Highlights of CM/ECF Version 3

(Effective September 25, 2006)

Opening a Bankruptcy Case

Several items have been rearranged in Version 3.0 (with more helpful changes coming in Version 3.1). There are separate menu options for the opening a voluntary and an involuntary bankruptcy case.

Involuntary

By splitting these two types of cases, we were able to add in many helpful hints specific to opening an involuntary case. You can now add more than one petitioning creditor when opening an involuntary case, rather than adding them through a separate docket event. Several defaults have been set which remove the margin of error, i.e., joint petition is set to ‘n’ and attorney screens are very specific so the petitioning creditors’ attorney won’t be added as the alleged debtor’s attorney. You can now list separate attorneys for each petitioning creditor.

          Voluntary

The type of debtor check boxes for individual, corporation, partnership and other have been changed to radio buttons - meaning now you can only select one. This will eliminate an objection to discharge date being set on a non-individual case. In previous versions, this screen defaulted the type of debtor to “individual”. If the user did not “uncheck” the individual box as well as “checking” the corporation box, the system would record the debtor as an individual.

A new type of debtor “Nonprofit Organization “ has been added.

When opening a bankruptcy case, the role type of debtor and joint debtor no longer needs to be selected. The system will automatically assign the correct role type.

Opening an Adversary Case

The user may now select multiple natures of suit. There is a designation for one “Primary nature of suit” and an additional drop down box for “Secondary nature[s] of suit”, where the user may select as many as necessary. The docket sheet now contains a description of the nature[s] of suit.

                     Previous versions displayed: Nature of Suit: 424

         The Version 3.0 adversary docket displays:

                    Nature[s] of Suit: 424 Obj/Revocation Discharge 727

                                                435 Validity/Priority/Extent Lien

When a complaint for objection or revocation of discharge is filed, a 727OBJ flag is automatically reflected on the bankruptcy case. This had to be done manually in previous versions. This flag is used, among other things, to hold up the discharge of a case.

In previous versions, the text of a complaint event automatically spread to the bankruptcy case docket. That functionality has now been expanded to include the adversary case number assigned as well.

When opening an adversary proceeding, there is no need to select a role type for the Plaintiff and Defendant. The system prompts you to search first for Plaintiff; once you end the selection for Plaintiff(s), you will be prompted to begin the Defendant(s) search.

Case Information Available During Docketing

Docketing screens in previous versions allowed the user a hyperlink to review the case docket at any time to obtain specific case data. Version 3 brings important case data directly to the docketing screen. A user can view the case type, chapter, office, asset designation, case disposition and any case flags.

Multi-Part Motions

Previously, the docket text generated for a multi-part motion listed the parts in alphabetical order; now, the parts are in the order in which they were selected. E-filers will then have the option to select the connecting phrases to be inserted into text between the parts, i.e, in the alternative.

Entering Parties

The search for adding a new party has been expanded to include First Name and Middle Name fields now rather than just Last Name.

Address, city, state and zip code fields are now required for: attorney, debtor, joint debtor, plaintiff, defendant and petitioning creditor(s).

A Corporate parent button has been added to the Party Information screen for linking a corporate parent to the party. A business debtor may have a corporate parent if owned or affiliated with other companies. This will directly relate to the new conflict checking program.

A party’s pro se designation is set automatically based on whether or not an attorney was entered. Additionally, a party’s pro se flag is reset automatically if there are no remaining active attorneys.

Adding Creditors

Wherever a new creditor can be added, the separate name and address boxes have been replaced by a single text box into which multiple name/address blocks can be pasted from a matrix. Each line in the box is 50 characters to accommodate the name, only 40 characters of address data may be entered.

Notification of Edited Events

A Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) will be generated when the following edits are made:

                     Add/delete docket entry relationship
                     Add a pdf attachment to a docket entry
                     Edit of docket entry information
                     Add a pdf attachment to a proof of claim
                     Edit proofs of claim

The notice is sent to active attorneys/trustees in the case. Note: An NEF will only be generated if an NEF was produced on the original entry, i.e., private entries, pre-ECF docket entries will not receive a NEF if those events are edited.

A NEF will not be generated for the following editing:

Reports

Claims Register

The report now displays the date of entry and the date of last modification for each claim, and the type of person who filed the claim, i.e., CR = creditor.

The report now includes a Claims History section, which lists the filing of and any amendments to the claim, plus docketed events which relate to the claim such as transfers. A link to view the history of claim actions has been added. 

When filing Amended Claims, users must now enter zero amounts in boxes not containing a dollar figure. If this procedure is not followed, the claimed amount will be incorrect.

Creditor Mailing Matrix

Now available through the Query menu as well as the Reports menu.

Written Opinions Report

This new report lists documents that have been designated as opinions. We have a specific event on our menu entitled Opinions. This event is used to docket any order the judges designate as an Opinion. The report can be checked by specific case name or number or default to run for the district between a specified date range.

Pacer

We now have the ability to distinguish Opinions (as well as transcripts) from “standard” documents for PACER billing purposes. There are no charges associated with the viewing of an Opinions. Charges for transcripts are not subject to the 30-page “cap”. Users will now be charged 8 cents for every page obtained when viewing a transcript.

Questions

Please contact Marianne Street (702-388-6988) or Debbie Gallagher (775-784-5023 x3300).