CACB — Amended Complex Chapter 11 Case Definition and Pre-Filing Procedure

Source: https://www.cacb.uscourts.gov/sites/cacb/files/documents/general-orders/Amended%20GO%2023-02.pdf

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3 MAR 10 2026 4

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8 UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT 9 CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10

11 ) IN RE: COMPLEX CHAPTER 11 CASE ) 12 ) DEFINITION AND PRE-FILING ) AMENDED GENERAL ORDER 23-02 13 ) PROCEDURE ) 14 )

15 IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows: 16 Definition of a Complex Chapter 11 Case (a “Complex Case”). A Complex Case 17 is a case or group of affiliated cases in which (i) the total liabilities of the debtor (a single 18 debtor or a group of affiliated debtors whose cases are intended to be jointly 19 administered) exceeds $20 million; (ii) there are more than 50 parties in interest 20 (excluding holders of gift cards or similar prepaid certificates); or (iii) any claims against 21 or interests in the debtors are publicly traded, all as reported on the debtor(s) 22 bankruptcy petition(s). 23 Pre-Filing Procedure. Because the provisions of Local Bankruptcy Rule (“LBR”) 24 9075-1 may be inadequate to ensure that hearings on motions that must be conducted 25 as soon as possible (“Early Case Hearings”) in a Complex Case will be scheduled when 26 needed, before filing the petition, counsel for a Complex Case Debtor must contact the 27 court to advise the court of the planned filing and schedule Early Case Hearings within 28 48 hours of the filing or, if that is a weekend or holiday, on the next business day. The

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1 Chief Deputy of Operations or a designee (Chief Deputy) is the initial contact for all pre-

2 filing matters for anticipated Complex Cases. The Chief Deputy can be reached at 213-

3 894-3901 or by email at complex_ch11@cacb.uscourts.gov. The Chief Deputy will be

4 accessible after business hours and on weekends (within reason). Counsel for the

5 Complex Case Debtor must inform the Chief Deputy of (a) the approximate date and

6 time when the case is expected to be filed, (b) the division in which venue is proper,

7 (c) the motions expected to be filed that will require a hearing within 48 hours after the

8 case is filed, and (d) the telephone number and email at which such counsel can be

9 reached. Counsel will not be required to reveal the name(s) of the debtor(s).

10 The Chief Deputy will contact the judge randomly assigned to the case in the

11 applicable division for the case under LBR 1071-1(a) to ensure that the judge (1) is

12 willing and able to conduct a hearing on the specified motions within 48 hours, (2)

13 agrees to permit remote (video or telephone) access to all parties wishing to attend the

14 hearing, and (3) agrees to set at least one monthly “omnibus” hearing for matters in the

15 Complex Case, with remote (video or telephone) access for all parties wishing to attend

16 those omnibus hearings (the “Assignment Criteria”). All judges of the Court who believe

17 they may be willing and able to meet the Assignment Criteria for any Complex Case that

18 might be filed in future will provide standing instructions to the Clerk’s Office regarding

19 contact procedures.

20 If the first judge contacted by the Chief Deputy is not willing and able to meet the

21 Assignment Criteria, the next judge randomly assigned in the applicable division for the

22 case under LBR 1071-1(a) will be contacted. If the Chief Deputy is unable to locate an

23 available judge in the applicable division, they will contact the Chief Bankruptcy Judge,

24 who will consider the circumstances and, if necessary, assign the case to a judge in the

25 closest division to the applicable division under LBR 1071-1(a).1 The case will be

26 1 The circumstances to be considered by the Chief Bankruptcy Judge include when a judge in the applicable division 27 would become available, and the convenience to the Complex Case Debtor and parties in interest. Under this procedure, a Complex Case may be assigned, in the Chief Bankruptcy Judge’s discretion, to a judge outside of the28 “applicable division” under LBR 1071-1.

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1 assigned to the first available judge who meets the Assignment Criteria. As soon as a

2 judge is assigned, the Chief Deputy will inform counsel for the Complex Case Debtor

3 that a judge meeting the Assignment Criteria is available, without revealing the identity

4 of that judge. The Chief Deputy will coordinate between counsel for the Complex Case

5 Debtor and the assigned judge (again, without revealing the identity of the assigned

6 judge) regarding the hearing date and time and any other pre-filing procedures.

7 Filing Procedure. When the bankruptcy petition is ready to be filed, counsel for

8 the Complex Case Debtor must notify the Chief Deputy 15 minutes before the

9 requested time to file the petition. The Chief Deputy will coordinate with the filing

10 attorney regarding the precise time the petition will be filed, to ensure that the case is

11 assigned to the correct judge (the one selected pursuant to the above procedures).

12 Immediately after the petition is actually filed, counsel must telephone the Chief Deputy

13 to confirm that the petition was received and assigned, and the Chief Deputy will alert

14 the chambers of the assigned judge and notify counsel which judge has been assigned.

15 Chambers for the assigned judge will then contact counsel to establish any procedures

16 that have not already been established for the Early Case Hearings, including any

17 additional details regarding video or telephone appearances, filing a written agenda for

18 the Early Case Hearings, and procedures for providing chambers with copies of moving

19 papers and proposed orders.

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21 IT IS SO ORDERED.

22 Date: March 10, 202623

24 Julia W. Brand Chief Judge, United States Bankruptcy Court25

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