Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney's Association

At the risk of dating myself (which is different from onanism), when I go to 341s, I prefer to wear tan shoes with pink shoe laces, a polka dot vest, a big panama with a purple hat band and man o man (Peter A. told me it was A-OK to dress that way.)
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.
Pat
Patrick T. Green, Esq.
Fitzgerald & Green
Attorneys at Law
1010 E. Union Street
Suite 206
Pasadena, CA 91106
Tel: 626-449-8433
Fax: 626-449-0565
pat@fitzgreenlaw.com

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Amen:
Before we storm the castle, I wonder why today. David Gill was the trustee
(nothing in anyway disparaging is to be mean't here). I dressed the same
way last week in the Valley and again downtown (very neat and respectful,
but casual). I have been doing it all year. Nothing was ever said before,
or last week. Why today? Then again, now the US Trustee will not let
relatives interpret. They don't want children at the hearings and we are
not suppose to leave stuff on our seats while we go to the bathroom. I just
wonder !!
Hank
_____

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I do not object to looking professional when meeting clients at
hearings. However, I do object to the UST dictating how we are supposed
to dress. Next they will be telling me that they do not like the way I
do my hair and that I need to wear make up or that my suit is shabby.
Okay...maybe I am taking it to far... and some of our brethren does
dress shabby but not Henry nor Les nor Paul (tie or no tie). This is
high handed and inappropriate. We each practice in our own manner. We
need not explain ourselves to the UST. It is none of the USTs business
how we dress or look.
Let's storm the castle and revolt against the king!!! And as the
Chapulin Colorado would say, "Siganme los valientes."
Nancy B. Clark
P.S. these are my own personal feelings on the matter and should not be
attributed to Borowitz, Lozano & Clark, L.L.P.
________________________________

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Personally I agree that attorneys should present a professional
appearance at 341(a) hearings. It sounds like the trustee Hank
refers to handled the delicate matter as well as possible under the
circumstances. The Court can set local rules, the State Bar can set
standards, each Judge can as well. I have no problem with the US
Trustee if it wants to work with the bar to improve the public
perception of bankruptcy attorneys by encouraging all members of the
bar to dress the part. That said I agree with Nancy. The U.S.
Trustee is part of the executive branch of government. I know the
current administration thinks the federal government can and should
regulate everything, but it has no business dictating to the
bankruptcy bar how to dress!
Mark T. Jessee
Law Offices of Mark T. Jessee
"A Debt Relief Agency"
50 W. Hillcrest Drive, Suite 200
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
(805) 497-5868
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On Tue 2/06/09 12:53 PM , "Nancy Clark" nclark@blclaw.com sent:
The Court has the power to sanction an attorney for what they wear,
but what prey tell does the UST intend to do?
Henry, you always look very nice to me.
Nancy B. Clark
Borowitz, Lozano & Clark, L.L.P.
100 N. Barranca Avenue, Suite 250
West Covina, CA 91791
(626)332-8600
(626)332-8644
FROM: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com] ON
BEHALF OF Hale Andrew Antico
SENT: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:16 PM
TO: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
SUBJECT: RE: [cdcbaa] Dress for 341(a)
My thoughts mirror Keith's.
Along these lines, a Chapter 7 trustee recently announced snarkily
that I was dressed too well. ("Gee, do your clients know they're
paying for such a nice suit, or do you dress down for consultations"
or words to that effect). This was said publicly to me as I sat
twenty feet away in the 341(a) room, and was intended for my clients
and other attorneys to hear it.
FROM: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com [mailto:cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com] ON
BEHALF OF higginbothamlaw@aol.com
SENT: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 11:14 AM
TO: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
SUBJECT: Re: [cdcbaa] Dress for 341(a)
THANX HANK!
I BELIEVE THAT IT IS INCUMBENT UPON ALL DEBTOR ATTYS -- ESPECIALLY
MEMBERS OF CDCBAA , TO SHOW RESPECT BOTH FOR THE BK SYSTEM AND FOR
THEIR CLIENTS BY DRESSING APPROPRIATELY ("LAWYERLY"). OTHERWISE WE
LOOK LIKE THE DEBTORS.
KEITH ALAN HIGGINBOTHAM
The Law Offices of Keith Alan Higginbotham
255 S. Grand Avenue, Suite #2109
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3045
213.620.0176
213.613.1200 (Facsimile)
HigginbothamLaw@aol.com
-----Original Message-----
To: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 11:00 am
Subject: [cdcbaa] Dress for 341(a)
For what it is worth:
I was at 341(a)s this morning in Los Angeles. As usual, I was in
slacks and a shirt and a sweater. Many other lawyers were in slacks
and open shirts. In each case, the trustee took us aside after the
hearing and said the US Trustee now insists that all lawyers look
lawerly. Several others were in sport coats with open shirts
(appearance attorneys and others). I dont know if the got the same
notice.
I know many of our astemed members dress the same way at 341(a)s
and have been doing so for many years.
Hank
Henry M. Toles, J.D., M.B.A.
Henry M. Toles, A Law Corporation
11746 Goshen Avenue, No. 1
Los Angeles, California 90049-6113
Telephone: (310) 479-1400
Facsimile: (310) 575-0343
E-Mail: hmt@toles.org [1]
Member National20Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
(NACBA)
We are a federally designated Debt Relief Agency under the United
States
Bankruptcy Laws. We assist people with finding solutions to their
debt
problems, including, where appropriate, assisting them with the
filing
of petitions for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code.
This does not constitute an electronic signature.
This message contains confiidential information which may also be
privileged. Unless you are the intended recipient (or authorized to
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for the intended recipient) you may not copy, use or distribute the
information contained in this message.
Wanna slim down for summer? Go to America Takes it Off [2] to learn
how.
Links:
[1] mailto:hmt@toles.org
[2]

