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CONTESTED MATTERS: Overview; List of Contested Matters

9014(a): CONTESTED MATTERS: Overview; List of Contested Matters

Many "motions" are considered to be "contested matters" for the type of due process that must be provided to parties in a contested matter.   Due process includes how a party serves a motion that commences a contested matter and what type of notifications must be included in the notice of that motion.  

  • FRBP 9014 is the principal rule regarding procedures in contested matters, including due process and application of other rules when a motion qualifies as a contested matter.  See link below
  • LBR 9013-1(c) identifies the content that must be included in the notice of motion.
  • Service of documents in a contested matter -- See the next sections in The Central Guide for information on using FRBP 9014(b) to serve the motion and subsequent papers that are filed in a contested matter.  
  • Applying Part VII Rules in a contested matter -- See the next sections in The Central Guide for information on using FRBP 9014(c) to determine the list of Part VII rules in the FRBP 7000 series that apply in a contested matter, including taking discovery. 

There are sections in the FRBP and in the LBR that identify a particular motion or request for relief as a contested matter.  Examples are:

  • FRBP 1017(f)(1) -- Motions by a trustee or other party to dismiss or suspend a case, or to convert a case to another chapter.  BE AWARE that it is not a contested matter when a chapter 7 debtor requests conversion, a chapter 11 requests conversion to chapter 7, a chapter 12 debtor requests conversion or dismissal, or a chapter 13 debtor requests conversion or dismissal.     
  • FRBP 1020 -- Objection to designation as a chapter 11 small business case, or a request to make such a designation
  • FRBP 1021 -- Motion for a determination of whether a debtor is a health care business
  • FRBP 2007.1 -- Motion to appoint a trustee or examiner in a chapter 11 bankruptcy case
  • FRBP 2007.2 -- Motion to appoint or terminate the appointment of a patient care ombudsman in a health care business case
  • FRBP 2015.1 -- Motion by a patient-care ombudsman to review confidential patient records
  • LBR 3007-1 -- Objections to Claims
  • FRBP 3015(f) -- Objection to confirmation of a chapter 12 or chapter 13 plan of reorganization
  • FRBP 3015(h) -- Objection to a motion to modify a confirmed plan in a chapter 12 or chapter 13 case
  • FRBP 3019(b) -- Motion to modify a confirmed plan in an individual chapter 11 case
  • FRBP 3020(b) -- Objection to confirmation of a chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization
  • FRBP 4001 -- Motions involving the automatic stay, sale of property, use of cash collateral, and obtaining credit
  • FRBP 4003(d) -- Motions to avoid liens
  • FRBP 4004(d) -- Motion to deny a discharge under Bankruptcy Code 727(a)(8) or (9), or 1328(f)
  • FRBP 5011(d) -- Motions for the court to abstain from hearing a proceeding
  • FRBP 6004(b) -- Objection to a motion regarding the use. sale or lease of property
  • FRBP 6004(c) -- Motion to sell property free and clear of liens and other interests 
  • FRBP 6006(a) -- Motion to assume, reject, or assign an executory contract or unexpired lease
  • FRBP 6006(b) -- Motion to require a trustee or debtor to determine whether to assume or reject a lease or executory contract in a chapter 9, 11, 12 or 13 bankruptcy case  
  • FRBP 9020 -- Motion for issuance of a contempt order
  • FRBP 9027(d) -- Motion to Remand a Proceeding After Removal

BE AWARE that some requests for relief can not be made by filing and serving a motion, but can only be made by a plaintiff filing a complaint (which commences an adversary proceeding) and then serving the complaint along with a summons using a proper service method from FRBP 7004.  Defendants can file a variety of responses.  A host of other procedures are available to all plaintiffs and all defendants, including taking discovery.    

BE AWARE that there is no authority to file an "amended" motion, unless permission from the court is obtained under FRBP 9014(c).      There are, however, situations in which certain "amended" documents can be filed because those documents do not constitute a request for relief for the court to enter an order or judgment.  Examples include:

  • FRBP 1009 -- Debtor amending a bankruptcy petition, list, schedule, or statement, either voluntarily or after a court grants a motion. 
  • FRBP 7013 -- Trustee or debtor amending an answer to plead a counterclaim or crossclaim when failure to include the claims in the answer was a result of oversight, inadvertence or excusable neglect

 

Section: 
Section 4 - Match Local Bankruptcy Rules with Forms
Section Number or LBR Number: 
9014(a)
Reference to Local Rules and/or Forms: