This Installment will address the potential legal disabilities that exist under the New York Debtor and Creditor Law for the Wilpon/Katz families, the owners of the New York Mets (collectively, the “Wilpon Interests”), in their effort to sell a minority interest(s) in the Mets, in light of the existence of the lawsuit against them (the “Wilpon Case”) by Irving Picard, the Trustee in the Bernard L. Madoff bankruptcy.

Summary

In an 11 page opinion published May 27, 2011, Judge Walsh granted a motion under F.R.C.P. 56(d) and quoted another opinion which says “where the facts are in possession of the moving party a continuance of a motion for summary judgment for purposes of discovery should be granted almost as a matter of course.” Judge Walsh’s opinion is available here (the “Opinion”).

Background

Summary

In a 10 page decision signed May 5, 2011, Judge Walsh of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court denied a motion to dismiss and held that the plaintiff Litigation Trustee satisfied the “particularity” requirements of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) and 9(b), despite having his complaint allege that each transfer within a 13 page list of transfers was fraudulent. Judge Walsh’s opinion is available here (the “Opinion”).

In September of this year, the Honorable Mary F. Walrath, the presiding Judge in the DHP Holdings bankruptcy, issued a decision addressing the effect of a forum selection clause when deciding a motion to change venue. This issue came before the court in an adversary action filed by DHP against The Home Depot. After DHP filed for bankruptcy, the company sued Home Depot for $5.5 million alleging Home Depot owed the company for an outstanding account receivable.

Introduction

Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code allows for the avoidance of transfers that are either intentionally or constructively fraudulent. Section 548 provides, in relevant part, as follows:

Yesterday, the Special Inspector General for the Trouble Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) released a report criticizing the Treasury Department’s role in the accelerated closure of hundreds of GM and Chrysler dealerships.

Yesterday, the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico closed Eurobank, headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.

Yesterday, the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Institutions of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico closed Westernbank Puerto Rico, headquartered in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, and the FDIC was appointed receiver.

On Friday, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation closed Premier American Bank, headquartered in Miami, Florida, and the FDIC was named receiver.

On Friday, the Washington Department of Financial Institutions closed Evergreen Bank, headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and the FDIC was named receiver.