judge Brown, and Judge Dunn. Judge Perris has also retained some cases. Please check the case docket for any case formerly assigned to Judge Perris to determine the current presiding judge.

The following Local Bankruptcy Forms (LBFs) have been updated to add telephone hearing information for Judge McKittrick: 1124, Chapter 11/12 Notice of Stay Relief Motion; 1355.05, Notice of Chapter 12/13 Pre-Confirmation Plan Modification; and 1366.3, Notice of Hearing Re: Trustee Godare’s Motion to Dismiss/Convert.

LBF 1351E (formerly numbered 1351L), Order Directing Employer to Pay Wages, was previously updated to change the Chapter 13 Trustee’s name per the January 1st appointment of Naliko Markel.

Court Closure (December 30, 2014)

The court will be closed on Thursday, January 1, in observance of New Year’s Day. The court will be open for normal business Wednesday, December 31, and Friday, January 2.

Saturday Session and Single-Question Survey (December 16, 2014)

The next Saturday Session will be held on February 28, 2015, at the Salem Conference Center in Salem. Registration information will be sent to Debtor-Creditor Section members soon.

Whether or not you plan to attend the Saturday Session, the planning committee is interested in your answer to the following question: If you could change one Oregon bankruptcy court procedure or practice, what would it be? Submit your answer by following the links from the News & Announcements item on the home page. All responses are anonymous.

Peter McKittrick Appointed (December 16, 2014)

On December 8, Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Sidney R. Thomas announced the appointment of Peter McKittrick to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon. Mr. McKittrick will fill a vacancy resulting from the retirement of Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth L. Perris, who will step down January 11, 2015. Mr. McKittrick will receive the oath of office from Judge Perris during a ceremony on January 12, 2015, at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Portland.

Holiday (November 25, 2014)

The court will be closed Thanksgiving Day, November 27.

Local Rule and Form Changes (November 12, 2014)

The changes have been made. Follow links on the site under News & Announcements. The new forms may be used immediately and must be used by December 1.

More on the New Website Design (October 28, 2014)

The list of posted opinions (with text available via links) is accessed through a drop-down menu item from the top menu under Judges & Opinions.

The top menu item General Information is especially comprehensive, with a drop-down menu showing Court Fees, Court Holidays, Filing Checklist, Mediation, Statistics and Unclaimed Funds.

And don’t neglect the bottom menu, with its links for Home, Employment, Glossary of Legal Terms, Court Locations and Contact Us.

Proposed Local Rule and Form Changes (October 28, 2014)

A pdf file showing local rules and forms with proposed changes is available on the site under News & Announcements. Comments are no longer being accepted. The final rules as adopted will be posted soon.

Job Opening for Law Clerk (October 28, 2014)

Judge Trish M. Brown is accepting applications for a full-time law clerk. The position is available December 29, 2014, and the closing date is November 4. Detailed information about the position including qualifications, duties, and application procedures can be found by following the links under News & Announcements and on the Employment link at bottom of main page. This is Vacancy #2104-10.

New Website Design (October 14, 2014)

It looks really good. Here are some highlights.

One feature of the new design is that the main page (at top left) now prominently displays links for: Case Locator (PACER), E-Filing (CM/ECF), Proof of Claim (ePOC), and Obtain Document Copies.

The main page also contains easily accessible links to Other Resources (Credit Counseling Agencies, Debtor Education Providers, Government Agency Addresses, Means Testing Information, Poverty Guidelines and Trustee Information).

Another new feature on the main page is Helpful Links to: Bankruptcy Clinics; Bankruptcy Fraud Hotline; Oregon State Bar; 9th Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP); U.S. Courts; U.S. District Court, District of Oregon; and U.S. Trustee, Region 18.

Proposed Local Rule and Form Changes – Comments by 10/23/14(October 14, 2014)

A pdf file showing local rules and forms with proposed changes is available on the site under News & Announcements. Comments are requested by October 23, 2014.

Employment Opportunity — Case Administrator, Eugene (September 23, 2014)

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon is accepting qualified applications for the full-time position of Case Administrator in our Eugene office. Detailed information about the position including qualifications, duties, and application procedures can be found on the Employment Page. See link at bottom of main page.

Pay.gov Duplicate Billing Issue (September 23, 2014)

Pay.gov, the company that processes internet credit card transactions for the U.S. Courts, has notified all bankruptcy courts that transactions processed September 16, 2014, were inadvertently billed to customer credit cards twice. Incorrect charges should have been reversed by now.
Questions can be directed to Pay.gov customer service at 800-624-1373, option #2, or via email to [email protected].

