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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
DALLAS DIVISION
NETSPHERE, INC., §
MANILA INDUSTRIES, INC., §
AND MUNISH KRISHAN §
§
PLAINTIFFS, §
§
V. § CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:09-CV-0988-F
§
JEFFREY BARON AND §
ONDOVA LIMITED COMPANY, §
§
DEFENDANTS. §
REQUEST FOR APPOINTMENT AS COUNSEL FOR JEFFREY BARON FOR
REPRESENTATION ON ISSUES REGARDING APPLICATIONS BY THE TRUSTEE
AND RECEIVER FOR ATTORNEYS FEES AND REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF
TIME TO RESPOND TO FEE APPLICATIONS
Jeffrey Baron, by and through counsel, requests the Court authorize Stephen R. Cochell,
to represent him on recently filed applications by the Receiver and the Trustee for attorneys fees,
and in support thereof, states:
1. The Court authorized Mr. Cochell to represent him in the bankruptcy and district court on
issues relating to approving the Receiver entering into the Plan settlement and approving auction
procedures and approving the Stalking Horse Bid. [Doc. 815]
2. The representation and arrangement to compensate Mr. Cochell, however, was limited to
these matters and did not extend to issues involving the review and evaluation of the Receiver
and Trustees attorneys fees.
3. The Trustee recently filed a fee application seeking $653,563 [Doc.1075] and the
Receiver filed a fee application seeking $155,356 [Doc. 1068], amounting to $808,919.
4. Thus, Mr. Baron is unrepresented on claims amounting to $808,919.
Case 3:12-cv-04489-L Document 2 Filed 11/07/12 Page 1 of 4 PageID 108
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5. Cochell a retainer of $45,000 and expert fees of $50,000 to represent Mr. Baron in
evaluating and potentially opposing fee applications recently filed with the Court. An expert
would have to be retained to conduct analysis of the fees, and to opine on the reasonableness of
the fees. Counsel would also be required to evaluate the reasonableness of the fees and work
with the expert to determine and present objections for thousands of time entries. Unfortunately,
this process is not inexpensive, but is necessary in a case where the fees have outstripped the
assets of the bankruptcy estate. Duplication of work, excessive billing and unnecessary billing
are likely in the instant case.
6. The representation would extend to potential objections to all fees to be approved by this
Court and the Bankruptcy Court.
7. Mr. Baron also requests the Court for an extension of time to respond to the pending fee
applications. Due to the expedited discovery schedule, Mr. Baron did not focus on the need for
representation or request counsel to file this application until this evening.
WHEREFORE, Jeffrey Baron requests the Court authorize and direct the Receiver to pay
Mr. Cochell a retainer of $45,000 for fees and $50,000 for expert and related computer support
to evaluate and file objections to fee applications pending before the Court and final approval of
all fees paid by the Bankruptcy and District Court.
Very respectfully,
/s/ Stephen R. Cochell
Stephen R. Cochell
The Cochell Law Firm, P.C.
Texas Bar No. 24044255
7026 Old Katy Rd., Ste 259
Houston, Texas 77096
(713)980-8796 (phone)
(713)980-1179 (facsimile)
srcochell@cochellfirm.com
Case 3:12-cv-04489-L Document 2 Filed 11/07/12 Page 2 of 4 PageID 109
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Case 3:12-cv-04489-L Document 2 Filed 11/07/12 Page 3 of 4 PageID 110
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CERTIFICATE OF CONFERENCE
Counsel did not have an opportunity to confer with counsel for the Trustee or the
Receiver prior to filing this motion as he was not asked to represent Mr. Baron until this evening.
Due to the deadline for filing a response to the fee applications, conference with opposing
counsel was not feasible.
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
This is to certify that, on November 7, 2012, a copy of the above was served on all
counsel of record through the Court’s ECF filing system.
/s/ Stephen R. Cochell
Stephen R. Cochell
Case 3:12-cv-04489-L Document 2 Filed 11/07/12 Page 4 of 4 PageID 111

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