Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Complaint Against Judge Hyman

The Honorable Paul G. Hyman, Jr. presided over the 1997 bankruptcy of Baron’s Stores, Inc. The Final Decree was issued on December 10, 1999. On March 11, 2005, I, Pro Se, filed an Emergency Motion to Reopen the bankruptcy of Baron’s Stores, Inc. for “fraud on the court” for failure to disclose under Bankruptcy Rule 2014[1]. On April 7, 2005, Judge Hyman reopened the bankruptcy of Baron’s in order to determine if “fraud on the court” for failure to disclose had been perpetrated by three attorneys[2]. Judge Hyman made all the rulings in the 1997 bankruptcy of Baron’s. In 2005, he reopened the case, denied Summary Judgments, and in 2007, presided over the evidentiary trial. The same Judge, who was defrauded, now was in position to correct the rulings he previously made. Instead of doing what was just and right, under the law, as is his duty, Judge Hyman chose to reinvent the Rules of the Bankruptcy Code enacted by Congress so that he could protect certain attorneys[3]. It obviously was too difficult for him to effect the prosecution of attorneys who appear before him on a regular basis. By reopening the bankruptcy, Judge Hyman opened “pandora’s box.” When he saw what lay inside at the evidentiary trial, and the magnitude of the wrongdoing, including his own, in addition to other lawyers involved in the cover-up, he chose to close the box rather than release the secrets. Judge Hyman has failed to maintain the integrity of the judicial process by refusing to correct errors contained in his Orders. As a result, he continues to deprive interested parties their right to object and be heard - violating due process. I was determined to investigate what secrets remained and how and why a decision of “no fraud on the court” could be made. My examination of the documents and understanding of the Rules un- covered the judicial misconduct, bias and impropriety of Judge Paul G. Hyman, Jr.

“Professionals must disclose all connections with the debtor, creditors and parties in interest, no matter how irrelevant or trivial those connections may seem. The disclosure rules are not discretionary. The Bankruptcy Court does not have authority to allow the employment of a professional in violation of 327, and the employment is void ab initio. Until proper disclosure has been made, it is premature to award fees for two reasons. First, the Bankruptcy Court cannot exercise its discretion
to excuse non-disclosure unless it knows what it is excusing. Second, employment is a prerequisite to compensation and until there is proper disclosure it cannot be known whether the professional is validly employed. The Bankruptcy Court cannot simply disregard those rules and instead award compensation under quantum meruit or other state law theories. Lack of Rule 2014 Statement “necessitates vacating the employment order.” The Bankruptcy Court has broad discretion to approve employment and award fees after the true facts are known but not when the attorney does not make a full, candid, and complete disclosure. The Bankruptcy Rules do not give the Bankruptcy Court any discretion to waive the requirement of a Rule 2014 Statement.
[4]


A Federal Judge must abide by a Canon of Ethics. In the matter of Baron’s, Judge Hyman violated the Canon of Ethics by failing to maintain the honesty, sincerity, uprightness and independence of the judiciary. These lapses of integrity display a pattern of improper activity. Judge Hyman has had many opportunities to correct these lapses and has failed to do so. The failures would lead one to believe that these lapses are intentional. The improper activity has had detrimental effects on not only me, but all interested parties, including but not limited to the creditors and employees of Baron’s Stores, Inc. Following is a series of improper activity and/or judicial misconduct on the part of Judge Paul G. Hyman, Jr. in the bankruptcy of Baron’s:

1) Judge Hyman violated the Bankruptcy Code and Bankruptcy Rules by waiving the requirements enacted by Congress[5] (Ex. A, B, C, D)

2) Judge Hyman hired professionals under a General Retainer Agreement (Ex. B) and paid them under a Contingency Agreement including pre-petition costs (Ex. E)

3) Judge Hyman waived the requirement of Bankruptcy Rule 2016 (Ex. E)

4) Judge Hyman paid a conflicted attorney whom, by his own admission, represented the Unsecured Creditors Committee and was defacto Debtor’s Counsel (Ex. F)

5) Judge Hyman denied me due process by ignoring my Affidavit whereby alerting the Court to the conflicts of interests of the attorneys (Ex. G)

6) Judge Hyman signed an Order containing false information pursuant to the hearing on my Affidavit (Ex. H)

7) Judge Hyman bifurcated the case into liability and remedy after liability was established by the attorneys “admission against interests.” Judge Hyman ignored the admissions by the attorneys thereby preventing me from discovery of nineteen witnesses who knew or should have known about the intent of the attorneys’ fraud (Ex. B, C, I)[6]

8) Judge Hyman ignored my request for fiduciary assistance on behalf of a bereft Debtor, and caused me further financial damage (Ex. J, K)

9) Judge Hyman acted as a witness at the evidentiary trial (Ex. L)

The very protection the Court has from appointing professionals in bankruptcy cases are the Rules of Disclosure enacted by Congress to protect honest debtors and creditors from professionals who choose to play fast and loose with the Court. Examining the history of Congress reveals that it knew the problem existed, especially in the bankruptcy courts, and thus stated its concerns in the Matter of Arkansas Co, (3dCir.1986).

