Applications of Kurtzman
*806 ORDER DENYING RETENTION OF ATTORNEYS FOR TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO 11 U.S.C. § 327(a)
After hearing held January 8, 1998 pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 327(a) on various applications of Eric C. Kurtzman, Chapter 7 Trustee, seeking to retain the out-of-town law firm of Stein Riso Haspel & Jacobs LLP as attorneys for trustee; and Eric C. Kurtzman, Esq., Chapter 7 Trustee, and Joseph J. Has-pel, Esq. having appeared in support thereof, and Eric J. Small, Esq., having appeared on behalf of the Office of the United States Trustee; and the Court having been advised by Joseph J. Haspel, Esq. that neither he nor his law firm would reduce their hourly rates so as to comply with the $200.00 current maximum hourly rate charged for similar legal services within this Court’s seven-county venue; and this Court being satisfied that Trustee Kurtzman can employ competent and experienced bankruptcy counsel at or below said maximum geographic hourly rate; and there being ample authority for the' proposition that out-of-town lawyers must adhere to local billing rates; 1 and pursuant to the oral decision rendered by the Court on the record at said hearing, it is
ORDERED, that the retention of Stein Riso Haspel & Jacobs LLP as attorneys for Eric C. Kurtzman, Chapter 7 Trustee, is denied as to the 18 cases set out on “Schedule A” annexed hereto and made a part hereof.
Notes
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See, e.g., Pereira v. Checkmate Communications Co., Inc. (In re Checkmate Stereo & Electronics, Ltd.),