Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-canb-4_10-ap-04114/USCOURTS-canb-4_10-ap-04114-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Alise Malikyar
Plaintiff
Christopher Moser
Defendant

Document Text:

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

1300 Clay Street (2d fl.) 

 Oakland, CA. 94612

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

 Memorandum

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

In re No. 07-41274 EDJ 

 Chapter 11

REJ PROPERTIES, INC., 

 Debtor./ 

ALISE MALIKYAR, Adv. Pro. No. 10-04114 AJ

 Plaintiff,

vs.

CHRISTOPHER MOSER,

 Defendant./ 

MEMORANDUM: MOTION TO REMAND TO STATE COURT

The above-captioned adversary proceeding was commenced May 7,

2010 when the defendant herein, Christopher Moser (“Moser”), filed a

Notice of Removal of State Court Action. Moser is the trustee in

bankruptcy of the estate of Robert Jacobson (“Jacobson”), pending in

the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of

Signed: July 08, 2010

________________________________________

EDWARD D. JELLEN

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge

________________________________________

Entered on Docket 

July 09, 2010

GLORIA L. FRANKLIN, CLERK 

U.S BANKRUPTCY COURT 

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

Case: 10-04114 Doc# 16 Filed: 07/08/10 Entered: 07/09/10 13:01:31 Page 1 of 4 
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

1300 Clay Street (2d fl.) 

 Oakland, CA. 94612

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26 1Case no. 07-41092. 

 Memorandum 2

Texas.1 The removed action was filed by Alise Malikyar

(“Malikyar”), Jacobson’s spouse, in the Alameda County Superior

Court, State of California. Malikyar’s action against Moser alleges

that Moser improperly treated her separate property as property of

the Jacobsen bankruptcy estate. Her complaint includes causes of

action for negligence, intentional tort, and fraud. 

On May 17, 2010 Malikyar filed a motion to remand this action

to the Alameda Superior Court. A hearing was held on Malikyar’s

motion on June 21, 2010. William McLaughlin appeared on behalf of

Moser. Malikyar did not appear. For the reasons hereinafter

discussed, the court will deny Malikyar’s motion, and instead, will

transfer venue to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern

District of Texas. 

In her motion to remand, Malikyar argues that this court lacks

jurisdiction to hear her complaint against Moser because her claims

arise under state law. The court agrees that it lacks subject

matter jurisdiction, but not for the reason urged by Malikyar. 

This is so because a trustee appointed by a bankruptcy court

may not be sued in a foreign jurisdiction without permission of the

court that appointed the trustee. See In re Crown Vantage, 421 F.3d

963, 970 (9th Cir. 2005) (holding that “a party must first obtain

leave of the bankruptcy court before it initiates an action in

another forum against a bankruptcy trustee or other officer

appointed by the bankruptcy court for acts done in the officer’s

Case: 10-04114 Doc# 16 Filed: 07/08/10 Entered: 07/09/10 13:01:31 Page 2 of 4 
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

1300 Clay Street (2d fl.) 

 Oakland, CA. 94612

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

 Memorandum 3

official capacity.”); see also Barton v. Barbour, 104 U.S. 126, 136-

37 (1881) (holding that the common law bars suits against receivers

in a state court other than the court charged with administration of

the estate, absent leave of that court.). 

Moser was appointed trustee of the Jacobsen bankruptcy estate

in the bankruptcy court for the Eastern District of Texas. Moser’s

“home court” has not granted Malikyar leave to bring an action

against Moser in another forum. 

Therefore, the court directs Moser to submit an order denying

Malikyar’s motion to remand this adversary proceeding to state

court, and transferring it to the United State Bankruptcy Court for

the Eastern District of Texas. 

**END OF ORDER**

Case: 10-04114 Doc# 16 Filed: 07/08/10 Entered: 07/09/10 13:01:31 Page 3 of 4 
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

1300 Clay Street (2d fl.) 

 Oakland, CA. 94612

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

 Memorandum 4

COURT SERVICE LIST

Alise Malikyar

P.O. Box 1386

559 Mangels Avenue

Lafayette, CA 94549 

William F. McLaughlin

Law Offices of William F. McLaughlin

1305 Franklin St. #301

Oakland, CA 94612 

Case: 10-04114 Doc# 16 Filed: 07/08/10 Entered: 07/09/10 13:01:31 Page 4 of 4