“It is significant that Congress chose to place the requirement of court approval for the employment of an attorney, accountant, or other professional directly in the Bankruptcy Code in 1978. 11 U.S.C. 1103(a). The legislative history makes clear that the 1978 Code was designed to eliminate the abuses and detrimental practices that had been found to prevail. Among such practices was the cronyism of the “bankruptcy ring” and attorney control of bankruptcy cases. In fact, the House Report noted that “in practice...the bankruptcy system operates more for the benefit of attorneys than for the benefit of creditors.”

Congress’ fear as stated in the Matter of Arkansas Co. became a reality in the bankruptcy of Baron’s. What Congress could not have imagined was that the Court itself would engage in the “cronyism” by protecting certain members of the bankruptcy bar rather than protect the public from such “cronyism.” The Federal Courts have the power to improve or destroy the lives of individuals, including through precedents, the lives of millions of Americans. It is the duty of the Judicial Council to fully and impartially investigate my allegations so that I and the public will be confident that a fair process does exist when a Grievance is filed against a Federal Judge with oversight by the Federal Judiciary.




[1] Rule 2014 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure states, in pertinent part: (a) Application for an Order of Employment An order approving the employment of attorneys, accountants, appraisers, auctioneers, agents, or other professionals pursuant to § 327, § 1103, or § 1114 of the Code shall be made only on application of the trustee [or debtor in possession] . . . . The application shall state the specific facts showing the necessity for the employment, the name of the person to be employed, the reasons for the selection, the professional services to be rendered, any proposed arrangement for compensation, and, to the best of the applicant's knowledge, all of the person's connections with the debtor, creditors, any other party in interest, their respective attorneys and accountants, the United States trustee, or any person employed in the office of the United States trustee. The application shall be accompanied by a verified statement of the person to be employed setting forth the person's connections with the debtor, creditors, any other party in interest, their respective attorneys and accountants, the United States trustee, or any person employed in the office of the United States trustee. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2014. In re Jennings, 199 Fed.Appx. 845 (11th Cir. 10/04/2006)
[2]Ronald C. Kopplow, Esq., Marc Cooper, Esq., Sonya L. Salkin, Esq. It should be noted that Sonya Salkin is also a Region 21 Panel Trustee.
[3]It is amazing that on December 1, 2004, Judge Hyman found that Linda Walden, a “creditor elected Trustee” and CPA committed perjury and fraud on the court on a minuscule fraction of evidence compared to what three attorneys did in the bankruptcy of Baron’s. It should be noted that Ms. Walden is not a Region 21 Panel Trustee and obviously did not enjoy the preferential treatment afforded attorneys by this Court - In Re: James Walker, Case No. 03-32158-BKC-PGH.
[4]In re Triple Star Welding, Inc., 324 B.R.778 (9th Cir. 04/28/2005)
[5]In re Triple Star Welding, Inc., 324 B.R.778 (9th Cir. 04/28/2005)
[6]In the Motion for Protective Order it is stipulated by the attorneys that they did not make disclosure to anyone. At the hearing on the Motion for Protective Order it is again stated that the attorneys did not make disclosure to anyone, and yet Judge Hyman failed to address the attorneys’ “admission against interests.” Such admission should have caused Judge Hyman to be outraged that he was defrauded by the attorneys in 1997 when he appointed them and paid them approximately $1 million in fees and costs, (including pre-petition costs) pursuant to the attorneys averment that they complied with Bankruptcy Rule 2014, and now, more than nine years later, they have admitted that they never complied with Rule 2014 under Bankruptcy Code 327. Such admission should have caused Judge Hyman, Sua Sponte, to deny the attorneys’ Motion for Protective Order so that the intent of the attorneys’ fraud on the court could be explored through discovery of the nineteen witnesses I wanted to depose. The Judicial Council should be quite concerned as to why Judge Hyman did not take immediate and appropriate action to protect the bankruptcy process and the integrity of the Court.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I noticed that Lanson has had several defeats in the 11th Circuit, these need to be posted if this is an open forum.

Also what about the Bar complaints against her attorney, Mary Gwynn, sent in by Chief Judge Paul G. Hyman? Why aren't these posted?

Anonymous said...

I noticed that Lanson has had several defeats in the 11th Circuit, these need to be posted if this is an open forum.

Also what about the Bar complaints against her attorney, Mary Gwynn, sent in by Chief Judge Paul G. Hyman? Why aren't these posted?

Anonymous said...

I noticed that Lanson has had several defeats in the 11th Circuit, these need to be posted if this is an open forum.

Also what about the Bar complaints against her attorney, Mary Gwynn, sent in by Chief Judge Paul G. Hyman? Why aren't these posted?

