Judge Barnes General Information

Judge Timothy A. Barnes- General Information

Courtroom 613
Chambers: (312) 435-5646
Courtroom Deputy: (312) 435-5647

Chambers:

Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse
219 South Dearborn Street
668
Chicago, IL 60604

Staff:

Annette McClendon
Courtroom Deputy

Larissa Murakami
Law Clerk

Lauren Hargrove
Law Clerk

Procedures for Cases Assigned to Judge Timothy A. Barnes

Hearings on Motions

PLEASE SEE MOTION/ADVERSARY SCHEDULE FOR DATES WHERE THE JUDGE IS NOT SITTING

Motions and Confirmation Hearings in Chapter 13 Cases:

Motions	Mondays at 9:30 a.m.
Continued Motions and Set Matters	Mondays at 10:00 a.m.
Adversary Status	Mondays at 10:00 a.m.
Confirmation Hearings	Mondays at 10:30 a.m.
Matters set for oral argument	Mondays at 11:00 a.m.

Motions in Chapter 7 and 11 Cases:

Original Motions	Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m.
Continued Motions and Set Matters	Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Adversary Status	Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Trustee’s Final Reports and Accounts	Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Matters set for oral argument	Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m.

Except as set forth below, all matters must be scheduled in accordance with the foregoing. The 11:00 a.m. oral argument time may only be scheduled by or with prior approval of the judge. Matters scheduled by parties on days where Judge Barnes is not sitting without prior leave of the court may be stricken or rescheduled by the court without prior notice to the parties.

The foregoing hearings, except for the 11:00 a.m. oral argument time, are summary in nature. Should the parties anticipate the need to present argument in excess of five (5) minutes or to present evidence, such parties must either contact the court in advance of the hearing to schedule an 11:00 a.m. oral argument time for the hearing, or appear at the foregoing hearing and request at that time to schedule an 11:00 a.m. oral argument time.

If the movant fails to appear at the scheduled hearing to present the motion, the hearing on the motion may be stricken or the motion may be denied for want of prosecution. Parties wishing to have the court consider the request made in a motion for which the hearing has been stricken must re-notice the motion for an appropriate hearing date.

Service of Motions

For all contested matters (as defined in Bankruptcy Rule 9014), the motion or request must be served in compliance with Rule 7004. Corporations must be served as required under Rule 7004(b)(3) on an officer, managing or general agent, or on any agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service of process. Service of a corporation at a P.O. Box to which payments are sent is not sufficient under Rule 7004(b)(3).

Parties are reminded that they must also comply with Bankruptcy Rule 2002 regarding notice of motions and hearings.

Courtesy Copies (copies to be delivered to chambers)

For applications for compensation in a Chapter 11, the court requires two (2) physical copies of be delivered to the Courtroom Deputy contemporaneously with the filing thereof and no less than fourteen (14) days prior to the hearing thereon. The courtesy copies must include any attachments, exhibits, itemizations, etc., and a proposed order.

For “mega” Chapter 11 cases, the court requires two (2) physical sets of motions
and one (1) electronic set of motions be delivered to the Courtroom Deputy no less than forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the “first day hearing” on such motions. If a demonstrable emergency exists, less than forty-eight (48) hours will be accepted, but parties should strive to give the court as much notice as possible.

For filings in excess of one hundred (100) pages (inclusive of exhibits), the court requires two (2) physical copies of be delivered to the Courtroom Deputy contemporaneously with the filing thereof.

Otherwise, no courtesy copies are required unless specifically requested by the court.

Orders

All motions must be accompanied by a proposed, draft order filed on ECF along with the motion. The Administrative Rules require such orders to be submitted in Fillable Form Orders. Parties who fail to comply with the Fillable Form Order requirements may have the motion stricken for noncompliance with the Local Rules.

