Judge Duncan has made minor revisions to his Chambers Guidelines consistent with the chapter 13 trustee's intention to begin filing formal objections to confirmation and to make other minor updates.  The changes are as follows:

1.  The section regarding the trustee's notes concerning confirmation has been revised to remove references to the trustee's intent to request dismissal at the confirmation hearing but to retain the requirement that previously requested documents be filed with the Court or submitted to the trustee overnight.

2.  The section regarding joint statements of dispute has been revised to clarify that parties are not required to file joint statements of dispute in the event of a chapter 13 trustee objection.

3. The section regarding electronic exhibits has been revised to state that counsel should meet with the courtroom deputy at least two business days in advance of trial to ensure compatibility of electronic devices to be used at hearing or trial.

4. Exhibit A has been revised to reflect recent changes to Judge Duncan's form scheduling order for adversary proceedings.

Nicholas Hulse, Judge Duncan's current law clerk, has accepted a position with Riley Pope & Laney, LLC in Columbia.  Nick's last day is today, Friday, August 10.  Judge Duncan would like to thank Nick for exemplary service over the past two years and extend best wishes as he begins his career in private practice.

Judge Duncan is also pleased to welcome Charles Buist to his chambers beginning August 20.  Charles is a 2016 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law.  He also holds a master of business administration from the Darla Moore School of Business and a master of environmental law and policy from Vermont Law School.  Prior to joining Judge Duncan's chambers, Charles served as a law clerk for Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr.

At the request of the debtors' bar, the Request for Order Authorizing Loss Mitigation/Mortgage Modification event is now available for use in chapter 7 cases (Judge Duncan and Judge Burris cases only).  The event may be used one time only, and can only be filed once the chapter 7 trustee has filed a report of no distribution or a report of abandonment of the specific property on which the debtor intends to pursue loss mitigation.  A copy of the resulting order is available here.  Note that the chapter 7 order provides that “the issuance of this order does not extend any time period or deadline in this case.” Additionally, the language of the Request for Order Authorizing Loss Mitigation/Mortgage Modification in Judge Duncan and Judge Burris chapter 13 cases has changed slightly to conform to the language of the chapter 7 order and to provide clarity.  The title of the Order has changed from "Order Authorizing Loss Mitigation/Mediation" to "Order Authorizing Loss Mitigation/Mortgage Modification", and the second sentence of the order has been revised to add "at their discretion" after "Debtor(s) and Creditor", reflecting that although the stay is lifted to allow the parties to engage in loss mitigation, doing so  is within the discretion of the parties.  A copy of the revised order is available here.

Amended Chambers Guidelines for cases assigned to Judge Duncan, effective December 1, 2017, are available here and will be posted soon on the Court's webpage.

A further revised Operating Order 16-02, for chapter 13 conduit mortgage plans or a new order, will be entered and published soon and you will receive separate notice of entry, or interim language that is acceptable for inclusion in section 8 of the chapter 13 form plan in cases assigned to Judge Duncan until the new Operating Order is adopted. Judge Duncan is awaiting the results of the divisional workshops being hosted by Judge Waites and Judge Burris and hopes to have uniform language.