Background

The Times revealed in an article last month that, according to a report from the Audit Reform Lab, a think tank at the University of Sheffield, only a quarter of the 250 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange to become insolvent between 2010 and 2022 had a “going concern” warning included by their auditors in what would turn out to be their final set of accounts. Of those companies 38 also declared a dividend in those accounts.

The general legal framework of existing Bulgarian insolvency law covers the core features recognised by the international insolvency community and takes account of EC Regula-tions and Directives. On the other hand, it does not always achieve the proper balance between the need to address the debtor’s financial difficulty as efficiently as possible and the interests of the creditors.

This article highlights some inefficiencies of the existing Bulgarian insolvency regime compared with international best practices.

Scope

There were six substantive civil decisions released by the Court of Appeal this week. There were many criminal decisions released.

In Wall v. Shaw, the Court determined that there is no limitation period to objecting to accounts in an application to pass accounts in an estates matter. A notice of objection is not a “proceeding” within the meaning of the Limitations Act, 2002.

APPLICATIONS FOR LEAVE TO APPEAL GRANTED

37323

James Chadwick Rankin, carrying on business as Rankin’s Garage & Sales v. J.J. by his Litigation Guardian, J.A.J., J.A.J., A.J.

(Ont.)

Torts — Negligence — Duty of Care — Motor vehicles

Introduction

The Sapin II Act of November 8 2016 amended the regime governing directors' liability in an insolvency scenario in order to encourage the recovery of honest directors of failed businesses.

When insolvency practitioners consider who may be held accountable for corporate failures, auditors are often near the top of the list. It is easy to see why. From a practical perspective, auditors are relatively likely to be able to meet good claims, and from a legal perspective it is easy to identify the duties that the auditors owed and, in an unfortunate number of cases, breached.

The business community is going to see an increase in default claims due to the mounting credit crisis. Many companies will not survive in such an environment and a wave of insolvencies is likely to ensue. The prospect of this has forced the State Duma to focus on developing a robust response. New bills, which would transform the Russian insolvency landscape, are currently under consideration.

The business community in Russia is going to see an increase in default claims due to the mounting credit crisis. Many companies will not survive in such an environment and a wave of insolvencies is likely to ensue. The prospect of this has forced the State Duma to focus on developing a robust response. New bills, which would transform the Russian insolvency landscape, are currently under consideration.

As Insurers underwriting risks in Spain are aware, the recent financial crisis resulted in a significant increase in claims against directors by trustees appointed when a company enters into an insolvency process. Insolvency proceedings in Spain reach a determination as to the culpability of directors implicated in the company's demise. In this context, the Spanish courts will look at whether the directors were "guilty" or whether the insolvency was "fortuitous". However, not all determinations will express whether the director's conduct was in bad faith or wilful.

A Canadian on-line dating site, PlentyofFish, wanted to purchase the bankrupt site True.com but the Texas Attorney General filed a petition to block the marriage on the ground that the transfer of the private personal information of millions of people who had used True.com would potentially violate the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Which made us think: Is a corporation’s violation of its customers’ personal privacy covered by insurance?