Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00451/USCOURTS-casd-3_07-cv-00451-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 422
Nature of Suit: Bankruptcy Appeals Rule 28 USC 158
Cause of Action: 28:0158 Notice of Appeal re Bankruptcy Matter (BAP)

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07CV451

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

IN RE JAMES KEENAN, d.b.a. DATA

PROPERTY SERVICES,

Debtor. 

JAMES W. KEENAN and JUDY M.

KEENAN, 

Plaintiffs/Appellants,

v.

ROSS M. PYLE; PROCOPIO, CORY,

HARGREAVES & SAVITCH, a business

entity; JEFFREY ISAACS, an individual;

and DOES 1-50, inclusive,

Defendants/Appellees.

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Civil No. 07cv451-L(RBB)

Bankruptcy No. 96-00871-B11

Adversary Proc. No. 06-90341-B11

ORDER (1) GRANTING IN PART

AND DENYING IN PART

APPELLANTS’ EX PARTE

APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION

OF TIME; (2) AMENDING

BRIEFING SCHEDULE FOR

BANKRUPTCY APPEAL; AND (3)

CONTINUING HEARING DATE

On May 4, 2007, Appellants, proceeding pro se in this bankruptcy appeal, filed an ex

parte application seeking an extension of time to file the record on appeal and their opening

brief. Pursuant to this court’s March 16, 2007 Scheduling Order, the record on appeal was due

on April 16, 2007 and Appellants’ opening brief was due on May 14, 2007. On April 20, 2007,

Appellees filed a Notice of Appellants’ Noncompliance with Court’s Scheduling Order;

however, they did not file an opposition to Appellants’ ex parte application. For the reasons

which follow, Appellants’ ex parte application is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED IN

PART.

Case 3:07-cv-00451-L-RBB Document 8 Filed 05/16/07 Page 1 of 4
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2 07CV451

Appellants made their first Request for Production of Transcript on Appeal more than a

week after the Scheduling Order, on March 27, 2007, and did not list the transcripts requested. 

(See Ex. A.) Since the form request provides for production of transcripts within 30 days for

receipt, it was apparent at the time of Appellants’ initial request, that they most likely could not

comply with this court’s Scheduling Order. Furthermore, they did not follow up with another

request listing the requested transcripts until April 12, 2007, four days before the due date. (See

Ex. B.) Appellants subsequently made a third request on April 27, 2007. (Ex. C.) They

maintain they failed to timely file the record on appeal because the court reporters were unable

to locate the transcripts, and request an extension of time until May 16, 2007. In addition,

Appellants request an extension of time to file their opening brief until August 16, 2007. The

sole reason provided is that they are proceeding pro se, while the Appellants employ numerous

counsel..

Although Appellants are proceeding pro se on this appeal, they are no strangers to

bankruptcy litigation and appeals. (See Notice of Related Cases, filed 3/22/07.) Accordingly,

they are familiar with court deadlines, obtaining transcripts of proceedings and brief writing. In

addition, it appears Appellants are at least in part to blame for missing the April 16 due date,

since they delayed before making their first request and did not specify the transcripts they

requested. However, because it appears that there may have been other difficulties with timely

obtaining transcripts, Appellants’ ex parte application is GRANTED IN PART AND DENIED

IN PART as provided in the amended briefing schedule below.

A hearing for purposes of the instant appeal from the United States Bankruptcy Court,

currently set before the Honorable M. James Lorenz for July 16, 2007, is hereby CONTINUED

to August 20, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. in Courtroom 14. In preparation for the hearing, the court

ORDERS the following briefing schedule on appeal:

1. The court shall receive a Record of Appeal no later than May 21, 2007. The

Record of Appeal includes any portion of the Bankruptcy Court's decision that is being appealed

by the appellant or cross-appealed by the appellee. It is the counsel's obligation, or the party's, if

appearing in pro per, after determining those sections of the record relevant to the appeal or

Case 3:07-cv-00451-L-RBB Document 8 Filed 05/16/07 Page 2 of 4
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3 07CV451

cross-appeal, to notify the court reporter and arrange for the desired portions of the transcript to

be prepared and sent to the bankruptcy appeals clerk at the Bankruptcy Court. See Fed. R.

Bankr. P. 8007; General Order 312-D § 2.03. All counsel, or parties in pro per, intending to

appeal a portion of the Bankruptcy Court's decision, therefore, must notify the court reporter

sufficiently in advance so that the transcripts may be completed and submitted to the appeals

clerk of the Bankruptcy Court in a timely fashion. Each counsel, or party in pro per, must also

provide to the bankruptcy appeals clerk two copies of any documents he or she desires be made

part of the record so the clerk can certify those documents and transmit them to this court as part

of the Record of Appeal. Each counsel, or party in pro per, is solely responsible for monitoring

the process governing the completion of the record to ensure that this court is provided a

certified Record on Appeal under the schedule established in this order. If the appellee intends

to certify portions of the record after receiving the submissions by the appellant, then counsel for

the appellee, or the appellee in pro per, must do so with the promptness required to comply with

the briefing schedule set below.

2. No later than June 18, 2007 the appellant shall serve and file the motion opening

brief with supporting evidence. The motion shall comply with the Local Rules for the United

States District Court for the Southern District of California ("Local Rules"), Civil Local Rule

7.1.h. Any cross-appeals shall be treated as motion opening briefs for purposes of this briefing

schedule and filed by the opening brief deadline.

3. No later than July 16, 2007 the appellee shall serve and file the responsive brief

and supporting evidence. The responsive brief shall comply with the Local Rules, Civil Local

Rule 7.1.h. 

4. No later than July 30, 2007 the appellant shall serve and file any reply brief and

any evidence directly rebutting the supporting evidence contained in the appellee's responsive

brief. The reply shall comply with the Local Rules, Civil Local Rule 7.1.h. 

/ / / / /

/ / / / /

/ / / / /

Case 3:07-cv-00451-L-RBB Document 8 Filed 05/16/07 Page 3 of 4
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Appellants are reminded that pursuant to Civil Local Rule 83.11(a) they are bound by the

local rules of this district and the applicable federal rules. “Failure to comply therewith may be

ground for dismissal or judgment by default.” 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: May 15, 2007

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

COPY TO:

HON. RUBEN B. BROOKS

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ALL COUNSEL/PARTIES

Case 3:07-cv-00451-L-RBB Document 8 Filed 05/16/07 Page 4 of 4