John N. Tedford, IV, Partner

BIO

For over 20 years, John Tedford has represented debtors, creditors, trustees and receivers in bankruptcy and other insolvency matters.  He represents clients in all California state and federal courts, especially bankruptcy courts.  He is also a member of the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court.

When not representing clients, John often speaks and writes about trending issues in his field.  He is a regular contributor of e-Bulletins published by the Insolvency Law Committee of the California Lawyers Association’s Business Law Section.  His articles have been published in the California Bankruptcy Journal, ABI Journal, and Norton’s Annual Survey of Bankruptcy Law.

John also is active in organizations serving bankruptcy professionals.  He is currently a Lawyer Representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Vice President of the Financial Lawyers Conference’s Board of Governors, and Secretary of the California Bankruptcy Forum.  He was President of the Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum and co-chair of the Insolvency Law Committee in 2017-2018.

PRACTICE AREAS

Bankruptcy Appeals

Creditor Representation
- Creditor Committee Counsel
- Creditor Representation in Bankruptcy Cases

Debtor Representation
- Chapter 11 Business Reorganization
- Chapter 11 Individual Reorganization
- Chapter 7

Litigation in Federal and State Courts

Fiduciary Services and Representation
- Chapter 7 and 11 Bankruptcy Trustees
- Federal and State Receivers

EDUCATION

University of Southern California Gould School of Law, J.D., May 1999

University of Southern California, B.S., Business Administration, May 1996

ADMISSIONS

State Bar of California, 1999

U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. District Courts in California
- Central District of California
- Eastern District of California
- Northern District of California
- Southern District of California

U.S. District Courts outside of California
- District of Colorado
- Western District of Wisconsin

MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS

Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference, Lawyer Representative

Financial Lawyers Conference, Member and member of the Board of Governors (Vice President, 2022-2023)

California Bankruptcy Forum, Member and Secretary (2022-2023)

American Bankruptcy Institute, Member and Member of the Bankruptcy Battleground West Advisory Board (2021-2022)

Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, Member and former President (2017-2018)

Insolvency Law Committee, Business Law Section of the California Lawyers Association, Advisor and former Co-Chair (2017-2018).

California Bankruptcy Journal, Editor

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

In re Airport Van Rental, Inc, in which John represented chapter 11 debtors seeking to reorganize a car rental business.

In re 9469 Beverly Crest, LLC, in which John represented a chapter 11 debtor who needed additional financing to complete construction of a residence.

In re Meruelo Maddux Properties, Inc., in which John represented 56 chapter 11 debtors who were collectively the largest non-government landowner in downtown Los Angeles.

In re Death Row Records and In re Suge Knight, in which John represented court-appointed trustees who sold the debtors’ extensive music library.

In re Korean Western Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, in which John represents the chapter 11 trustee for a church involved in a dispute between two groups asserting control over the church.

In re Elliott, in which John obtained a published Ninth Circuit decision addressing courts’ jurisdiction over claims asserted under section 727(d) of the Bankruptcy Code.

In re Lua, in which John represented the National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees as amicus curiae in an appeal involving debtors’ homestead exemptions.

SEC v. Westmoore Management, LLC, in which John represented a federal equity receiver appointed for a group of investment companies that operated a multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme.

In re Pacific 9 Transportation, Inc., in which John represented the creditors’ committee in a chapter 11 case involving a port trucking company with a history of labor code violations.

In re Altadena Lincoln Crossing, LLC, in which John assisted judgment creditors in settling claims against a bankrupt real estate developer.

A non-bankruptcy matter in which John helped a private investor negotiate terms of a new investment in a solar power contractor.

PUBLICATIONS (ARTICLES)

Equitable Tolling: Prophylactic Orders and Applicable Standards After Smith v. Davis, 36 Cal. Bankr. J. 31 (2022).

Dischargeability of Non-Priority Taxes for Which a Tax Return Was Not Timely Filed, 2020 Norton Ann. Surv. of Bankr. L., 183 (2020 ed.).

Dischargeability of Nonpriority Taxes for Late-Filed Tax Return, Am. Bankr. Inst. J., Sept. 2019, at 14.

Characterization, Classification, Payment and Treatment of Real Property Tax Claims Arising Under California Law, 32 Cal. Bankr. J. 1 (2012).

9th Circuit BAP Significantly Limits Mootness under § 363(m), Bankr. Ct. Decisions, Vol. 50, Issue 7 (2008).

PUBLICATIONS (ILC CASE ANALYSES)

July 21, 2023: Masingale v. Munding (In re Masingale), 644 B.R. 530 (9th Cir. BAP 2022).

January 9, 2023: Amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Effective December 1, 2022.

October 18, 2022: Bear Creek Trail, LLC v. BOKF, N.A. (In re Bear Creek Trail, LLC), 35 F.4th 1277 (10th Cir. 2022).

May 4, 2022: Sienega v. Cal. Franchise Tax Bd. (In re Sienega), 18 F.4th 1164 (9th Cir. 2021).

Jan. 18, 2022: Berkovich v. Cal. Franchise Tax Bd. (In re Berkovich), 15 F.4th 997 (9th Cir. 2021).

Dec. 16, 2021: Perryman v. Dal Poggetto (In re Perryman), 631 B.R. 899 (9th Cir. BAP 2021).

Dec. 7, 2021: Amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure Effective December 1, 2021.

Aug. 17, 2020: Speier v. Brace, 9 Cal. 5th 903, 470 P.3d 15 (2020).

Jan. 16, 2020: Ritzen Group, Inc. v. Jackson Masonry, LLC, 589 U.S. ___ (Jan. 14, 2020).

Dec. 13, 2019: Small Business Reorganization Act Imposes New Diligence Requirements on Preference Plaintiffs and Modifies Venue Provisions for Proceedings to Recover Less than $25,000.

