In Re Donn Kemble, Debtor. Packerland Packing Co., Inc., a Wisconsin Corporation v. Griffith Brokerage Company, and Donn Kemble

Donn Kemble appeals from the orders of the district court withdrawing a reference to the bankruptcy court and lifting the automatic stay to permit completion of a trial pending in the district court. We lack jurisdiction to review the order withdrawing the reference; however, we affirm the district judge’s treatment of the automatic stay.

I.

FACTS AND PROCEEDINGS BELOW

This appeal has its origin in a contract dispute between Packerland Packing Co. (Packerland) and the Griffith Brokerage Co. (the Griffiths) that arose in June 1979. The Griffiths consulted their attorney, Donn Kemble (Kemble), who advised them to withhold payment from Packerland. Kemble helped the Griffiths form a corporation to which they transferred certain assets in violation of security agreements with Packerland. Packerland sued both Kemble and the Griffiths in the District Court of the Central District of California. Excerpt of Record (E.R.) at 140-43. On March 16, 1982, Packerland and the Grif-fiths entered into a settlement.

On June 9, 1982, judgment was entered against Kemble for conversion and for conspiracy to commit a fraudulent conveyance. The court found damages of $337,000 with approximately…