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No. 1:12-bk-01072 Doc101 Filed 01/12/15 Entered 01/12/15 14:29:13 Page 1of

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Patrick M. Flatley
United States Bankruptcy sulee

Dated: Monday, January 12, 2015 12:30:26 PM

IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF WEST VIRGINIA

IN RE:
)
ARTHUR RAYMOND WEIDLICH, ) Case No. 12-bk-1072
)
Debtor. ) Chapter 7
MEMORANDUM OPINION

The Chapter 7 trustee (the “Trustee”) for the bankruptcy estate of Arthur Raymond
Weidlich (the “Debtor”) sold the Debtor’s coin collection at auction with court approval but
without proper notice under the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. Shannon Weidlich, the
Debtor’s daughter and the administrator of the Debtor’s death estate, requests relief from the
court’s order authorizing the Trustee to sell the coin collection and to unwind the auction sale so
that she can preserve the Debtor’s coin collection as a family heirloom.

For the reasons stated herein, the court will deny Ms. Weidlich’s request.

I. BACKGROUND

The Debtor filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceeding on August 7, 2012. Shortly after
proposing a Chapter 13 plan, the Debtor died. Unable to continue with a Chapter 13 plan, the
Debtor’s counsel met with Ms. Weidlich, the administrator of the Debtor’s death estate, and filed
a February 27, 2013 motion to convert the Debtor’s case to one under Chapter 7. At that time,
Ms. Weidlich’s name and address were added to the Debtor’s mailing matrix as a party-in-interest.
On behalf of the Debtor, Ms. Weidlich also filed an amended claim of exemptions on February 27,

2013, which, among other things, reduced the Debtor’s previous claim of exemption in the

AUTHENTICATED
U.S. GOVERNMENT
INFORMATION

GPO



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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

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No. 1:12-bk-01072 Doc101 Filed 01/12/15 Entered 01/12/15 14:29:13 Page 3 of

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I hereby certify that the foregoing MOTION TO EMPLOY AUCTIONEER
was served upon the following individuals at the addresses listed below, by placing
a true and correct copy thereof in the United States mail, postage prepaid, on the
19th day of November, 2013.

Darron Meares

Served electronically on:
Counsel for Debtor

Office of the Assistant U.S. Trustee

(Document No. 65).

Similar to the caption of the underlying document, the electronic filing event used by the

Trustee was “Application to Employ” and the electronic docket text chosen by the Trustee’s Office

reads:

Application to Employ Darron Meares, Meares Auction Group as Auctioneer for
Trustee with Certificate of Service. Filed by .... (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit # 2
Proposed Order) . . . . (Entered: 11/19/2013).

On November 19, 2013, the Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office issued a notice on the Trustee’s

document to the same parties listed on the Trustee’s certificate of service allowing them 23 days

from issuance of the notice to object to the proposed employment.” The Clerk’s notice states:

On November 19, 2013, the following document was filed:

65 — Application to Employ Darron Meares, Meares Auction Group as Auctioneer
for Trustee with Certificate of Service. Filed by... .(Attachments: # 1 Affidavit #
2 Proposed Order)... .

It is the responsibility of the moving party to ensure adequate service of the
above—mentioned document. If you have not received service of the document, and
believe that you are entitled to such service, you may contact the moving party. The
aforementioned pleading is also on file in the office of the undersigned Clerk, and

There is no stated requirement in the 11 U.S.C. § 327 or Fed. R. Bank. P. 2014 that a professional may only be
employed after notice and an opportunity for a hearing. As a best practice issue, however, the Clerk issues notice to
the United States trustee, the professional being employed, and e-filers who have made an appearance in the case.

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