Novel LLC

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
DISTRICT OF MAINE
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)
In re: 	)
)
NOVEL LLC, 	) 	Chapter 7
) 	Case No.: 26-20101
Debtor. 	)
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ORDER DENYING MOTION TO AMEND PETITION
This matter is before the Court on the motion of Paul Miller to amend the voluntary
petition in this case (the “Motion to Amend”). Docket Entry (“D.E.”) 12. 1 Mr. Miller requests
that the Court order the deletion of the name “Novel Book Bar & Cafe” which debtor Novel LLC
listed in response to Question 2 on its Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition. (D.E. 1). Mr. Miller bases
his request on Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1009(a) and D. Me. LBR 1009[1](a) and 9013-1. Fed. R. Bankr.
P. 1009 (a)(2) provides that on “a party in interest's motion and after notice and a hearing, the
court may order a voluntary petition . . . to be amended.” Mr. Miller claims that his request
should be granted for two reasons: (a) the records of the Maine Secretary of State do not reflect
that Novel LLC has ever registered that name as an assumed name; and (b) the Managing
Member of Novel LLC admitted under oath at the meeting of creditors on May 15, 2026 that
Novel LLC never registered that name as an assumed name with the Maine Office of the
Secretary of State.
Novel LLC’s petition is Official Form 201 - Voluntary Petition for Non-Individuals Filing
for Bankruptcy. The instructions for Question 2 require that Novel LLC list “[a]ll other names
debtor used in the last 8 years[.] Include any assumed names, trade names and doing business as
names[.]” D.E. 1. The instructions do not exclude any names for which a state corporate
registration has not been filed. In its response to the Motion to Amend, Novel LLC affirmatively
maintains that it has done business as “Novel Book Bar & Cafp.” D.E. 13, ၁ 2. Given that,
Novel LLC was required to list that name in response to Question 2.
Therefore, the Motion to Amend is DENIED.
DATED: May 21, 2026 	/s/ Peter G. Cary
Honorable Peter G. Cary
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge
1 In its response to the Motion to Amend, Novel LLC raises a possible factual scenario which, if true, would mean
that Mr. Miller is not a creditor in this case and does not have standing to file the motion. D.E. 13, ¶ 1. Given the
decision to deny the Motion to Amend, the Court does not need to make, and is not making, that determination at
this time.
Case 26-20101 Doc 14 Filed 05/21/26 Entered 05/21/26 12:30:50 Desc Main
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