The TBBBA supports the Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2021 (H.R. 4193 and S. 2897, collectively the “Act”), and we need your help to make it become reality. Current federal bankruptcy law allows companies to file for chapter 11 far from where the company has its principal place of business or principal assets. The Act will end that practice and will help ensure that Florida companies file for bankruptcy in Florida. At least 42 State Attorney Generals support the Act: https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Bankruptcy%20Venue%20Reform%20Act%20of%202021%20Endorsement%20-%20Final.pdf. Please contact your senators and local representatives listed below to ask them to support the Act. A map of congressional districts can be found HERE.
Senators
Marco Rubio – https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact
Rick Scott – Contact – U.S. Senator Rick Scott (senate.gov)
Representatives
Gus Bilirakis – FL 12 (incl. Dunedin, New Port Richey), https://bilirakis.house.gov/contact
Charlie Christ (Act co-sponsor) – FL 13 (incl. St. Petersburg), https://crist.house.gov/contact/
Kathy Castor – FL 14 (incl. Tampa), https://castor.house.gov/contact/contactform.htm
Scott Franklin – FL 15 (incl. Brandon and Lakeland), Contact | Representative Scott Franklin (house.gov)
Vern Buchanan – FL 16 (incl. Bradenton and Sarasota), https://buchanan.house.gov/contact
Cramdown
The Summer 2021 issue of the Cramdown can be found here
SBA’s FAQs updated 4-6-21 say (at FAQ 67) that debtors operating a business under a confirmed ch. 11, 12, or 13 plan are not disqualified from seeking a PPP loan. Learn more here
United States Trustee, Region 21, Tampa
120320 JPG to Distribution, 12/03/2020
Press_Release, Judge_Vaughan_Appointment_March_2020
Stay in touch on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @tampabaybba
Administrative Order, re Adoption of Interim Bankruptcy Rules. Click here to read
Administrative Order S-2020-010 (Professionalism Committee), which supersedes Administrative Order S-2019-003. Click here to read the order.
Video Library
From HCBA
Military Veterans Affairs Committee assists Tampa Bay’s military and veterans in legal matters. Lawyers can sign up to do pro bono or reduced fee cases for vets. The committee is in need of bankruptcy attorneys.
Handbook on Civil Discovery Practice
The Judges of the Middle District of Florida have revised the Handbook on Civil Discovery Practice. Attached for your review is a copy of the now operative Civil Discovery Handbook. The Civil Discovery Handbook is also available for download on the Court’s website, located at www.flmd.uscourts.gov. Download the file
What is the TBBBA?
The Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association has over 300 members representing debtors, creditors and trustees in bankruptcy. All attorneys who practice in the Middle District of Florida are invited to join.
The Association sponsors monthly luncheons with speakers and frequent seminars which qualify for Florida Bar continuing legal education credit. In addition, there are monthly informal consumer attorney meetings to discuss practice pointers, often with the participation of one or more of the local bankruptcy judges.
A goal of the Association is to provide its members with information necessary to the bankruptcy practice in the Tampa Division. In addition to the Cramdown, a quarterly publication, periodic e-mail messages keep the membership informed of current bankruptcy issues.
Members are actively involved in a range of projects. One project is designed to assist debtors that cannot afford attorney representation. Another is working with the judiciary and the clerk’s office to promote communication and meet the needs of all parties in the bankruptcy system.
Working together, Association members have developed a camaraderie among bankruptcy practitioners in this division that is noteworthy. Please join us in this endeavor and let us have your thoughts and ideas.