Local Rule 1015-2: RELATED CASES

Rule 1015-2 RELATED CASES

(a) Related Cases Defined. A petition involving a related case shall be filed at the Court location where the first related case was filed, which may be accomplished by electronic means established by the Court. Related cases include cases in which the debtors are:

(1) Identical individuals or entities, e.g., DBAs, FDBAs, other cases of the same person;

(2) A corporation and any major shareholder thereof;

(3) Affiliates;

(4) A partnership and any of its general partners;

(5) An individual and his or her general partner or partners;

(6) An individual and his or her spouse; or

(7) Entities having substantial identity of financial interests or assets.

(b) Assignment of Related Cases by Clerk. A related case shall be assigned by the Clerk to the Judge to whom the first of the related cases was assigned.

(c) Reassignment of Related Cases. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a related case is assigned to a Judge (the "Second Judge") other than the Judge to whom the prior related case was assigned (the "First Judge"), the Second Judge shall, sua sponte or on the motion of any party, reassign the case to the First Judge unless the Second Judge in his or her sole discretion decides to retain jurisdiction over the related case because of convenience of the parties, considerations of judicial economy, or other cause. Nothing in the Local Bankruptcy Rules shall preclude the First Judge from reassigning, at his or her sole discretion, the prior case to the Second Judge with the consent of the Second Judge.