New and Improved Website (September 23, 2014)

If you have not already done so, surf on over to see the redesigned site and get familiar with it. I will provide further details when I return to Portland. I apologize for any infelicities in this summary as my travel computer is not really up to the task.

New Website Design (September 3, 2014)

A redesigned Oregon Bankruptcy Court website will be launched Friday, September 5. The website will have more robust search capabilities and accessibility features such as the ability to change text size. It will retain many features of the current site, including information aimed at specific audiences (attorneys, debtors, creditors). The new site is based on a judiciary-wide template now used in many federal courts. More information under Court News & Announcements.

Court Closure (August 26, 2014)

The court will be closed Monday, September 1, in observance of the holiday.

Updated LBF #100.3 (August 26, 2014)

LBF #100.3 has been modified to correct the period in which the debtor was unable to obtain credit counseling services to seven days.

Job Opening for Term (2 years) Law Clerk – Portland (August 13, 2014)

Judge Dunn is accepting applications for the position of full-time law clerk. The position will be available January 2, 2015. Qualifications, duties, application procedures and other information about the position appear on the home page link under Court News & Announcements. The position is open until filled; review of applicants will begin October 1, 2014.

Opening for Chapter 13 Standing Trustee – Eugene (July 8, 2014)

The US Trustee seeks applicants for standing trustee to administer chapter 13 cases in Eugene. Information on how to apply appears on the home page under Court News & Announcements. All applications must be received by July 31, 2014.

Bankruptcy Service and Notice (June 17, 2014)

Dave Hercher’s “Bankruptcy Service and Noticing in the District of Oregon” is posted here.

Court Closure (May 21, 2014)

The court will be closed in observance of the holiday on May 26, 2014.

Updated Chapter 13 Plan (April 23, 2014)

LBF 1300.14, an updated version of the chapter 13 plan, must be used for all chapter 13 cases filed on or after June 1, 2014. Its use between now and June 1 is optional. For more information and a link to the new form, see the link under Court News & Announcements.

Filing Fee Increases (April 23, 2014)

Effective June 1, 2014, the fee for filing an adversary proceeding will increase, as will the administrative fee for all chapters. For complete information, see the link under Court News & Announcements.

Job Opening – Case Administrator Portland (April 8, 2014)

The court seeks applicants for the position of Case Administrator in Portland. For more information, see the link under Court News & Announcements.

Job Opening – Case Administrator Eugene (April 8, 2014)

The court seeks applicants for the position of Case Administrator in Eugene. For more information, see the link under Court News & Announcements.

Updated Contact List (March 11, 2014)

The complete updated contact list (reflecting new case number assignments for case administrators and a change in courtroom deputies) is now available at the link under Court News & Announcements and under Information for Attorneys, Useful Contact Information.

ECF Training (March 11, 2014)

The new ECF training system (self-paced learning modules) is now available on the website under ECF, Getting Started, Training.

Job Opening – Case Administration Supervisor, Portland (March 11, 2014)

The court seeks applicants for the position of Case Administration Supervisor in Portland. The position is available immediately and open until filled. Complete information is at the link under Court News & Announcements.

Bankruptcy Judgeship Opportunity (March 11, 2014)

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals seeks applications for a bankruptcy judge position in Portland. The position will be available January 11, 2015, and application materials are due by May 29, 2014. The application can be downloaded from www.ca9.uscourts.gov. See the link under Court News & Announcements for complete information.

ECF Training (February 26, 2014)

The court is discontinuing ECF classroom training and replacing it with self-paced learning modules, which will (soon) be posted on the website. Anyone who needs training in the meanwhile should register for an ECF account and indicate on the registration form that they need training. The training coordinator will contact them and provide the learning modules.

Court Holiday Closure (February 11, 2014)

The court will be closed February 17, 2014 for the Presidents’ Day holiday.

Electronic Financial Management Certificate (February 11, 2014)

The Electronic Financial Management Certificate (eFinCert) is now available. Debtor Education Providers can use eFinCert to electronically file a Personal Financial Management Course Certificate. For complete information, click the link under Filing.

Excess IT Property Available (February 11, 2014)

The court is offering excess IT property for sale to the highest bidder. More information at the link under Court News & Announcements.

Job Opening – Systems Administrator, Eugene (February 11, 2014)

The court seeks applicants for the position of Systems Administrator in the Eugene office. Complete information is at the link under Court News & Announcements.

Updated Contact List (February 11, 2014)

The Portland contact list has been updated to reflect new case number assignments for case administrators and a change in courtroom deputies. See the link under Court News & Announcements. The Eugene contact list will be updated on March 3.

