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Second Circuit holds that equitable mootness doctrine applies to appeals from orders confirming liquidating chapter 11 plans

On October 29, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the decision of the District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissing as equitably moot appeals filed by three individuals (the “Appellants”) in the chapter 11 case of In re BGI Inc. f/k/a Borders Group, Inc.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Liquidation, Second Circuit, United States bankruptcy court
District of Delaware attributes value to Debtor’s credit facility in denying a fraudulent transfer claim based on unreasonably small capital despite existing basis for lenders to terminate and subsequent termination of the facility

On September 30, 2014, in In re SemCrude, L.P.,1 the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, affirming the Bankruptcy Court’s decision, held that direct partnership distributions by debtor SemGroup, L.P. (the “Debtor”) and indirect partnership distributions by its general partner, SemGroup G.P., L.L.C., to certain limited and general partners could not be avoided as constructive fraudulent transfers.

USA, Delaware, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Line of credit
Quadrant v. Vertin: duty to maximize value of an insolvent enterprise—business judgment rule applies to interested directors’ “risky” strategy to increase value, even though creditors bear the downside and the controller stands to benefit

In Quadrant Structured Products Company, Ltd. v. Vertin (October 1, 2014), Vice Chancellor Laster clarified the Delaware Chancery Court’s approach to breach of fiduciary duty derivative actions brought by creditors against the directors of an insolvent corporation.

USA, Delaware, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Business judgement rule, Delaware Court of Chancery
Second Circuit holds that a sale by a chapter 15 debtor in a foreign main proceeding of a claim against an obligor located in the U.S. must be reviewed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court under section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code

On September 26, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, overturning decisions by the Bankruptcy Court and the District Court for the Southern District of New York, held that the Bankruptcy Court was required to review under section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code the transfer of a claim by a chapter 15 debtor with a recognized foreign main proceeding pending in the British Virgin Islands (the “BVI”).1     In a case under chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code in which a foreign main proceeding has been recognized, section 1520(a)(2) of the Bankr

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Debtor, Title 11 of the US Code, Second Circuit, United States bankruptcy court
S.D.N.Y. Bankruptcy Court denies claim for make-whole premium and allows cram down of debtors’ chapter 11 plan paying secured creditors below-market interest rates on replacement notes

On August 26, 2014, the Honorable Robert D. Drain, Bankruptcy Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, issued several bench rulings (the “Bench Rulings”) in connection with confirmation of a plan of reorganization in the chapter 11 cases of MPM Silicones, LLC, et al.

USA, New York, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Debtor, United States bankruptcy court
Court orders privacy Ombudsman in bankruptcy case

Crumbs Bake Shop Inc. shut down in July and filed for bankruptcy in New Jersey court that same month. The bankruptcy court ordered an auction sale, and a purchaser has come forward to buy all of the company’s assets.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, IT & Data Protection, Litigation, Winston & Strawn LLP, United States bankruptcy court
Fourth Circuit invalidates third-party release provision in chapter 11 plan

On June 27, 2014, in National Heritage Foundation, Inc. v. Highbourne Foundation, 1 the United States  Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, agreeing with decisions by the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern  District of Virginia and the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, which were issued upon  remand from a prior appeal, held that the third-party non-debtor release provision in the chapter 11 plan  of reorganization of National Heritage Foundation, Inc.  was invalid.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Debtor, Remand (court procedure), Fourth Circuit, Sixth Circuit
Chapter 11 plan provision allowing individual members of official committee to be reimbursed for professional fees and expenses held invalid, but committee members may be awarded reimbursement for professional fees and expenses incurred in making a

Substantial Contribution to the Case

USA, New York, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Olive oil class action takes aim at owners of bankrupt company

A class of consumers suing the bankrupt Kangadis Food Inc. over its allegedly misleading olive oil purity claims is now suing the owners of the company in a separate class action aimed at holding them accountable.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Media & Entertainment, Product Regulation & Liability, Winston & Strawn LLP, Class action
Eighth Circuit holds that trademark license included in substantially performed integrated asset purchase transaction is not an executory contract subject to rejection

On June 6, 2014, in Lewis Brothers Bakeries Incorporated and Chicago Baking Company v.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Trademarks, Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP, Eighth Circuit