Introduction
On October 30, 2009, the Supreme Court of Canada released its long-anticipated decision in Quebec (Revenue) v. Caisse populaire Desjardins de Montmagny. At issue in this case (and two companion cases) was the legal characterization of Crown rights with respect to collected but unremitted GST and Quebec sales tax (QST) in the hands of a trustee in bankruptcy. The Supreme Court confirmed that the Crown is an ordinary unsecured creditor with respect to such amounts, subject to the rights of prior ranking security holders.
Summary of Facts
Introduction
The Chapter 7 Trustees in the Pope & Talbot and Specialty Motors bankruptcies recently filed hundreds of complaints in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. George Miller is the Chapter 7 Trustee in the Pope & Talbot bankruptcy while Jeoffrey Burtch is the Trustee in the Specialty Motors (aka "Von Weise Inc.") bankruptcy. Both groups of complaints seek the avoidance and recovery of alleged preferential transfers from various creditors of the debtors.