The following will be counted as exceptions to the Fillable Form Order requirement:

(1)	If the draft order is made on an approved court form that is not readily adaptable to the Fillable Form Order requirement (e.g., bar date orders);
(2)	If the draft order contains original signatures (e.g., agreed orders signed by the parties or counsel); and
(3)	If the draft order is so complex so as to not be readily adaptable into the Fillable Form Order requirement (e.g., orders with multiple exhibits, orders in excess of two pages, orders with complex formatting).

When a motion has been heard by the court and the party seeking relief is to present a draft order after the hearing (such draft order to follow, a “DOTF”), the motion may be denied if the DOTF is not received in Judge Barnes’ chambers within fourteen (14) calendar days of the hearing on the motion, or such other time as ordered by the court when the DOTF is ordered by the court.

The Courtroom Deputy maintains a separate email for the submission of DOTFs so that parties may comply with the Fillable Form Order requirement for such orders.

Motions for Relief from Automatic Stay

All motions for relief from the automatic stay must be accompanied by a fully completed Required Statement to Accompany All Motions for Relief From Stay, as required in by Local Rule 4001-1(A). Failure to submit the Required Statement will result in the motion being stricken without further notice from the court. Motions being so stricken are stricken without prejudice, but will require the payment in full of the applicable fee upon refiling of the motion.

The court will modify draft orders regarding relief from stay to remove language that (i) appears to grant movant permission or authority to act (as opposed to removing the restraints of the automatic stay), (ii) seeks to modify the movant’s requirements under Bankruptcy Rule 3002.1, (iii) seeks to relieve the stay as to a party other than the movant, (iv) seeking to grant movant leave to file or modify a claim, (v) seeks to allow movant fees or costs, (vi) seeks to bind a trustee upon conversion of the case, or (vii) is otherwise extraneous to the relief requested.

The court will waive the 14-day stay provided in Bankruptcy Rule 4001(a)(3) only if (i) the asset in question is a vehicle and there is an allegation of no insurance, (ii) the debtor has directly indicated its consent or has indirectly indicated its consent by indicating an intention to surrender the asset or failing to indicate an intention with respect to the asset, or (iii) the timing of a continued hearing on the motion or the effective date of the order provides the debtor with more than 14 days’ notice of effective date of the relief.

Parties are reminded that on motions for relief from the automatic stay in cases where a plan has been confirmed must allege post-confirmation grounds for relief.

Motion To Extend or Impose Automatic Stay

Motions to continue the automatic stay in effect pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(3) or to impose the automatic stay under § 362(c)(4) must:

(1)	State the case number of previous cases dismissed within one year of the filing of the present case;
(2)	Include copies of Schedules I and J from previous cases dismissed within one year of the filing of the present case, and Schedules I and J from the current case;
(3)	Include an affidavit signed by the Debtor supporting the allegations in the motion; and
(4)	State in detail the bases for continuing the stay in effect or imposing the stay.

Motion To Modify Plan

Motions to modify a confirmed plan pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1329 must:

(1)	Include amended Schedules I and J if changes in income or expenses have caused the modification sought; and
(2)	Include an affidavit signed by the Debtor supporting the allegations in the motion.

Motions for Approval of Attorneys' Fees

Cases filed under Chapters 7, 11 and 12:
All attorneys or other professionals in cases filed under Chapters 7, 11 and 12 seeking approval of their fees must submit an itemization of their time in tenths of an hour and in the format required under Local Rule 5082-1.

Cases filed under Chapter 13:
All attorneys seeking approval of their fees in Chapter 13 cases must file an application with an itemization of their time in tenths of an hour, unless a flat fee is authorized pursuant to Local Rule 5082-2. Pursuant to Local Rule 5082-2, all requests for awards of compensation to debtor’s counsel in Chapter 13 cases must be made using the Form Fee Application, which must be accompanied by a completed Form Fee Order specifying the amounts requested. Local Rule 5082-2 also requires attorneys to attach the Creditor Meeting Notice if the attorney is relying on such for notice, and the fully executed Court Approved Retention Agreement if one was used. If the Creditor Meeting Notice does not seek the same amount of compensation as the application, then the attorney must provide all parties with 21-day notice as provided in Bankruptcy Rule 2002(a). Counsel are reminded that Local Rule 5082-2 requires applications for compensation to be noticed for hearing on the Original Confirmation Date.

