In re: Bronx Miracle Gospel Tabernacle Word of Faith Ministries, Inc.

USDC SDNY DOCUMENT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT ELECTRONICALLY FILED SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK DOC #: pATE FILED: 10/12/21 Jeanette Y. Brown, Appellant, 21-cv-2326 (AJN) —y— ORDER Deborah J. Piazza, Appellee.

ALISON J. NATHAN, District Judge: The Court has obtained an additional letter that predates the letter attached to this Court’s Order dated October 6, 2021. The letter is from Jeanette Y. Brown, the appellant in this case.

This Court dismissed Ms. Brown’s appeal on July 16, 2021, for failure to pay the filing fee. Dkt.

No. 3. According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court’s public docket in case 19-BK-12447, docket number 199, the fee has since been paid.

Ms. Brown requests that this Court therefore lift that dismissal, which the Court construes to be a motion to reopen the appeal. The Court notes that it may have discretion to grant Ms. Brown’s request. See, e.g., Smith v. Nagle House, Inc., No. OSCIV5129VM, 2005 WL 1773765, at *1 (S.D.N.Y. July 25, 2005). The Court reiterates, however, that Ms. Brown’s appeal would be limited to the issues addressed in the bankruptcy court’s February 3, 2021 order identified in her initial appeal. See 28 U.S.C. § 158(a). Further, Ms. Brown would be permitted to represent only her individual interests and may not advance any legal claims of the Church, which must be represented by licensed counsel. MAG-V-Inc. v. Brooklyn Legal Servs. Corp., No. 17-CV-758 (PKC), 2017 WL 1497959, at *2 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 26, 2017).

The Court orders that Appellee, Deborah J. Piazza, shall file a response to Ms. Brown’s letter, if any by October 22, 2021. The Court additionally orders Ms. Brown by October 29, 2021, to inform the Court whether she intends to proceed with this appeal given that the action will be limited to the February 3, 2021 order and that she cannot represent the Church.

Otherwise, Ms. Brown may request a refund from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, which the Clerk of that court shall provide.

Because Ms. Brown represents herself in this action, the Court orders that all further filings must be submitted through the Court's Pro Se Intake Unit. Documents may be sent to the Pro Se Intake Unit for filing by mail at Room 230 of the United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, N.Y. 10007, or by email at Temporary Pro Se [email protected].

Instructions for pro se filing are available on the Court's website at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/prose.

The Court wishes to inform Ms. Brown that a legal clinic opened in this District to assist people who are parties in civil cases and do not have lawyers. The Clinic is run by a private organization called the New York Legal Assistance Group; it is not part of, or run by, the Court (and, among other things, therefore cannot accept filings on behalf of the Court, which must still be made by any unrepresented party through the Pro Se Intake Unit). During the COVID-19 pandemic, an unrepresented party can make an appointment by completing the intake form available online at https://www.nysd.uscourts.gov/attorney/legal-assistance or by calling 212-659-6190.The Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to mail a copy of this Order to Jeannette Y. Brown.

SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 12, 2021 New York, New York __________________________________ ALISON J. NATHAN United States District Judge

Jesus Christ is Lord of All CD ©, ot A Py. Sp, Ve VRE ol fe ew S LOR Oy . a 1 a Snes Noe eG eae Word Of Faith Ministries org ¢ a (rs LE gn The Rt. Hon. Rev, Dr. Rabbi, Keith Elijah Thompson ~~@s6>-~~" ¢ Vey, Pastor, Chief Apostle 8565 □ Oe Phone: (748) 515-4880 Fax: (718) 515-5053 ~~ Email: [email protected] | Website: BronxMiracle.org Hon. Alison J. Nathan Judge, United States District Court i E Cc CEIVED Re: Order of Dismissal I) i July 10 2021 Case lo Cv D132 foAIN WN) AUG - 5 2021 Wh Lape “ej er | In Re: Bronx Miracle Gospel Tabernacle (COMPLETED ____——1 Word of Faith Ministries, Inc. Notice of Appeal Bankruptcy Document #199 Your Honor, Cane.No. 19 -\74u My name is Jeanette Y. Brown, and | am a Minister in Bronx Miracle Gospel Tabernacle, Word of Faith Ministries, Inc. In early 2021, | was instructed by the Attorney representing our Church Bronx Miracle Gospel Tabernacle to file an Appeal in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District regarding a disputed decision rendered by the Bankruptcy Court. | was further instructed to file this Appeal Pro Se since it referred specifically to a matter affecting me personally. | was also instructed to request a waiver of fees.

The Church submitted a Letter of Request to the then newly assigned Judge David Jones, Bankruptcy Court requesting additional time to file an Appeal.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of knowledge on our part, we not of Legal understanding, mistakes were made and regretfully follow-up was not undertaken. We mistakenly were awaiting a response to our request for additional time to file and did not realize a fee had to be paid to move forward.

Your Honor, we have moved immediately to rectify the situation by contacting the Clerk of the Bankruptcy Court and paying the necessary fees. We are now respectfully and prayerfully asking that the Dismissal Motion issued on July 19%, 2021, be lifted, allowing Bronx Miracle Gospel Tabernacle Word of Faith Ministries, Inc. reinstatement in Bankruptcy Court, Southern District.

Judge Nathan, | appeal to you to please consider our request and rule accordingly. The Future of our Church, Bronx Miracle Gospel Tabernacle, Word of Faith Ministries Inc. rests with your decision.

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