Opinion ID: 74816
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Barton Doctrine

Text: This case presents an issue of first impression in this circuit regarding 2 Clements Antiques and the successor Chapter 7 trustee entered into a settlement whereby Clements Antiques agreed to return all commissions and fees it had received in connection with the auction, which totaled approximately $8,600. 3 We review a dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction de novo. See, e.g., Pillow v. Bechtel Constr., Inc., 201 F.3d 1348, 1351 (11th Cir. 2000). 3 whether a debtor first must obtain leave from the bankruptcy court before it can initiate an action in the district court when that action is against the trustee or other bankruptcy-court-appointed officer, for acts done in the actor’s official capacity. Joining the other circuits that have considered this issue, we hold that a debtor must obtain leave of the bankruptcy court before initiating an action in district court when that action is against the trustee or other bankruptcy-court-appointed officer,4 for acts done in the actor’s official capacity. See Springer v. Infinity Group Co., No. 98-5182, 189 F.3d 478 (10th Cir. Aug. 26, 1999) (unpublished table decision), cert. denied, 120 S. Ct. 1422 (2000); Gordon v. Nick, No. 96-1858, 162 F.3d 1155 (4th Cir. Sept. 2, 1998) (unpublished table decision); In re Linton, 136 F.3d 544, 546 (7th Cir. 1998); Lebovits v. Scheffel (In re Lehal Realty Assocs.), 101 F.3d 272 (2d Cir. 1996); Allard v. Weitzman (In re DeLorean Motor Co.), 991 F.2d 1236, 1240 (6th Cir. 1993); Vass v. Conron Bros. Co., 59 F.2d 969, 970 (2d Cir. 1932); Kashani v. Fulton (In re Kashani), 190 B.R. 875, 885 (9th Cir.