Local Rule RULE 1015-1: Joint Administration/Consolidation/Related Cases
Bankr. E.D. La. — General rule
RULE 1015-1 Joint Administration/Consolidation/Related Cases A. Related cases are cases where assignment to a single judge would promote efficient administration of the estates and avoid conflicting or inconsistent rulings. Related cases include, but are not limited to:
1. Identical individuals or entities, e.g., d.b.a.'s;
2. A corporation and any major shareholder thereof;
3. Affiliates;
4. A partnership and any of its general partners;
5. Two or more general partners;
6. Husband and wife; and 7. Entities having substantial identity of financial interest or assets.
B. Notice of Related Cases. In the event of related bankruptcy cases, the debtor in the later case must file a notice of related case(s) at the time of filing the petition for relief, and must serve a copy of the notice upon the United States Trustee. The notice must list the name, filing date, and case number of the pending related cases, and any previously filed and closed cases.
C. Transfer 1. The court, on its own motion or upon the motion of a party in interest, may order a case transferred to another bankruptcy judge based on the court's determination as to whether a case is related and whether the transfer will promote the efficient administration of the estate or avoid inconsistent or conflicting rulings.
2. Upon the filing of a related chapter 11 case, counsel must file an ex parte motion to transfer case to the section of the Court in which the previously filed related case is or was pending.
3. Upon filing of a related case in chapter 7, 12 or 13, the Clerk will automatically transfer the case to the section of the Court in which the previously filed related case is or was pending.
D. Procedure. A motion by a party in interest to transfer a case or cases must be filed in the section of the Court in which the later case was filed and be served on all debtors and trustees appointed in the related cases.
E. A motion for administrative consolidation must request that if the motion is granted, the Clerk trigger a special event code requiring a filer to designate the applicable case for any document filed.
F. Subject to the foregoing, the Clerk will randomly allot all cases filed in this Court by chapter to ensure an equal division of cases.