The court overseeing the chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and various subsidiaries (the “Debtors”), has entered an order establishing deadlines and procedures for filing claims against the Debtors. In terms of procedural requirements, the order places unusual burdens on parties whose claims are based on derivative contracts and guarantees.
A Virginia bankruptcy court has issued a decision that should be a major eye-opener for any entity that engages in tax-free exchanges under section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has issued a case useful for credit bidders that successfully bid on their own collateral at a bankruptcy sale, which goes forward without a specific agreement "carving out" expenses. Borrego Springs Bank N.A. v. Skuna River Lumber L.L.C., (In re Skuna River Lumber, LLC), 564 F.3d 353 (5th Cir. 2009).
As bankruptcy courts continue to play a key role in restructuring the U.S. economy, courts appear to be at odds as to whether WARN Act claims should proceed through adversary proceedings or through the bankruptcy claims process. While courts have come to differing conclusions on the issue, a commonality appears to be that generally courts will lean toward resolving WARN Act claims through whichever process is the most efficient in a particular case.
Under section 363(f) of the bankruptcy code, a trustee may sell assets of the bankruptcy estate free and clear of liens and other interests. Generally, absent consent of the lienholder, a trustee may only sell assets free and clear of liens under one of the following conditions:
The bankruptcy case of the City of Vallejo, Calif., the largest chapter 9 case filed since the Orange County case 15 years ago, continues to produce significant decisions on issues of first impression. First, following a lengthy trial, the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California, where the City's case is pending, found that the City met all of the qualifications necessary to be a municipal debtor under chapter 9. In re City of Vallejo, 2008 WL 4180008 (Bankr. E.D. Cal. Sept. 5, 2008).
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York has affirmed a bankruptcy court's ruling that defense costs advanced by an insurer to a debtor under an Interim Fee Advancement and Non-Waiver Agreement (the Interim Agreement) were not held in trust and, therefore, constituted property of the debtor's estate. Great Am. Ins. Co. v. Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. (In re Bally Total Fitness of Greater N.Y.), No. 09-CV-4052, 2009 WL 1684022 (S.D.N.Y. June 15, 2009).
The following is a list of some recent larger U.S. bankruptcy filings in various industries. To the extent you are a creditor to any of these debtors, or other entities which may have filed for bankruptcy protection, you as a creditor are entitled to certain protections under the Bankruptcy Code.
AUTOMOTIVE
Global Safety Textiles Holdings LLC and its affiliated debtors files for Chapter 11 protection in Delaware.
Grede Foundries, Inc. files for Chapter 11 protection in Wisconsin.
In Biltmore Assocs., LLC v. Twin City Fire Insurance Co., 2009 WL 1976071 (9th Cir.