Counsel who have been advised by the court of an issue with their compensation but have failed to correct the issue within the time afforded them by the court or, if no deadline has been set, within thirty (30) days of being so advised, do so at their own risk. The court may thereafter strike the application, award compensation at the lower of any conflicting requests or deny the application with or without prejudice.

Motions To Reopen Case To File Debtor's Certification of Postpetition Financial Management Course

Motions pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 350 and Bankruptcy Rule 5010 to reopen a Chapter 7 case in order to file the debtor's certification required by Bankruptcy Rule 1007(b)(7) must attach Official Form B23 and Education Certificate and set forth the reason the certification was not filed before the case was closed and that the fee to reopen the case has been paid.

The proposed order attached to the motion shall state that:

(1)	The case is reopened for the purpose of filing the certification and entering the discharge;
(2)	The debtor shall file its Official Form B23 and Education Certificate no later than 14 days from the date of the order;
(3)	If the debtor files its Official Form B23 and Education Certificate in the requisite time, the clerk shall issue the discharge and reclose the case; and
(4)	If the debtor fails to file its Official Form B23 and Education Certificate in the requisite time, the clerk shall reclose the case with the issuance of a discharge.

Motions Granted in Chambers

Motions for relief from the automatic stay with respect to vehicles that comply with the Bankruptcy Rules, the Local Rules and the Administrative Procedures, where (1) movant alleges no insurance on the vehicle and (2) the debtor has (a) in a case under chapter 7, stated its intention to surrender the vehicle or failed to state its intention with respect to the vehicle or (b) in a case under chapter 13, filed a chapter 13 plan that calls for surrender of the vehicle or failed to file a chapter 13 plan addressing the vehicle, will be listed as “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing” on the call sheet for the hearing date.

Chapter 7 motions for relief from the automatic stay with respect to real or personal property that comply with the Bankruptcy Rules, the Local Rules and the Administrative Procedures and where (1) movant alleges a security in the property and that (a) the debtor has no equity in the property based on the debtor’s schedules or (b) the debtor has stated its intention to surrender the property or failed to state its intention with respect to the property and (2) the Chapter 7 trustee has filed a “no asset” report in the case, will be listed as “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing” on the call sheet for the hearing date.

Chapter 7 motions for relief from the automatic stay with respect to real or personal property that comply with the Bankruptcy Rules, the Local Rules and the Administrative Procedures and where (1) movant alleges a security in the property and that (a) the debtor has no equity in the property based on the debtor’s schedules or (b) the debtor has stated its intention to surrender the property or failed to state its intention with respect to the property and (2) the Chapter 7 trustee has not filed a “no asset” report in the case, will be listed as “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing” on the call sheet for the hearing date, but the order granting such motion will be made effective seven (7) days from the date of the scheduled Section 341 meeting or seven (7) days from the hearing date, whichever is later in time.

Chapter 13 motions for relief from the automatic stay with respect to real or personal property that comply with the Bankruptcy Rules, the Local Rules and the Administrative Procedures and where movant alleges a security in the property and that the debtor’s chapter 13 plan calls for surrender of the property or failed to file a plan addressing the property, will be listed as “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing” on the call sheet for the hearing date.

Chapter 13 plans without unresolved objections may be listed as “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing” on the call sheet for the confirmation hearing date if, prior to the hearing, the Chapter 13 Trustee has indicated its recommendation of the Chapter 13 plan prior to the confirmation hearing. Compensation for counsel on such plans, (i) if properly filed and noticed, (ii) for which, if applicable, a fully-executed court authorized retention agreement is filed, and (iii) for which the court has identified no missing attachments, no inconsistencies in compensation requested or no other irregularities, may also be listed as “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing” on the Court Calendar for the confirmation hearing date.

