In the Matter of the Catholic Church of the Archidocese of New Orleans

New Orleans, Louisiana, ban

The conduct at issue occurred within the Chapter 11 bankruptcy case
of the Roman Catholic Church of the Archdiocese of New Orleans
(“Debtor”). In the bankruptcy case, Trahant represented a group of
creditors, “Certain Abuse Victims.” The Debtor was represented by Mintz,
who is a partner at Jones Walker LLP. The bankruptcy court appointed
Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc. (“DRC” and, collectively with Mintz and
Jones Walker, “Defendants”) as the Debtor’s “claims and noticing agent.”

With respect to notice of developments in the bankruptcy case, the
Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana’s Local Rules require
debtors to “file a complete mailing matrix containing the correct name and
address of all known creditors and other parties in interest,” known as a
“Mailing Matrix.” EDLA Bankr. L.R. 1007-2(A). Presumably because of
the Mailing Matrix’s size in the bankruptcy case, the bankruptcy court
approved a more narrow “Special Notice List,” which would be used for
matters that did not require notice to the Mailing Matrix. Trahant did not
take issue with the composition of the Mailing Matrix upon its creation.

No. 25-30193
3
With respect to notice of developments in the bankruptcy case, the
Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana’s Local Rules require
debtors to “file a complete mailing matrix containing the correct name and
address of all known creditors and other parties in interest,” known as a
“Mailing Matrix.” EDLA Bankr. L.R. 1007-2(A). Presumably because of
the Mailing Matrix’s size in the bankruptcy case, the bankruptcy court
approved a more narrow “Special Notice List,” which would be used for
matters that did not require notice to the Mailing Matrix. Trahant did not
take issue with the composition of the Mailing Matrix upon its creation.
In June of 2022, the United States Trustee informed the bankruptcy
court that it believed that there had been a violation of the bankruptcy court’s
protective order, which the bankruptcy court had entered in August 2020.
Upon review, the bankruptcy court found that Trahant had provided
confidential information he received through the bankruptcy case to a third
party and the media on multiple occasions and in violation of the protective
order. The bankruptcy court entered an order finding as much and removing
Trahant’s clients from the committee of unsecured creditors (“Trahant
Order”). The bankruptcy court then ordered the Debtor’s counsel to “serve
[the Trahant Order] via first-class U.S. Mail on those parties in interest who
will not receive service via this Court’s CM/ECF system and file a
certificate of service within three days.” The bankruptcy court later imposed
sanctions against Trahant in the amount of $400,000.

* * *

For the reasons explained above, we find no error and AFFIRM.