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Again than you.
Keith, your points are well taken and I agree with all of you.
My practice is very niche. I am semi-retired and meet my clients at home.
All my cases are referral and I am also casual when I meet the clients. In
fact they love it and are always more relaxed (including my high level
corporate clients). Also, I always appear for my own clients (while I love
and respect appearance attorney's, I just feel that way). That does not
however change the meaning of all the E Mails, and I personally knew that
one day someone would say something about this. Many attorneys really dress
down for the 341(a)'s (including me).
Hank
_____

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I think Henry also always looks good!
I agree with Henry's assessments with just one caveat. As an Appearance Atty I always wear a suit and tie -- except on rare Fridays where I agree to represent a creditor at a Chapter 13 341(a). My boss allows me to dress professionally but casually on Fridays -- but only if I am an objecting creditor -- rarely ever if I am representing debtors. The debtors have a higher expectation level that they will be meeting with and consulting with a formal atty and I believe it is incumbent upon me to present that.
Keith Alan Higginbotham
The Law Offices of Keith Alan Higginbotham
255 S. Grand Avenue, Suite #2109
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3045
213.620.0176
213.613.1200 (Facsimile)
HigginbothamLaw@aol.com
To: cdcbaa@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tue, 2 Jun 2009 1:03 pm
Subject: RE: [cdcbaa] Dress for 341(a)
Thank you. I am semi-retired, so I have kind of dressed down for 341lly dress down and have for years and I just wanted to get the word out.aring sport coats with open shirts. I have also done that. I dont know if anything was said to them, but it was said to all (and there were many) on the 9:00 calendar, but off the record and by the trustee personally behind the table.
The tru
stee said, I really dont personally care and I am not the fashion police, but the US Trustee has told me to get the word out
Hank

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Thank you. I am semi-retired, so I have kind of dressed down for 341's
(very neatly however), but never for Court. Some folks really dress down
and have for years and I just wanted to get the word out. Many are close
friends. The appearance attorney's were wearing sport coats with open
shirts. I have also done that. I don't know if anything was said to them,
but it was said to all (and there were many) on the 9:00 calendar, but off
the record and by the trustee personally behind the table.
The trustee said, "I really don't personally care and I am not the fashion
police, but the US Trustee has told me to get the word out".
Hank
_____

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The Court has the power to sanction an attorney for what they wear, but
what prey tell does the UST intend to do?
Henry, you always look very nice to me.
Nancy B. Clark
Borowitz, Lozano & Clark, L.L.P.
100 N. Barranca Avenue, Suite 250
West Covina, CA 91791
(626)332-8600
(626)332-8644
________________________________

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My thoughts mirror Keith's.

Along these lines, a Chapter 7 trustee recently announced snarkily that I
was dressed too well. ("Gee, do your clients know they're paying for such a
nice suit, or do you dress down for consultations" or words to that effect).
This was said publicly to me as I sat twenty feet away in the 341(a) room,
and was intended for my clients and other attorneys to hear it.
_____

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I'll let Jeff Hagen know J
Vinny Gambini: My clients...
Judge Chamberlain Haller : What are
you wearing?
Vinny Gambini : Huh?
Judge Chamberlain Haller : What are
you wearing?
Vinny Gambini : [wearing a leather
jacket] Um, I'm wearing clothes.
[Judge stares ominously]
Vinny Gambini : I... I don't get the
question.
Judge Chamberlain Haller : When you
come into my court looking like you do, you not only insult me, but you
insult the integrity of this court.
Vinny Gambini : I apologise, sir, but,
uh... this is how I dress.
Judge Chamberlain Haller : The next
time you appear in my court, you will look lawyerly. And I mean you comb
your hair, and wear a suit and tie. And that suit had better be made out of
some sort of... cloth. You understand me?
Vinny Gambini : Uh yes. Fine, Judge,
fine.
And, later..
Judge Chamberlain Haller: Mr.
Gambini, didn't I tell you that the next time you appear in my court that
you dress appropriately?
Vinny Gambini : You were serious about
that?
*************************
Mark J. Markus
Law Office of Mark J. Markus
11684 Ventura Blvd. PMB #403
Studio City, CA 91604-2652
(818)509-1173 (818)509-1460 (fax)
Toll Free: 1-866-576-6275
web: http://www.bklaw.com/
This Firm is a Qualified Federal Debt Relief Agency (see what this means at

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