Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-04930/USCOURTS-cand-3_13-cv-04930-7/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 423
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Withdrawal 28 USC 157
Cause of Action: 28:0157 Motion for Withdrawal of Reference

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JACQUELINE C. MELCHER,

Appellant,

 v.

JOHN W. RICHARDSON, Trustee in

Bankruptcy,

Appellee. /

No. C 16-06123 WHA

No. C 16-05982 WHA

No. C 13-04930 WHA

ORDER GRANTING IN PART

APPELLANT’S MOTION TO

CONSOLIDATE APPEALS

Debtor Jacqueline Melcher filed multiple appeals in connection with her bankruptcy

(3:16-cv-05851-WHA, 3:16-cv-05852-WHA, 3:16-cv-05853-WHA, 3:16-cv-05982-WHA, and

3:16-cv-06123-WHA). In yet another action (3:13-cv-04930-WHA), the Trustee’s motion for

sanctions against debtor is pending. These matters were reassigned to the undersigned

following Judge Ronald Whyte’s retirement. Following debtor’s motion and the Trustee’s

consent thereto, the Court previously consolidated appeals 16-5851, 16-5852, and 16-5853,

with 16-5851 as the lead case for all subsequent filings. 

Debtor has now filed a new motion to consolidate. Her motion lists three matters — 16-

5982, 16-6123, and 13-4930 — on its cover page, but is “not certain which case numbers

belong to which fee appeal” (16-5982, Dkt. No. 6 at 5). The motion apparently seeks to

combine her appeals from the bankruptcy court’s September 26 and September 30 orders (id. at

1). These would correspond to appeals 16-5982 and 16-6123, respectively. And, although it is

unclear, the motion also seems to request consolidation of 13-4930 on the basis that “the

Case 3:13-cv-04930-WHA Document 46 Filed 12/27/16 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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Trustee and his attorney’s fees are entwined with the Sanctions Case [and] his attorney’s fees

and expenses have been appealed which included the Bankruptcy Court’s September 30, 2016

on [sic] ruling on sanctions” (id. at 4). 

The Trustee does not oppose the consolidation of appeals 16-5982 and 16-6123 (16-

5982, Dkt. No. 7 at 1). He does, however, oppose the motion as to 13-4930, which remains

active because of the Trustee’s motion for sanctions against debtor. Debtor failed to timely

respond to the Trustee’s opposition by December 23. 

Debtor’s motion is GRANTED IN PART. Pursuant to FRCP 42, the appeals numbered 16-

5982 and 16-6123 are CONSOLIDATED. 16-5982 shall be the LEAD CASE. 16-6123 is

ADMINISTRATIVELY CLOSED. All subsequent filings in this matter must be made in the lead

case only. Debtor’s motion to consolidate is DENIED as to 13-4930.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: December 27, 2016. 

WILLIAM ALSUP

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:13-cv-04930-WHA Document 46 Filed 12/27/16 Page 2 of 2