Case Name: In re SOUNDVIEW ELITE LTD., et al., Debtors. Alphonse Fletcher, Jr., Appellant, v. Corinne Ball, Chapter 11 Trustee, Trustee-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2016-04-14
Citations: 646 F. App'x 1
Docket Number: No. 15-1559
Parties: In re SOUNDVIEW ELITE LTD., et al., Debtors. Alphonse Fletcher, Jr., Appellant, v. Corinne Ball, Chapter 11 Trustee, Trustee-Appellee.
Judges: PRESENT: ROSEMARY S. POOLER, B.D. PARKER and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Bankruptcy Reporter
Volume: 554
Pages: 1–2

Head Matter:
In re SOUNDVIEW ELITE LTD., et al., Debtors. Alphonse Fletcher, Jr., Appellant, v. Corinne Ball, Chapter 11 Trustee, Trustee-Appellee.
No. 15-1559.
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.
April 14, 2016.
Alphonse Fletcher, Jr., pro se, San Francisco, CA, for Appellant.
William J. Hine, Esq., Jones Day, New York, NY, for Appellee.
PRESENT: ROSEMARY S. POOLER, B.D. PARKER and DEBRA ANN LIVINGSTON, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
SUMMARY ORDER
Appellant Alphonse Fletcher, Jr., pro se, appeals from the district court's judgment affirming an order of the bankruptcy court for the Southern District of New York, which denied Fletcher's motion to remove the Chapter 11 trustee, Corinne Ball, and the district court's order denying Fletcher's motion for reconsideration. We assume the parties' familiarity with the underlying facts, the procedural history of the case, and the issues on appeal.
"A district court's order in a bankruptcy case is subject to plenary review, meaning that this Court undertakes an independent examination of the factual findings and legal conclusions of the bankruptcy court." In re Cacioli, 463 F.3d 229, 234 (2d Cir.2006) (internal quotation marks omitted). Thus, we review the bankruptcy court's conclusions of law de novo and its findings of fact for clear error. In re First Cent. Fin. Carp., 377 F.3d 209, 212 (2d Cir.2004). A bankruptcy court's denial of a motion to remove the trustee under 11 U.S.C. § 324(a) is reviewed for abuse of discretion. See In re Eloise Curtis, Inc., 326 F.2d 698, 701 (2d Cir.1964). A bankruptcy court abuses its discretion when its ruling is based on an erroneous view of the law or a clearly erroneous assessment of the evidence. See In re Highgate Equities, Ltd., 279 F.3d 148, 152 (2d Cir.2002).
Fletcher's arguments on appeal, like his motion for reconsideration,- do not undermine the bankruptcy court's conclusion that his motion to remove the trustee was without merit. Under Section 324(a), the bankruptcy court may, "after notice and a hearing, . remove a trustee, other than the United States trustee, or an examiner, for cause." 11 U.S.C. § 324(a). "Grounds for disapproval or removal of a trustee in bankruptcy are not to be found in his formal relationships," and the Court has "traditionally stressed the elements of fraud and actual injury to the debtor interests." In re Freeport Italian Bakery, Inc., 340 F.2d 50, 54 (2d Cir.1965) (internal quotation marks omitted).
Fletcher does not show fraud or actual injury to the Debtor's interests. He does not allege that the trustee knew of any specific conflict that she failed to disclose despite her knowledge of it and her duty to do so. The trustee gave notice, before the bankruptcy court approved her appointment, that her law firm may have represented and may continue to represent "parties actually or potentially adverse to the Debtors," but stated that it would not do so in any matters relating to the Debtors or their Chapter 11 cases. Fletcher's conclusory accusations of fraud and his assertion that Jones Day had previously reported, in unrelated proceedings, working for parties that were not mentioned in its disclosure in the Soundview proceeding does not show that the trustee knowingly failed to report a current, relevant conflict. See In re Freeport Italian Bakery, Inc., 340 F.2d at 54; ef. also Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b) ("[A] party must state with particularity the circumstances constituting fraud or mistake."). Moreover, Fletcher does not show or allege any actual injury to the Debtor's interests. The bankruptcy court therefore did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to remove the trustee.
We have considered Appellant's remaining arguments and find them to be without merit. Accordingly, we AFFIRM the judgment of the district court.