This appeal concerned (inter alia) whether an application for an order for sale made under s.335A of the Insolvency Act 1986 (‘IA 1986’) should be made by an application notice issued under the Insolvency Rules 2016 (‘IR 2016) or by a Part 8 Claim Form issued under the Civil Procedure Rules (‘CPR’).

Factual Background

In a split decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently determined that the Bank of New York Mellon (the “Bank”), as first deed of trust lienholder, could challenge a homeowner’s association’s (“HOA”) sale of a property as a violation of an automatic bankruptcy stay, giving the Bank superior title. SeeBank of New York Mellon as Tr. for Certificateholders of CWALT, Inc., Alternative Loan Tr. 2005-54CB, Mortg. Pass-Through Certificates Series 2005-54CB v. Enchantment at Sunset Bay Condo. Ass’n, 2 F.4th 1229 (9th Cir. 2021).

This recent interlocutory decision in The Deposit Guarantee Fund for Individuals (" the DGF") v Bank Frick & Co AG ("Bank Frick") & Anor deals another blow to the DGF in its recent attempts to pursue claims in England which allegedly arise following the 2014-15 banking crisis in Ukraine.

Background

This week’s TGIF considers a recent decision that provides guidance on how and when a liquidator can sell partnership assets held by an insolvent corporate partnership manager to satisfy creditors’ claims.

Key Takeaways

Introduction

National Company Law Tribunal (“NCLT”) was introduced in the Companies Act, 1956 in the year 2002. However, despite that, the erstwhile Company Law Board continued to function and NCLTs remained only on the statute book. It was only in late 2016 when the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (“IBC”) was notified, that the NCLTs became operational.

Exclusive Jurisdiction 

INTRODUCTION

This newsletter covers key updates about developments in the insolvency law during the month of November 2021.

The 9th Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel recently reinforced a Pennsylvania bankruptcy court case that was among the first to extend the U.S. Supreme Court’s City of Chicago v. Fulton ruling (which held that mere retention of vehicles repossessed pre-petition would not violate the automatic stay) to the context of account garnishments.

On Nov. 11, 2021, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Whitley in Charlotte, North Carolina ordered to move LTL Management LLC’s chapter 11 bankruptcy case to New Jersey after finding that LTL Management had used the “Texas Two-Step” to manufacture jurisdiction in North Carolina improperly. LTL Management is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and a defendant in thousands of talc-related tort claim lawsuits. In re LTL Mgmt. LLC, No. 21-30589, 2021 BL 439798 (Bankr. D.N.J. Nov. 16, 2021).

Key Points

The Bankruptcy Protector

Most bankruptcy practitioners are familiar with the intentionally broad scope of discovery under Bankruptcy Rule 2004. However, there are limits to this discovery and the “pending proceeding” rule can be a useful tool to limit the scope of discovery in the appropriate circumstances.

Bankruptcy Rule 2004

A couple who were undischarged bankrupts have not been successful in seeking an exemption under the bankruptcy law to exclude certain assets from being divisible amongst the creditors of their bankrupt estates. Particularly, the exemption sought required that their interests in the disputed assets (cash, shares and residential properties) be held by way of interests in their self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF).