Helfand v. Citibank, N.A. et al
| Steven Helfand |
| CitiBank, N.A., Citigroup Inc., Midland Credit Management, Inc. and Midland Funding LLC |
| 0:2025cv62576 |
| December 12, 2025 |
| U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida |
| Panayotta D Augustin-Birch |
| Donald M Middlebrooks |
| Other Statutory Actions |
| 28 U.S.C. § 1441 Notice of Removal |
| Plaintiff |
Docket Report
RSS Track this Docket
This docket was last retrieved on March 31, 2026. A more recent docket listing may be available from PACER.
| Document Text |
|---|
| Filing 21 Corporate Disclosure Statement by Midland Credit Management, Inc., Midland Funding LLC identifying Corporate Parent Encore Capital Group, Inc. for Midland Credit Management, Inc., Midland Funding LLC (Eichhorn, Cory) |
Filing 20
ORDER OF INSTRUCTIONS TO PRO SE LITIGANTS. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 3/26/2026. See attached document for full details. (wce)
|
|
Filing 19
PRETRIAL SCHEDULING ORDER AND ORDER REFERRING CASE TO MEDIATION: Amended Pleadings due by 4/30/2026. Discovery due by 8/20/2026. Fact Discovery due by 8/20/2026. Expert Discovery due by 8/20/2026. Joinder of Parties due by 4/30/2026. In Limine Motions due by 9/3/2026. Dispositive Motions due by 9/3/2026. Motions due by 9/3/2026. Pretrial Stipulation due by 10/5/2026. Jury Trial set for 11/2/2026 09:00 AM in West Palm Beach Division before Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. Calendar Call set for 10/28/2026 01:15 PM before Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. All parties must complete mediation or a settlement conference at least 60 days before the scheduled trial date. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 3/26/2026. See attached document for full details. (wce) #Pattern Jury Instruction Builder - To access the latest, up to date changes to the 11th Circuit Pattern Jury Instructions go to https://pji.ca11.uscourts.gov or click here.
|
| Filing 18 PAPERLESS Minute Order for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch: Scheduling Conference held on 3/26/2026. Total time in court: 15 minutes. Attorney Appearance(s): Philip E. Rothschild, Nicole Figueroa, Other appearances: Steven Helfand, Pro Se Plaintiff, failed to appear for today's hearing. (Digital 11:35:56) (smy) |
|
Filing 17
PAPERLESS ORDER SETTING SCHEDULING CONFERENCE: A Scheduling Conference is set in this matter on March 26, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time in the Fort Lauderdale Division before United States Magistrate Judge Augustin-Birch, to take place in person at the United States Federal Courthouse, 299 East Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. Counsel and pro se parties must appear in person. Any motions to modify the existing trial date should be filed two business days prior to the Scheduling Conference. Motions to modify the trial date must specifically state the basis for the request, including detailed factual support, and must provide a compelling reason. The parties are further advised that the Court is strongly disinclined to modify the trial date based upon the scheduling "tracks" contained within the Local Rules and/or based upon vague references to the complexities of the case. Because of the expedited nature of the conference, the parties are relieved of the conference report requirement of Local Rule 16.1(b). Any request to continue the Scheduling Conference must be made by filing a motion that must include at least three alternative dates on which all counsel and pro se parties are available for a rescheduled Conference. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 3/16/2026. (sk01)
|
|
Filing 16
ORDER REFERRING CASE AND SETTING TRIAL DATE: (Jury Trial set for 11/2/2026 09:00 AM in West Palm Beach Division before Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks, Calendar Call set for 10/28/2026 01:15 PM in West Palm Beach Division before Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks.). REFERRING CASE to Magistrate Judge Panayotta Augustin-Birch to conduct a scheduling conference. Signed by Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks on 3/13/2026. See attached document for full details. (jas)
|
|
Filing 15
PAPERLESS ORDER denying without prejudice #14 Plaintiff's Motion for Order to Show Cause. The Motion is facially deficient for failure to confer as required by Local Rule 7.1(a)(2). Conferral is mandatory and failure to do so is grounds for denial. Plaintiff may only re-file this motion, if necessary, after making a meaningful effort to confer with opposing counsel. Any renewed motion must strictly comply with all Local Rules. Signed by Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks on 3/13/2026. (kid)
