Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02435/USCOURTS-casd-3_18-cv-02435-0/pdf.json

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

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18cv2435-CAB-JMA

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

In re: Michael Sevier and Linda Sevier, 

Debtors,

Michael Sevier and Linda Sevier,

Plaintiff,

v.

Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB, 

d/b/a, Christiana Trust, not individually 

but as trustee for the Pretium Mortgage 

Acquisition Trust; Seterus Finance; Selene 

Finance, LP; Les Zieve, Esq.; and Zieve, 

Brodnax & Steele, LLP,

Defendant.

Case No.: 18cv2435-CAB-JMA

ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO 

WITHDRAW REFERENCE OF 

ADVERSARY CASE NO. 18-90052

On October 23, 2018, Defendants Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB, d/b/a, 

Christiana Trust, not individually but as trustee for the Pretium Mortgage Acquisition 

Trust; Seterus Finance; Selene Finance, LP; Les Zieve, Esq.; and Zieve, Brodnax & 

Steele, LLP (“Defendants”), filed a motion to withdraw reference of Adversary Case No. 

18-90052, filed in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of California (“BK 

Court”), to the District Court for the Southern District of California (“District Court”),

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pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §157(d). [Doc. No. 1.] On November 6, 2018, Debtors/Plaintiffs 

Michael Sevier and Linda Sevier (“Debtors/Plaintiffs”) filed a document entitled “Motion 

to Dismiss Not a Plaintiff in this Case,” which the Court deems to be their opposition to 

the motion to withdraw reference. [Doc. No. 3.]1 For the reasons set forth below, the 

motion to withdraw reference is GRANTED.

DISCUSSION

The district court may withdraw, in whole or in part, any case or proceeding 

referred under this section, on its own motion or on timely motion of any party, for cause 

shown. 28 U.S.C. § 157(d). A motion to withdraw the reference “shall be heard by a 

district judge.” Fed. R. Bankr.P. 5011(a); Sigma Micro Corp. v. Healthcentral.com (In re 

Healthcentral.com), 504 F.3d 775, 784–85 (9th Cir.2007) (“ ‘[t]he withdrawal decision is 

committed exclusively to the district court’ ”). Among the proper considerations on 

whether to withdraw the reference, are the efficient use of judicial resources, delay and 

costs to the parties, uniformity of bankruptcy administration, the prevention of forum 

shopping, and other similar issues. Security Farms v. Int'l Brotherhood of Teamsters, 124 

F.3d 999, 1008 (9th Cir.1997).

Here, all of Debtors’/Plaintiffs’ claims in Adversary Case No. 18-90052 are based 

on federal and state criminal statutes, are not dependent on bankruptcy law, and are noncore. Moreover, Debtors/Plaintiffs have already asserted what appear to be essentially 

the same claims against Defendants in an earlier action before this Court. Compare BK 

Court Case No. 18-90052-LA, Doc. No. 1, with District Court Case No. 17cv2554, Doc. 

No. 1.] Accordingly, judicial efficiency and avoidance of forum shopping are also 

 

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In their opposition, Debtors/Plaintiffs state that they are not the plaintiffs in this 

case. [Doc. No. 3.] However, Michael and Linda Sevier are the plaintiffs in Adversary 

Case No. 18-90052, which is the adversary proceeding Defendants seek to withdraw from 

the bankruptcy proceedings. Therefore, referring to Michael and Linda Sevier as the 

plaintiffs in this case is appropriate.

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promoted by withdrawal. Finally, Plaintiffs will not be prejudiced as no substantive 

rulings have been made by the Bankruptcy Court. See generally, Docket, BK Court, Case 

No. 18-90052-LA.

CONCLUSION

For the reasons set forth above, the motion to withdraw reference is GRANTED.

Dated: January 10, 2019

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