ORLANDO, Fla. — A big Orlando law firm is in trouble with a federal court. A judge has barred the entire firm of Kaufman, Englett, and Lynd (KEL) from practicing cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
It all stems from problems with just one attorney and one bankruptcy motion on behalf of two clients in Orlando who had their assets frozen. There were problems with the paper work.
A federal judge made it clear he wanted a specific attorney to address the issues. When he didn't show, his entire firm was barred.
The law office of KEL attorneys has built a reputation in Orlando, helping clients fight foreclosures and navigate the federal bankruptcy court.
However, in a motion filed on Tuesday, a bankruptcy judge barred Attorney William Sanchez and the entire KEL firm from bankruptcy court, citing various deficiencies in a motion before him.
Sanchez was scheduled to address that motion in a hearing earlier this week. Instead, another attorney attended in his place.
WFTV spoke with veteran bankruptcy attorney,Scott Shuker, via telephone on Wednesday who said the decision to bar the entire office is a rare move.
"This is highly unusual. I think in my 17 years or so practicing before the bankruptcy court here in Orlando, I've only seen a similar order on one or two different times," said Shuker.
KEL attorneys cancelled an interview with WFTV, but did send a written statement saying, "We are taking steps to make amends with the court to address the outstanding issue."
WFTV asked KEL attorneys how many bankruptcy cases it has pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court of Middle Florida, but did not get an answer.
WFTV was told any impacted clients would be contacted, because as it is, there will be no additional filings allowed until Sanchez's case is resolved or a judge issues an emergency order.
KEL attorneys said that Sanchez went to the court to personally apologize to Judge Arthur Briskman. But he'll have to do more than that to get his firm back in bankruptcy court. He will have to address the judge's order.
WFTV
