FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE UST

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1997 (202) 514-2008

TDD (202) 514-1888

NEW JERSEY CHAPTER 13 TRUSTEE APPOINTED

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Trustee Patricia A. Staiano today

announced that Isabel Balboa, Esq., has been appointed Chapter 13
Standing Trustee for the District of New Jersey, Camden Vicinage.
Balboa will administer funds paid by Chapter 13 bankruptcy
trustees to their creditors in order to discharge their debts.
Staiano is U.S. Trustee for New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and
Delaware.

The Office of the U.S. Trustee is a component of the U.S.

Justice Department that ensures the integrity of the federal
bankruptcy system and appoints private bankruptcy trustees for
cases under Chapters 7, 12, and 13 of the Bankruptcy Code.

In a Chapter 13 case, the debtor and creditors agree to a

plan for debt repayment within either three to five years. The
Chapter 13 standing trustee's duties include investigating the
financial affairs of Chapter 13 debtors, evaluating debtors'
repayment plans, receiving play payments on behalf of creditors,
and disbursing payment to creditors pursuant to the debtors'
court-approved repayment plans. As Chapter 13 standing trustee,
Balboa will administer more than 8,500 Chapter 13 bankruptcy
cases and disburse millions of dollars to creditors each year.

The Chapter 13 standing trustee position occupied by Balboa

is newly created to address the increasing volume of bankruptcy
filings in New Jersey. Prior to Balboa's appointment, Robert M.
Wood, Esq., served as Chapter 13 standing trustee for both the
Camden and Trenton Vicinages. Wood will continue as Chapter 13
standing trustee in the Trenton Vicinage.

Balboa was born in Cuba and emigrated to the U.S. with her
family in 1962 to settle in Florida. After graduating from Miami
High School, Balboa received her Bachelor's Degree in History and
English in 1976 from Barry University, where she also received a
Master's Degree in Business Administration. After working for
Amerifirst Federal Bank and Bank of America, Balboa began her
legal education at Rutgers University School of Law. There, she
worked with the late Distinguished Professor Albert Blaustein,
and received the BNA Book and Am Jur Trial Advocacy Book Awards.
Balboa received her Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers in 1989.

During her legal career, Balboa clerked for former Presiding

Judge Myron H. Gottlieb of the New Jersey Superior Court,
Burlington County, Civil Division. She was subsequently employed
by the Westmont, N.J. law firm Brown & Connery until she was
appointed Chapter 13 standing trustee. While with Brown &
Connery, Balboa served as co-chair of the Camden Vicinage's
Advisory Committee on Minority Concerns, regional trustee to the
Hispanic Bar Association, board member of the Camden City Chamber
of Commerce, member of the bankruptcy court Lawyer's Advisory
Committee, and a bankruptcy court mediator.

As Chapter 13 standing trustee, Balboa will maintain offices

at Cherry Hill Corporate Center, 535 Route 38, Suite 580, Cherry
Hill, N.J., 08002.
# # #
97-408