Electric Briefcase

Hot Topic for October

SECURITY ALERT!
RECAP Application (in the Firefox Browser)

HIGHLIGHTS

RECAP is a software application or “plug-in” designed by a group from Princeton University to enable the sharing of court documents on the Internet. If you use Firefox as your internet browser, you may have chosen to install the RECAP "plug-in", but be aware of using this application. For example:

If RECAP is loaded...

documents that are subsequently accessed via PACER are automatically sent to a public Internet repository.
District and Bankruptcy Court documents will be captured.

Problems with RECAP...

it is “open-source” software which can be freely obtained by anyone with Internet access.
can be modified for benign or malicious purposes, such as facilitating unauthorized access to restricted or sealed documents. [At this time, RECAP does not appear to provide users with access to restricted or sealed documents.]

Court recommendations:

Be diligent about computer security practices to ensure that documents are not inadvertently shared or compromised.
Do NOT add (load) the RECAP application.
Remove the RECAP application, if you had previously installed it.

The court and the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts will continue to analyze the implications of RECAP or related-software and advise you of any ongoing or further concerns. Please contact the ECF Technical Helpdesk with your questions.

Notice of Proposed Local Rule Changes

The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Wisconsin hereby gives notice of proposed permanent changes in its Local Rules, and invites comment thereon. The new Rules will go into effect on December 1, 2009. Please check our website for a summary of the proposed changes and a link to the proposed rules. Comments are due no later than November 2, 2009.

Ocotber Facts:

In August 2009:

345 Attorneys filed
9,349 pleadings electronically
50% of all pleadings filed

New Petitions filed by Electronic Case Filers:

94% August 2009
93% year to date

Reminders

Chapter 7's: Have you checked the U.S. Party Case Index (available via PACER) to see if the debtor(s) has filed within the last 8 years?

Redaction: Have you protected checking account numbers on checks and checking account statements in operations reports and exhibits that you file in ECF?

NEW DOCKET EVENT: Application for Refund of Filing Fee. Bankruptcy > Motions/Applications > Application for Refund of Filing Fee

Help Desk Info:

Our ECF Technical Help Desk is available during regular office hours 8:00-4:30 M-F

We want to stay in touch with you. Please let us know if your e-mail address changes. Contact us at: feedback@wiwb.uscourts.gov