A joint pro bono effort by several local insolvency professionals handling the Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors of Switchboard of Miami, Inc. (Switchboard), has helped preserve the valuable community services provided by Switchboard. Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS) has assumed operations for Switchboard pursuant to an asset purchase agreement approved by the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit for Miami-Dade County on December 6, 2016.
Effective December 12, 2016, JCS has taken over Switchboard of Miami’s 211 Call Center, Human Services Helplines and family counseling services. The 211 and Helpline phone numbers will remain the same. The overwhelming majority of Switchboard’s staff, about 70 professionals, will become JCS employees. The Call Center will be re-locating to JCS’ main office in North Miami, while the counseling services will remain at their current location in South Miami.
Philip J. von Kahle was selected as the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors to oversee and take control of the assets. The petition commencing the assignment for the benefit of creditors was filed on November 28, 2016 in the Circuit Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit for Miami-Dade County, Case No. 2016-30176 CA 01The group of insolvency professionals involved in the joint pro bono effort were:
*Switchboard of Miami was represented by attorneys Jerry M. Markowitz and Grace Robson, Markowitz Ringel Trusty + Hartog, Miami
*JCS was represented by attorneys D. Brett Marks, Eyal Berger and Daniel Jacobson, Akerman LLP
*Philip J. von Kahle, Executive Vice President, Michael Moecker & Associates, Fort Lauderdale was selected as the Assignee for the Benefit of Creditors of Switchboard of Miami, Inc.
*Mr. von Kahle, as Assignee, was represented by attorneys Mindy Mora and Jeffrey Snyder, Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP
The Florida law firm of Markowitz Ringel Trusty + Hartog represents businesses, institutions, fiduciaries, and individuals across several practice groups, which include Restructuring and Insolvency; Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Real Estate and Business; Probate and Guardianship; and Trusts and Estates. Dedication to clients and service to the community are the principles upon which Markowitz Ringel Trusty + Hartog was founded more than 35 years ago, and upon which it still operates today. For more information, please visit www.mrthlaw.com.
Jewish Community Services’ mission is to improve the quality of life and self-sufficiency of the Jewish and broader communities throughout South Florida in accordance with Jewish values. Since 1920, Jewish Community Services of South Florida has remained true to its original mission of providing exemplary human services through compassionate and comprehensive programs that promote health and productivity. JCS is a Beneficiary Agency of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, and an Impact Partner of United Way of Miami-Dade.