Motions to approve modifications of existing loans where no new collateral is being provided will be listed as “Denied Without a Hearing” on the call sheet for the hearing date. However, the order denying the motion to approve the modification will reflect the court’s belief that “[t]here is no provision of the Bankruptcy Code that calls for the Court to approve a modification of an existing loan agreement. The parties are free to go forward with the transaction without Court approval.”

Routine motions (as defined in Local Rule 9013-9), whether or not identified as a routine motion by the defendant, and other motions to which no objection is expected that comply with the Bankruptcy Rules, the Local Rules and the Administrative Procedures may be listed as “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing” on the Court Calendar for the hearing date.

The effect of listing as “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing”:

(1)	If no party requests that the motion be called, it will be granted without hearing in open court.
(2)	If a party asks the Courtroom Deputy to call the motion, it will be called.
(3)	If the motion is called and the movant is present, the court will hear the matter.
(4)	If the motion is called and the movant is not present, the court will continue the matter to give the movant an opportunity to be heard.

How to check whether a motion “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing”:

(1)	If a motion “Will Be Granted Without a Hearing,” it will be marked as such on the Court Calendar before the motion is to be presented. The Court Calendar for each judge is on the court’s web site.

Otherwise, all motions are heard in open court.

Pretrial Procedures

Discussed in open court on a case by case basis.

Trial Procedures

Pursuant to trial order entered and/or discussed in open court.

Emergency Motions

Effective October 1, 2012, refer to GENERAL ORDER No. 12-01 regarding procedures for emergency motions. Parties must not assume the unavailability of Judge Barnes to consider an Application based on published calendars alone, but must contact chambers at (312) 435-5647 to determine his availability (but only after filing the documents required by the General Order). Only after determining Judge Barnes’ unavailability or having tried and failed to contact chambers, should parties contact the Emergency Judge. Parties are reminded that pursuant to the General Order, when contacting chambers, they are not to discuss the substance of their request, only to notify chambers of the existence of the Application and confirm its availability to consider the Application.

Telephonic Participation in Hearings

Except in the instance of a demonstrable emergency as approved by the court, all requests for telephonic participation must be made to chambers and approved at least two (2) business days before the hearing in which telephonic participation is sought. Telephonic participation will not be approved for longer, more involved matters, evidentiary hearings of any kind, or oral arguments. The court uses a third party service to arrange telephonic appearances. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the cost of such service will be borne by the parties appearing telephonically. Counsel appearing telephonically must call from a land-line telephone and must use a handset or headset. Speaker phones and cell phones may not be used.

Parties who appear by telephone do so at their own risk. Without prior exception by the court, parties appearing by telephone are monitoring proceedings only. They may not argue or testify. Such parties must keep their phones on “mute” other than to make their appearance and unless and until addressed by the court. Parties who appear by telephone assume the risk of all technical difficulties, including, but not limited to, the inability to hear or be heard and disconnection. The court will generally not seek to reconnect parties who have been disconnected.

Procedures for
Informal Mediation of Colleagues’ Cases

In lieu of the provisions of Local Rule 9060-3, when another Judge has referred a case to Judge Barnes for mediation, the following guidelines will apply:

(1)	The parties are responsible for contacting chambers to schedule the mediation, and must be prepared to communicate to chambers the anticipated length of the mediation.
(2)	The parties must agree to make a good faith attempt to settle through mediation and must attend, personally or through a representative with authority to negotiate and settle the disputes, the scheduled mediation.
(3)	At least two (2) business days before the scheduled mediation each party must provide the Courtroom Deputy with a position statement not to exceed five (5) pages. Unless the parties agree that the statements are confidential, copies should be sent to each party’s counsel. The statement must NOT be FILED.
(4)	Parties may, but are not required to, attend the mediation with their counsel. However, if parties do not attend, counsel must be able to reach their client(s) in order to efficiently resolve issues that arise during the mediation.