Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-01328/USCOURTS-cand-3_10-cv-01328-0/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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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ERIKA LEYVA,

Plaintiff,

 v.

CAROLINA C. RYNDA,

Defendant. /

No. C 10-1328 CRB

ORDER WITHDRAWING

REFERENCE TO BANKRUPTCY

COURT

This Court is in receipt of the bankruptcy court’s recommendation to withdraw the

reference of this adversary proceeding. Neither party has opposed this recommendation. 

The bankruptcy court notes that 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(5) provides that “[t]he district

court shall order that personal injury tort and wrongful death claims shall be tried in the

district court in which the bankruptcy case is pending . . . .” The above-captioned suit

involves a claim for defamation, which is a personal injury tort within the meaning of 28

U.S.C. § 157(b)(5). 

The suit also involves counterclaims for intentional and negligent infliction of

emotional distress. While there is some disagreement as to whether such claims qualify as

personal injury torts, this Court is persuaded, at least in the context of this case, that they do. 

Compare In re Atron Inc. of MI, 172 B.R. 541, 542-46 (Bankr. W.D. Mich. 1994) (advising

that “personal injury tort” should be read narrowly to exclude non-traditional tort claims,

including emotional distress claims), with In re Poole, 63 B.R. 527, 529-30 (Bankr. N.D. Ala.

Case 3:10-cv-01328-CRB Document 4 Filed 04/23/10 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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G:\CRBALL\2010\1328\Order withdrawing reference.wpd 2

1986) (concluding that “personal injury tort” includes claims for emotional distress). In re

Atron involved a dispute in which the primary issue was race discrimination, but where the

individual further alleged the infliction of emotional distress. The Court explained that the

nature of the action was not that of a traditional tort, but rather involved allegations regarding

the emotional consequences of a discriminatory practice. It therefore found withdrawal of

the reference to be improper. This case, however, appears to be more of a standard tort case. 

One side alleges defamation, and the other side alleges a series of torts including negligent

infliction of emotional distress, standard negligence, and invasion of privacy. Given this

context, § 157(b)(5) is perfectly clear, and the reference of this adversary proceeding is

hereby WITHDRAWN.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 23, 2010 

CHARLES R. BREYER

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 3:10-cv-01328-CRB Document 4 Filed 04/23/10 Page 2 of 2