Scam Emails with Virus (January 14, 2014)

The federal judiciary has learned of a scam in which emails purporting to come from federal and state courts infect recipients with a computer virus. More information at the link under Court News & Announcements.

Help Desk Changes (January 14, 2014)

As of January 13, the court has discontinued its ECF Help Desk. Assistance with ECF registration, electronic filing, and other matters is available via a new email portal or by calling the appropriate court staff member. More information at the link under Court News & Announcements.

Court Closure (December 31, 2013)

The court will be closed January 1, 2014 for the holiday. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

LBR, LBF and Other Changes (December 17, 2013)

Changes to Local Bankruptcy Rules and Forms are now in effect. See the link under Court News & Announcements. Note that the minimum payment is $185 for a chapter 13 petition filed with an application to pay in installments. LBF 717.05 has been modified since its original posting. ECF has been updated to implement fee changes, and the Motion to Avoid Lien events have been combined into one event for ease of use.

Electronic Filing for Financial Management Course Providers (December 17, 2013)

As of December 1, approved personal financial management course providers may electronically file the certificate of completion of the post-petition personal financial management course for debtors directly with the court. See the link under Court News & Announcements for information on how to register for login and password for the court’s ECF system.

ECF Training (December 17, 2013)

Scheduled ECF training dates for 2013 are Portland, December 17 (note change of date), and Eugene December 19. For 2014, Eugene and Portland: January 15 and February 13. 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 26, 2013)

The court will be closed November 28 in observance of the holiday.

ECF Training (November 26, 2013)

Scheduled ECF training dates for 2013 are: Portland, December 18, and Eugene, December 19. For 2014, Eugene and Portland: January 15 and February 13. 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.

ECF Training (November 12, 2013)

Scheduled ECF training dates for Portland are November 20 and December 18; for Eugene they are November 20 and December 19. Lawyers get 4 CLE credits for ECF training. Sessions run from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. NB: the December date for Portland has been changed. The Clerk’s office will add ECF classes if there is sufficient demand.

LBR, LBF and Other Changes (November 12, 2013)

Local Bankruptcy Rules and Forms effective December 1 are now available on the website via the link under Court News & Announcements.

New Bankruptcy Exemptions (October 29, 2013)

Information about exemptions is now available at two locations on the site: under Information for Debtors, Filing Without an Attorney, Helpful Information for Filing, at page 7 of the document this link opens; and under Filing, FAQ, What Are Exemptions?

Revised LBF 763.2 and 763 (October 29, 2013)

Objection to claim forms have been revised and are available for immediate use; see link under Court News & Announcements.

Limited Counter Service 10-30 (October 29, 2013)

Counter service tomorrow, October 30, is limited in both offices, as clerk’s office staff will be training.

Changes Effective December 1 (October 29, 2013)

Amendments to national rules, forms and fees will go into effect December 1, 2013, unless Congress acts. The details are posted under Court News & Announcements.

New Bankruptcy Exemptions (October 15, 2013)

Oregon debtors now have the opportunity to elect federal or Oregon exemptions. An article in the forthcoming Fall 2013 issue of the Debtor-Creditor Newsletter explains it all.

ECF Training (October 15, 2013)

ECF training dates through December have been posted for Portland and Eugene: October 17, November 20 and December 19. 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.

Filing Statistics (October 1, 2013)

September’s numbers, just posted under Court Information, Statistics, show an increase in chapter 7 filings over the same period last year.

Court Remains Open (October 1, 2013)

The bankruptcy court remains open until further notice – for at least ten business days – despite the government shutdown. See more details under Court News & Announcements.

Proposed Updates to Local Bankruptcy Rules (October 1, 2013)

Proposed revisions to local rules and forms have been posted on the website for public comment. See the link under Court News & Announcements. Comments must be received by October 31, 2013.

Pacific Cargo Services, LLC, Case No. 13-30439-tmb7 (September 18, 2013)

Auction, credit bid, good faith purchaser, value

Eleven of debtor’s trucks sold at auction for $180,000, following multiple hearings on notice to creditors relating to sale of debtor’s assets. Creditor GECC moved to vacate the order approving the sale on due process grounds and because the sale price was too low. (The scheduled value of the trucks was over $900,000.) The court denied the motion, finding that the buyer bought the trucks in good faith.

Local Form Updates (August 20, 2013)

The link under Court News and Announcements on the home page now includes revision notes for two forms updated in August 2013: LBFs 753.60 and 1367.92.

