CHAPTER 7 FEES AND PRACTICES OF MY ARIZONA LAWYERS

United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Arizona·Decided February 3, 2025·No. 4:24-mp-00003·Unknown

Opinion

Dated: February 3, 2025

Bendlo Perf □□□ — 2 Brenda Moody Whinery, Bankruptcy Judge 3 eS 4 7 8 In re: Case No. 4:24-mp-00003-BMW 9 CHAPTER 7 FEES AND PRACTICES OF RULING AND ORDER VOIDING MY ARIZONA LAWYERS, PLLC AND RETENTION AGREEMENTS AND RELATED FINANCING AGREEMENTS FINANCING AGREEMENTS, WITH EZLEGALFEES, LLC ORDERING THE DISGORGEMENT OF 11 FEES, AND IMPOSING SANCTIONS AGAINST MY ARIZONA LAWYERS, 12 PLLC, CANDACE KALLEN, EZLEGALFEES, LLC, AND 13 KATHERINE KIESEL 14 15 On April 16, 2024, given this Court’s concerns pertaining to the disclosures of attorne: 16 compensation and bifurcated Chapter 7 retention agreements filed by Candace Kallen (“Ms 17 Kallen”) of My Arizona Lawyers, PLLC (“My Arizona Lawyers” or the “Firm’),! whicl indicated the existence of third-party financing by EZLegalFees, LLC (“EZ Legal”), and give: 19] related representations Ms. Kallen made to the Court regarding the practices of her Firm and he 20 Firm’s relationship with EZ Legal,” the Court issued an Order to Show Cause (the “OSC”) (Dkt 2)° against Ms. Kallen, My Arizona Lawyers, and EZ Legal. 22 Pursuant to the OSC, Ms. Kallen and My Arizona Lawyers were ordered to show □□□□ as to why this Court should not: (1) void all post-petition retention agreements between M: 24 a 95 ' This Court’s procedures require attorneys for Chapter 7 debtors to attach all agreements that pertain t the compensation paid or to be paid to or for the benefit of such attorneys to their Rule 2016(b) disclosure 26 of compensation. > See Trial Ex. 7. References to “Trial Ex.” are references to exhibits admitted into evidence during th evidentiary hearing held on October 16, 2024. 3 Unless otherwise indicated, references to “Dkt.” are references to the docket in this miscellaneou 28 proceeding.

1 Arizona Lawyers and Chapter 7 debtors on the basis that they violate the Bankruptcy Code and 2 Local Rules for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona (the “Local 3 Rules”); (2) order the disgorgement of all fees paid pursuant to or otherwise attributable to such 4 post-petition retention agreements; and/or (3) bar Ms. Kallen from practicing before this Court 5 given the structure and conflicts of interest inherent in her Firm’s financing arrangement with EZ 6 Legal. (Dkt. 2 at 6). 7 EZ Legal was ordered to show cause as to why this Court should not void all financing 8 agreements signed by Chapter 7 debtors represented by My Arizona Lawyers and/or impose 9 sanctions, as may be deemed appropriate. (Dkt. 2 at 6). 10 During the course of these proceedings, the Court held numerous hearings4 and, as 11 additional information was disclosed, the Court: (a) fixed the scope of these proceedings to 12 include all bifurcated Chapter 7 cases filed by the Firm in the District of Arizona between May 13 15, 2022 and May 15, 2024 (the “Lookback Period”) that were financed by EZ Legal (the “EZ 14 Legal Financed Cases”), which cases are listed on Exhibit A to this Ruling and Order (the “Case 15 List”);5 (b) ordered the parties to file supplemental disclosures; (c) issued certain interim orders; 16 (d) imposed certain interim sanctions; and (e) put the parties on notice that additional sanctions 17 may be imposed.6 (Dkt. 20; Dkt. 35; Dkt. 53; Dkt. 63). 18 With respect to the interim orders and sanctions imposed by the Court, at the initial hearing 19

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