On October 28, 2011, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued an opinion in the Chapter 15 case of Qimonda AG (“Qimonda”).1 The bankruptcy court held that the application of § 365(n) to executory licenses to U.S. patents was required to sufficiently protect the interests of U.S. patent licensees under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code and that the failure of German insolvency law to protect patent licensees was “manifestly contrary” to United States public policy.
Rejection of a contract in bankruptcy may not always accomplish a debtor’s goal to shed ongoing contractual obligations and liabilities, especially when dealing with employee benefit plans. On October 13, 2011, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals highlighted this issue in its opinion in Evans v. Sterling Chemicals, Inc.1 regarding the treatment of a pre-bankruptcy asset purchase agreement which contained a provision addressing the debtor-acquiror’s post-closing ERISA retiree benefit plan obligations to its new employees resulting from the transaction.
In re Caribbean Medical Testing Center, Inc. (Bankr. D. Puerto Rico) Case no. 11-06124
In re Hotel Airport Inc. (Bankr. D. Puerto Rico) Case no. 11-06620
In re GALP Highcross Limited Partnership (Bankr. S.D. Tex.) Case no. 11-36741
In re GALP Waters Limited Partnership (Bankr. S.D. Tex.) Case no. 11-36743
In re Culver Village, LLC (Bankr. C.D. Cal.) Case no. 11-46359
In re Provo Gateway, LLC (Bankr. D. Utah) Case no. 11-31259
In re Gelt Financial Corporation (Bankr. E.D. Pa.) Case no. 11-15827
In re East Coast Abatement Co. Inc. (Bankr. E.D. Va.) Case no. 11-73560
In re Summer View Sherman Oaks Apartments, LLC (Bankr. C.D. Cal.) Case no. 11-19800