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone be shocked by Judge Paul G. Hyman's conduct or lack thereof when it comes to Panel 7 Trustees in Region 21? After all, he brought nonsensical bar grievances against Ms. Gwynn for disclosing through her fiduciary duty issues with the Panel 7 Trustees and their professionals, yet when it was brought to his attention that a Panel 7 Trustee failed to disclose her sexual relationship for seven years with the professional attorney she retained to represent her in that capacity on all of the cases, Judge Hyman did nothing. He also did nothing when it was brought to his attention that a Panel 7 Trustee lied under oath at her deposition in an adversary of which he is the Judge on the chief case and that the same Trustee committed fraud on the court. His reward--he became the Chief Judge. Now that is scary.

Unknown said...

As i noticed that Lanson had many struggles during 11th circuit.This should be noticed by everyone.
Also Judge Hyman didn't do anything when it was brought to his attention.This also should be noticed,
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I can;t believe that judge Hyman did that. It's a surprise.

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well.....i noticed that Lanson had many struggles during 11th circuit.This should be noticed by everyone.
Also Judge Hyman didn't do anything when it was brought to his attention. This also should be noticed in my concern.....

Anonymous said...

It's a sad state of affairs when a litigant, like Merle Lanson, can slander a judge on the internet with absolutely no factual basis. Judge Hyman granted Ms. Lanson's highly unusual motion for ADA accommodations and permitted her to have biofeedback monitors and a coach during court proceedings because, as she put it, she suffered from anxiety, depression, trauma, disorientation, stress and complex PTSD because of litigation in which she was involved. See Bankr. S.D. Fla. Case no 97-25646-BKC-PGH DE 614. Ms. Lanson's real problem is that she can't accept that her business went bankrupt because she and her husband hired a thief as a controller. They then tried to pin the blame on their attorneys. They lost that case and now blame Judge Hyman because he did not rule in their favor. See 2007 WL 1120296, aff'd S.D. Fla. Case no: 07-60770-CV-CMA, DE 40 (S.D.Fla. 2008), aff’d 307 Fed. Appx 396 (11th Cir. 2009).

In addition, Ms. Lanson's attorney, Mary Alice Gwynn, the other person who is apparently behind this blog, is before the Fla. Supreme Court for suspension for professional misconduct including incompetence in a case before Judge Hyman. See Referee's report available at: wttp://www.floridasupremecourt.org/clerk/briefs/2008/601-800/08-622_ROR_ada.pd. In the Walker case before Judge Hyman, when she represented no client with an interest in the proceeding, she filed newspaper articles and other hearsay unrelated to any party or matter in the case. Judge Hyman had to Order Ms. Gwynn to stop filing anything in the case unless she was ordered to do so or required to under the law. See Bankr. S.D. Fla. Case no 03-32158 DE 1510, 1550. During the case, Ms. Gwynn also filed a motion for continuance of a hearing based upon her self-described "major depressive disorder" as well as an affidavit by her legal assistant describing her erratic mental state and behavior. See 03-32158 DE 431, 475. Finally, Judge Hyman actually denied the debtor his claim of exemption in the Walker case. See 03-32158 DE 228.

Lanson and Gwynn are both shamefully spreading their lies and misstatements of the facts via the internet with no other purpose than to damage the reputations of judges and attorneys who otherwise have no ability to defend themselves on these phony websites. Anyone who wishes to know the truth should read the underlying opinions.

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judges have a huge responsibility to handle, they should do it with proper justice...

Kellie Daoud said...

It seems like birds of a feather flock together. Judge Paul Hyman's wife, Attorney Kellie Hyman, is tied up in a nasty legal battle with her father, former Miami Beach Mayor Alex Daoud. She is trying to take away his house and evict him! Here is a website that details the whole tragic drama. It's a very good read! TragicMess.com

Unknown said...

This judge is a corrupt piece of shit he is far the worst scum in Palm Beach county any one litigating in front of this piece of shit beware he will steal your Money dismiss your case deprive you of your rights and much more this son of a bitch is nothing but a gangster in a robe a real class action mother fucker piece of shit prejudice bias son of a bitch who needs to die of cancer and get brain dead decease

Unknown said...

Every one who’s been fucked by this piece of shit need to post and alert the public so we can fuck up his life as he has fucked others . Hyman your a scum prejudice piece of shit your corrupted and you sale your criminal illegal orders for Money as you sold your self to the banks and too the law offices of the criminals of Akerman LLP you and this attorneys Adam the dick Schwarts are tied up together stealing property just as you did and your wife to your father in law stealing your own family property for the money that’s exactly what you done all this years to debtors fuck them all up you piece of shit

Unknown said...

But your not alone the judges from the 15th judicial circuit are as corrupt and criminals as you are such as judge JOSEPH Marx a klan piece of shit and a crook who’s looking to steal my property and also the klan judges from the 4dca citizens beware this mother fuckers are against we the people spread the word and grab your guns and protect your rights from this tyrant mother fuckers who are at it again to steal our homes don’t be afraid come forward with your story’s about what this scumbags have done to you cause we’re the victims this judges need to burn in hell this mother fuckers