Opinion ID: 3032305
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: We look first to the procedural posture of the proceedings, including whether or not the order appealed from is a final order. As we discussed in Moix-McNutt v. Coop (In re Moix-McNutt), 215 B.R. 405, 407 (B.A.P. 8th Cir. 1997), 28 U.S.C. § 158(a)(1) confers jurisdiction on a bankruptcy appellate panel to hear appeals from “final judgments, orders, and decrees,” a small list of interlocutory orders and, in its discretion, other interlocutory orders. Id. at 408 (citing 28 U.S.C. §§ 158(a)(2) and (3)). Like all courts we have a duty to review our own jurisdiction. Nieters v. Sevcik (In re Rodriquez), 258 F.3d 757, 759 (8th Cir. 2001) (citing Olin Water Servs. v. Midland Research Labs., Inc., 774 F.2d 303, 306 (8th Cir. 1985)). As we stated in In re Thermadyne Holdings Corp., when a trustee, a debtor in possession or a committee applies to approve employment of a professional, the role of the bankruptcy court is to either approve the employment pursuant to the terms proposed by the applicant or disapprove it. Unsecured Creditors’ Committee v. Pelofsky (In re Thermadyne Holdings Corp.), 283 B.R. 749, 754, n.6 (B.A.P. 8th Cir. 2002) (citing ReGen Capital III, Inc. v. Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (In re Trism, Inc.), 282 B.R. 662, 668-669 (B.A.P. 8th Cir. 2002)). It is not appropriate for the bankruptcy court to change those terms or otherwise dictate them. If the bankruptcy court finds a term of the employment or compensation objectionable, it should deny the application and let the applicant decide whether to pursue the employment on different terms or appeal. Here the parties, including the Creditors’ Committee, requested that the bankruptcy court decide the question of payment of the transaction fee separately from the employment of Houlihan Lokey. While we do not necessarily believe that this is the best approach, we cannot say that 4 the bankruptcy court erred by following the wishes of the parties. Because the issue of the appropriateness of the compensation to Houlihan Lokey was treated separately from the issue of its employment, we believe that the order appealed from is a final order, since it finally determined that issue. We reject the suggestion that Houlihan Lokey must wait until it files a fee application and have it denied before the committee can raise this issue on appeal.2