Court IP Address Changes (August 20, 2013)

Several uscourts.gov Internet Protocol (IP) addresses have changed. The Judiciary recommends that you ask your email administrator to whitelist the following IP addresses:

63.241.40.200
63.241.40.202
63.241.40.204
63.241.40.205
199.107.16.200
199.107.16.202
199.107.16.204
199.107.16.205
206.18.112.200
206.18.112.202
206.18.112.204
206.18.112.205

Local Form Updates – Expanded Version (August 6, 2013)

Five LBFs were recently updated to correct references and provide procedural guidance. Here are details:

LBF 721.3 – Procedures Re Extending/Imposing Stay
In parts 2 and 3, there is an added requirement for a motion to be supported by an affidavit or declaration; in part 4, there are corrected links to LBF 721.5 and hearing date list/instructions on the website; part 5 was added to require the moving party to appear.

LBF 721.5 – Notice of Hearing Re Extending/Imposing Stay
There is an added requirement for the moving party to appear.

LBF 1307 – Chapter 13 Debtor’s Attorney’s Application for Supplemental Compensation
Paragraph 3 has been updated to include Schedule 3 of LBF 1305.

LBF 1355.05 – Notice of Pre-Confirmation Amendment of Plan and Confirmation Hearing
A reference in part 4 has been corrected.

LBF 9021 – Court Form Orders
It has been updated to add Motion to Appear by Telephone

ECF Training (July 23, 2013)

New ECF training dates have been posted for Portland and Eugene: August 15, September 18 and October 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.

General Order on Court Registry Funds (July 23, 2013)

G.O. 13-1 modifies LBR 7067-1 regarding deposit and investment of court registry funds. The order can be viewed via the link under Court News and Announcements on the home page.

Local Form Updates (July 23, 2013)

Five LBFs were recently updated to correct references and provide procedural guidance. The link under Court News and Announcements on the home page provides a list of all local forms updated from May through July 2013.

BAP Administrative Order for ECF (July 8, 2013)

The BAP has modified its Administrative Order Regarding Electronic Filing in BAP Cases to require registration with the BAP’s CM/ECF system for all attorneys appearing, participating, or wanting to receive notices in appeals before the BAP. The BAP also modified the Administrative Order to increase the maximum size for a single electronic filing, including attachments, to 50 megabytes. See Rule 1(a) and Rule 7(d) of the Administrative Order, available on the BAP website:www.ca9.uscourts.gov/bap under “Electronic Case Files (ECF).”

New Bankruptcy Exemptions (July 8, 2013)

Oregon debtors now have the opportunity to elect federal or Oregon exemptions. See the link under Court News and Announcements on the home page.

ECF/PACER/Web Calendars unavailable (July 8, 2013)

On Tuesday, July 9, 2013 from 6:00 PM PDT until 8:00 PM PDT, Voice Case Information System [VCIS], Electronic Case Filing [ECF], PACER, Electronic Proof of Claim [ePOC] filing accessed via the court website, Judges’ Calendars and 341 Meeting Calendars accessed via the court website will be unavailable to all users while the court performs system maintenance.

Telephone Hearing Changes (June 4, 2013)

Effective July 1, the current “Meet-Me” call-in numbers will be replaced by a new toll free number, 888-684-8852, and “Meet-Me” hearing IDs will change to new 7-digit access codes. Each judge will have a unique access code, and there will be another access code for hearings on stays. A list of these codes is posted on the website under Hearings and also via the link under Court News and Announcements.

A number of local forms have also been updated with the new telephone hearing information. Filers must be careful to use the correct version of these local forms. The “Meet Me” version must be used for any phone hearing held on or before June 30, and the new version must be used for any phone hearing held on or after July 1. In addition, efilers need to select the location “Telephone Hearing” instead of “Meet Me Style Telephone” in ECF for telephone hearings held on or after July 1.

Updated Forms (June 4, 2013)

New LBFs are posted on the website. See the link under Court News and Announcements on the home page. Most new forms relate to telephone hearings scheduled after July 1, 2013. See post below, Telephone Hearing Changes.

LBF #110, Application to Pay in Installments, has been modified to require a $405 minimum payment for chapter 11 individual debtors at the time of filing. The change was made because some debtors filed chapter 11 without paying the fee and then had their cases dismissed without ever having paid a fee. The court will continue to accept the previous version of LBF #110 while requiring the new $405 minimum payment in individual chapter 11 cases.

Also LBF #1317.5 has been modified to create additional space to list lien holders.

Court Closure (May 21, 2013)

The court will be closed Monday, May 27 for the holiday.

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 websit.

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 *Not Found (JA)

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 atwww.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. *Not Found (JA)

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, [email protected], or Tom Renn,[email protected].