In a decision that was not surprising but nevertheless disappointing, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently affirmed the order of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court concluding that the “net equity” calculation for distributions back to Madoff victims should be based on the Net Investment Method, the total of actual deposits and withdrawals, and not the last statement amount listed on the final brokerage account statement. As a result, claw back law suits against the inaptly named “net winners” are sure to continue unabated.
Background
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit found in favor of the trustee (the Trustee) presiding over the liquidation of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities (BMIS), affirming the Trustee’s calculation of “net equity” in the BMIS liquidation. The Trustee calculates net equity to determine the value of claims submitted by victims of Madoff’s massive fraud.
The Bottom Line:
An appeals court in Kentucky has issued a reminder to secured lenders of the importance of drawing up control agreements that establish a lender’s interest in a debtor’s assets contained in depository accounts.
On March 7, 2007, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that "in the Chapter 11 context, whether a pre-plan settlement's distribution plan complies with the Bankruptcy Code's priority scheme will be the most important factor for a Bankruptcy Court to Consider in approving a settlement under Bankruptcy Rule 9019." In re Iridium Operating LLC, No. 05-2236 (2d Cir. March 7, 2007)
I. In re Iridium Operating LLC
Does the bankruptcy filing of a limited liability company without the approval of its “Special Member,” the secured lender serving as “blocking director,” render that filing infirm as unauthorized and subject to dismissal? Not necessarily, held the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois in a
A Chicago bankruptcy court declined to dismiss the Chapter 11 case of a “bankruptcy remote” limited liability company even though the debtor failed to obtain the unanimous consent of its members as required by its operating agreement. See In re Lake Mich. Beach Pottawattamie Resort, LLC, Case No. 15bk42427, 2016 Bankr. LEXIS 1107 (Bankr. N.D. Ill. April 5, 2016).
In MERV Properties, L.L.C. v. Forcht Bancorp., Inc. 2015 WL 5827775, 61 BCD 170 (Bankr. 6th Cir. 2015), the 6th U.S. Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel (BAP) affirmed summary judgment entered by the bankruptcy court for the Eastern District of Kentucky in favor of defendant bank on plaintiff borrower’s fraud and collusion claims.
On February 5, 2016, the Office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) released a memorandum (a “Memo”) related to the appropriate tax treatment of individuals or entities that invest in real estate limited partnerships and limited liability companies (“LLCs”) with non-recourse financing.1 In essence, the Memo determined that, for the taxpayer in question, (i) the existence of a tradi