Pinktoe Tarantula Limited, along with two of its affiliates and subsidiaries, has filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 18-10344). The Debtors, doing business as Charlotte Olympia, are a London-based designer of women’s luxury footwear and accessories.

Carbondale Glen Lot L-2, LLC, along with thirteen affiliates and subsidiaries, has filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. All of the filers are affiliates of the Woodbridge Group of Companies, LLC, whose cases are currently being jointly administered under Lead Case No. 17-12560.

Ascent Resources Marcellus Holdings, LLC, along with two of its affiliates and subsidiaries, has filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 18-10265). The Debtors, based in Oklahoma City, OK, operate as an oil and natural gas E&P in the Marcellus Shale basin in the eastern United States.

U.S. Bankruptcy Rule 9019 provides that on a motion brought by a trustee (and thus a chapter 11 debtor-in-possession as well) the court may approve a settlement. The prevailing view is that due to the court’s approval requirement, pre-court approval settlement agreements are enforceable by the debtor but not against the debtor. The District Court for the Eastern District of New York recently disagreed. It held that the statutory approval requirement is not an opportunity for the debtor to repudiate the settlement.

Model Reorg Acquisition, LLC, along with eighteen of its subsidiaries and affiliates, has filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 17-11794).

USAE, LLC, f/k/a U.S. Aerospace LLC, has filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 17-11778). Based in Wilmington, DE, USAE produces aircraft assemblies, structural components and highly engineered, precision machined details for the U.S. Government, U.S. Airforce and companies such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

Takata Corporation, a Japanese corporation, as well as two of its subsidiaries and affiliates have filed a petition for recognition of a foreign main proceeding in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Case No. 17-11713).

Directors and officers (D&Os) of troubled companies should be highly sensitive to D&O insurance policies with Prior Act Exclusion. While policies with such exclusion may be cheaper, a recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Eleventh Circuit raises the spectre that a court may hold a loss to have more than a coincidental causal connection with the officer’s conduct pre-policy period and make the (cheaper) coverage worthless.

True Religion Apparel, Inc., a company that designs, markets, sells and distributes premium fashion apparel through wholesale and retail channels, and four of its affiliates, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No: 17-11460).

TK Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Takata Corporation, and eleven (11) of its subsidiaries and affiliates have filed petitions for relief under Chapter 11 in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (Lead Case No. 17-11375).