Commercial Fraud Committee

ABI Committee News

ABI’s 15th Annual Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop

ABI's 15th Annual Southeast Bankruptcy Workshop will be held at the the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island in Amelia Island, Fla., July 14-17. The resort, a AAA Five Diamond hotel, is one of the most popular beach destinations on the East Coast and is located on a grand stretch of the island's 13 miles of coastline. A faculty of outstanding judges, academics and practitioners will present valuable workshops on a host of current topics. One of the sessions will be of great interest to the committee.

Panelists in the session “Making Money in a Downturn: Ponzi Schemes and Other Scams for Bilking Money, from Madoff to Consumer Rip-Offs” will discuss means for recovering money as well as limitations, specifically when the Fifth Amendment comes into play.  Hon. John K. Olson of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court (S.D. Fla.) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. will moderate.  Panelists will include James S. Feltman of Mesirow Financial Consulting, LLC in Miami, Kristina M. Johnson of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, PA in Jackson, Miss., Charles H. Lichtman of Berger Singerman, PA in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Jerry M. Markowitz of Markowitz, Davis, Ringel & Trusty, PA in Miami.  Please click the link below to view the materials by Ms. Johnson.

Assertion of Fifth Amendment Privilege Against Self-Incrimination in Bankruptcy Proceedings

Your 2010-2011 Commercial Fraud Committee Co-Chairs Announced

The ABI is pleased to announce your new Commercial Fraud Committee Co-Chairs.  Jason Brookner of Andrews Kurth LLP in Dallas and David Leibowitz of Lakelaw/Leibowitz Law Center in Waukegan, Ill. have accepted the positions for the 2010-2011 term.  Mr. Brookner moves up from his previous committee position as Education Director and Mr. Leibowitz moves up from Special Projects/Task Force Leader.

The ABI would also like to thank Francis Monaco of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice PLLC in Wilmington, Del. and Sheryl Toby of Dykema Gossett PLLC in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. for their service as Co-Chairs.  Both have contributed greatly to the leadership of the committee over the past three years and the ABI looks forward to working with them both in other capacities going forward.  To view a complete list of your current committee leaders, please click here.