On August 4, 2016, the Delaware Bankruptcy Court considered cross-motions for summary judgment in a preference action case styled as Pirinate Consulting Group, LLC v. Maryland Department of the Environment (In re NewPage Corp.), Adv. Pro. No. 13-52206 (KG). This gem of an opinion is noteworthy in that it analyzes various defenses raised by a state agency to a preference complaint.

On August 2, 2016, Judge Brendan L. Shannon of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court issued an opinion (the “Opinion”) in the Refco Public Commodity Pool, L.P. bankruptcy, Case No. 14-11216. A copy of the Opinion is available here. The Opinion holds that this Debtor’s failure to file its taxes was due to reasonable cause, and the associated tax penalties are, therefor, claims that can be excused and disallowed.

In a 9-page opinion issued in the Syntax-Brillian case on July 20, 2016, Judge Kevin J. Carey denied the motion of equity holders in Syntax-Brillian seeking to terminate the Liquidation Trustee (the “Trustee”). A copy of the Opinion is available on the Court’s website: Here.

On July 29, 2016, SLJ Trucking Inc. (“Debtor” or “SLJ”) filed a voluntary bankruptcy petition under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code with the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The Debtor is a licensed and bonded freight shipping and trucking company running freight hauling business from Newark, Delaware.

On July 25, 2016, Judge Kevin Carey of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court issued a thorough decision pursuant to a motion for judgment on the pleadings analyzing the intersection of a preference defendant’s post-petition administrative claim and their preference exposure. A copy of the Opinion is available here.

On July 13, 2016, Appalachian Conventional Production Comp (“Appalachian” or “Debtor”) filed a Chapter 7 liquidation in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. According to the Debtor’s Petition, Appalachian has assets less totaling less than $500,000, and liabilities between $500,000 and $1 million.

In 2009, General Motors (“Old GM”) commenced a chapter 11 case and sold the bulk of its business and assets to a new entity (“New GM”) “free and clear” of liabilities against New GM. Notwithstanding the “free and clear” language of the 2009 sale order (the “Sale Order”), a Second Circuit panel recently held that plaintiffs could assert claims against New GM over faulty ignition switches in cars manufactured by Old GM and recalled in early 2014.

On July 18, 2016, Judge Walrath issued a concise written opinion ruling upon whether an executive’s claim for unpaid stock-based compensation was an equity security or rather a general unsecured claim against the Debtors’ estate. The opinion is styled as GSE Environmental, Inc., et al. v. Sorrentino (In re GSE Environmental, Inc., et al.), Adv. Pro. No. 16-50377 (MFW) (Bankr. D. Del.

While many people only see the glamorous, large Chapter 11 cases filed in the Delaware Bankruptcy Court, the Court still handles individual bankruptcies – treating them with just as much respect as any other case. On July 8, 2016, the chief bankruptcy judge, Brendan L. Shannon, issued an opinion valuing the mobile home of Ms. Anita Barnard.

On July 1, 2016, Gold Alchemy LLC filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. According to the petition, the debtor’s estimated assets are $10 to 50 million, and estimated liabilities are $50 to 100 million.

Alchemy is a distribution company formerly known as Millennium Entertainment. According to Deadline Hollywood: