Judge Shopping?  --  See for Yourself

Judge Shopping is discussed in Paragraph  six (6) of this pleading. When you read how the eight (8) Level Propane Bankruptcy petitions were filed, keep in mind that each such filing takes at least seven (7) minutes to process. That means the lawyer that let them in line had to wait almost an hour to finish his filings for his individual clients.

AMERIGAS HEADQUARTERS BUILDING BURNS OVERNIGHT. WHERE ARE THE LEVEL PROPANE BACK-UP TAPES?"

Richard Baumgart is a well regarded bankruptcy lawyer in Cleveland, Ohio who is related by blood to his partner, Marv Sicherman, the “dean” of the Cleveland bankruptcy bar. He was introduced to Maloof by BFCA in April, 2002, who wanted to put counsel in place for him in anticipation of the Level Propane bankruptcy. Little did Maloof know that this was not for his benefit, but for the benefit of the scheme.

Baumgart was not only an associate of BFCA, but also tied closely to Cindy Doman, the woman who almost put Maloof in jail for life. His firm name is Dettelbach, Sicherman & Baumgart. Dettelbach was Henry Dettelbach, the great uncle of Tom Dettelbach, the ex-husband of Marcia Dettelbach, who represented Cindy Doman in her custody and support action against Maloof over their daughter, the very daughter concerning which Maloof was charged and exonerated. Marcia may also have represented Cindy earlier, when as a young girl, she traded her stories for liberty in the Mafia sweeps of the 1980s. Marcia Dettelbach is certainly the mother of Steve Dettelbach, present nominee for U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, presently of Baker & Hotstettler, local counsel for the Bank Group in the Level Propane Bankruptcy.

Baumgart let Maloof know the fix was in when he said that Baxter only listened to lawyers from big firms in pinstripes, such as those from BFCA. But he did not serve Maloof well: when he could have fought and prevailed, he folded and fled, acceded all of the Bank Group’s demands, leaving Maloof without counsel and having signed his own death warrant with the Agreed Conversion Order. He advocated to Maloof that he accept a nominal buy-out stating that it was the best that could be done since the company was worthless.

See Links to: Recusal Motion, April 1, 2008, Agreed Conversion Order, Baumgart withdrawal letter, Baumgart audio.

Richard Baumgart is a bankruptcy attorney who was brought in by BFCA to represent Maloof individually.