|
| Filing 14 Plaintiff's Motion for Order to Show Cause why Defendant's an/or Their Counsel Should not be Sanctioned for Failure to Participate in Rule 26(f) Conference by Steven Helfand. Responses due by 3/11/2026. (wce) |
| Filing 13 Certificate of Other Affiliates/Corporate Disclosure Statement - NONE disclosed by Steven Helfand (wce) |
| Filing 12 ANSWER and Affirmative Defenses to Complaint re the Notice of Removal by Midland Credit Management, Inc., Midland Funding LLC. (Rothschild, Philip) |
|
Filing 11
PAPERLESS ORDER granting #4 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time. Defendants Midland Credit Management, Inc. and Midland Funding LLC seek an extension of time to respond to the Complaint from December 31, 2025, to January 9, 2026. In support, Defendants represent that their counsel was only recently retained and that counsel has a pre-paid vacation during the intervening holiday period, limiting its ability to confer with the client. Motions for extension of time must set forth good cause supported by specific facts. I find this standard to be adequately met here and accordingly, the moving Defendants shall respond to the Complaint no later than January 9, 2026. Signed by Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks on 12/31/2025. (kid)
|
|
Filing 10
PAPERLESS ORDER denying as moot #4 Unopposed Motion for Extension of Time to file Answer to Complaint. Defendant has filed its Answer and it shall be deemed timely. Signed by Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks on 12/31/2025. (kid)
|
| Filing 9 ANSWER and Affirmative Defenses to Complaint re the Notice of Removal by CitiBank, N.A.. (Frontino, Brian) |
| Filing 8 Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply/Answer as to #1 Notice of Removal (State Court Complaint), by Midland Credit Management, Inc., Midland Funding LLC. (Attachments: #1 Text of Proposed Order Unopposed)(Rothschild, Philip) |
|
Filing 7
ORDER GRANTING #6 DEFENDANT MIDLAND CREDIT MANAGEMENT, INC.'S MOTION FOR CASEREASSIGNMENT TO UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Clerk of Court shall randomly reassign this case to a District Judge as the Presiding Judge, with the undersigned assigned as the Referral Judge. REASSIGNING CASE to Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks and Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch for all further proceedings. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 12/22/2025. See attached document for full details. (wce)
|
| Filing 6 Defendant's MOTION to Reassign Case to United States District Court Judge by Midland Credit Management, Inc., Midland Funding LLC. (Rothschild, Philip) |
| Filing 5 NOTICE of Attorney Appearance by Philip E. Rothschild on behalf of Midland Credit Management, Inc., Midland Funding LLC. Attorney Philip E. Rothschild added to party Midland Credit Management, Inc.(pty:dft), Attorney Philip E. Rothschild added to party Midland Funding LLC(pty:dft). (Rothschild, Philip) |
| Filing 4 Unopposed MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply/Answer as to #1 Notice of Removal (State Court Complaint), by CitiBank, N.A., Citigroup Inc.. (Attachments: #1 Text of Proposed Order)(Frontino, Brian) |
|
Filing 3
ORDER Regarding Magistrate Judge Jurisdiction and Opt Out Procedure. Signed by Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch on 12/12/2025. See attached document for full details. (sk01)
|
| Filing 2 Clerks Notice of Judge Assignment to Magistrate Judge Panayotta D. Augustin-Birch. Pro se (NON-PRISONER) litigants may receive Notices of Electronic Filings (NEFS) via email after filing a Consent by Pro Se Litigant (NON-PRISONER) to Receive Notices of Electronic Filing. The consent form is available under the forms section of our website. (wce) |
| Filing 1 NOTICE OF REMOVAL (STATE COURT COMPLAINT - Complaint for Damages) Filing fee $ 405.00 receipt number AFLSDC-19037156, filed by Citigroup Inc., Citibank, N.A.. (Extension of Time Ex1Pg19) (Attachments: #1 Exhibit A, #2 Civil Cover Sheet)(Frontino, Brian) Modified Text on 12/12/2025 (wce). |
Access additional case information on PACER
Use the links below to access additional information about this case on the U.S. Court's PACER system. A subscription to PACER is required.
Access this case on the Florida Southern District Court's Electronic Court Filings (ECF) System
- Search for Party Aliases
- Associated Cases
- Attorneys
- Case File Location
- Case Summary
- Docket Report
- History/Documents
- Parties
- Related Transactions
- Check Status
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