Aug. 16, 2019: Hugger v. Warfield (In re Hugger), 2019 WL 1594017 (9th Cir. BAP Apr. 5, 2019).

Mar. 18, 2019: Brace v. Speier (In re Brace), 2019 WL 167783 (9th Cir. Jan. 11, 2019).

Mar. 15, 2019: Klein v. ODS Technologies, LP (In re J & J Chemical, Inc.), Adv. No. 18-08029-JDP (Bankr. D. Idaho Jan. 11, 2019).

May 15, 2018: JPMC 2007-C1 Grasslawn Lodging, LLC v. Transwest Resort Props., Inc. (In re Transwest Resort Props., Inc.), 881 F.3d 724 (9th Cir. 2018).

Nov. 30, 2017: Hsu v. MTC Fin., Inc. (In re Hsu), 692 Fed.Appx. 888 (9th Cir. June 30, 2017).

Nov. 29, 2017: Revisions to the Federal Rules of Evidence and Appellate, Civil, and Bankruptcy Procedure Effective December 1, 2017.

Sept. 11, 2017: Salven v. Galli (In re Pass), 553 B.R. 749 (9th Cir. BAP 2016).

Nov. 30, 2016: Revisions to the Federal Rules of Appellate, Civil, and Bankruptcy Procedure Effective December 1, 2016.

Oct. 26, 2016: United States v. Martin (In re Martin), 542 B.R. 479 (9th Cir. BAP 2015), and Smith v. IRS (In re Smith), 828 F.3d 1094 (9th Cir. 2016).

Nov. 12, 2015: Grego v. U.S. Trustee (In re Grego), 2015 WL 3451559 (9th Cir. BAP May 29, 2015).

July 30, 2015: Ly v. Che (In re Ly), 2015 WL 1787575 (9th Cir. Apr. 21, 2015).

June 8, 2015: Todd v. Rothschild (In re Todd), 2015 WL 1544585 (9th Cir. BAP 2015).

Feb. 20, 2015: Elliott v. Weil (In re Elliott), 523 B.R. 188 (9th Cir. BAP 2014).

Feb. 13, 2015: In re Mallo, 774 F.3d 1313 (10th Cir. 2014).

EVENTS

Oct. 7, 2022: How to Make Your Appeal More Appealing; Financial Lawyers Conference (Nuts & Bolts Program).

Sept. 9, 2022: The Wrath of Stern; American Bankruptcy Institute Southwest Bankruptcy Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada.

July 20, 2022: Comfort Orders; Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference (Bankruptcy Judges Education Committee Program), Big Sky, Montana.

Feb. 18, 2022: Bankruptcy Avoidance Actions: Plaintiffs, Preferences and “Fraud”; Financial Lawyers Conference (Nuts & Bolts Program).

Nov. 19, 2021: Brave New World: Ethical and Practical Considerations in Conducting Remote Hearings and Trials; Los Angeles Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Nov. 5, 2021: Trending Bankruptcy Issues: Dischargeability of Income Taxes; American Bankruptcy Institute Consumer Practice Extravaganza.

May 14, 2021: Debates on Hot Topics In Bankruptcy; California Bankruptcy Forum, Annual Insolvency Conference.

Dec. 4, 2020: Late-Filed Returns and How to Discharge Them; San Fernando Valley Bar Association.

July 27, 2020: Bankruptcy & Restructuring: A Roundtable Discussion; Los Angeles Business Journal.

June 27, 2019: How to Make Your Appeal More Appealing; Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills, California.

Sept. 23, 2017: Exemptions: Is Bad Faith a Factor or Not?; Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Association, Los Angeles, California.

Feb. 18, 2016: The Force Awakens: Objections to Exemptions After Law v. Siegel; L.A. County Bar Association, Los Angeles, California.

May 28, 2015: Bankruptcy Proofing: Fact or Fiction?; Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills, California.

May 20, 2014: Laying down the Law: The Bankruptcy Court’s Equitable Powers and Strategic Considerations after Law v. Siegel; L.A. County Bar Association, Los Angeles, California.

Feb. 19, 2013: Recent Developments Affecting Section 363 Bankruptcy Sales and Sale Orders; Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills, California.

Mar. 21, 2012: Cramdowns in Real Estate Bankruptcies and Protecting the Guarantors: A Guide to Commercial Real Estate Loan Reductions through Bankruptcy; L.A. County Bar Association, Los Angeles, California.

Aug. 30, 2011: Cram Downs in Real Estate Bankruptcies and Protecting the Guarantors; Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills, California.

July 20, 2010: Bankruptcy Sales: Are They Really “Free and Clear”?  The Aftermath of the Clear Channel Decision; Orange County Bankruptcy Forum, Irvine, California.

Jan. 21, 2010: Fallout from the Commercial Real Estate Crisis:  Lessons Learned from the General Growth, Namco, and Other Recent Bankruptcy Cases; Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills, California.

Apr. 6, 2009: Clear Channel Outdoor, Inc. v. Knupfer (In re PW, LLC), 391 B.R. 25 (9th Cir. BAP 2008): Does Appealing Sales Make for Unappealing Assets?; Los Angeles Bankruptcy Forum, Los Angeles, California.

Feb. 19, 2009:  Unclear Channel for Bankruptcy Sales Free and Clear of Liens – the BAP’s Clear Channel Decision and Its Consequences; Beverly Hills Bar Association, Beverly Hills, California.

Sept. 3, 2008: Clearing the Channel: Navigating the Sale Waters after Clear Channel; Insolvency Law Committee, Business Law Section of the State Bar of Cal. (webinar).


CONTACT:

310-277-0077

jtedford@danninggill.com

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