When the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit decided Thabault v. Chait, 541 F.3d 512 (3d Cir. 2008), in September 2008, it was the most significant accounting malpractice decision of last year and perhaps the most significant damages case in the last 20 years. Why? Accounting malpractice cases are filled with pitfalls for unsuspecting plaintiffs. Moreover, accounting firms tend to settle cases in which the plaintiffs survive motions predicated on tried-and-true legal defenses and factual hurdles. The result is that few auditing malpractice cases are tried.

On Thursday, General Motors Corporation (GM) filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission which notably included an opinion of its auditors on its financial statements in which the auditors stated that GM’s “recurring losses from operations, stockholders’ deficit, and inabili

With bankruptcy filings up by more than 25% in the recent past, and with the promise of many more to come in the near future, an increasing number of businesses and individuals may find themselves listed amongst the largest unsecured creditors of a debtor and with much to lose in a bankruptcy case. As one of the largest creditors, these same businesses and individuals may also find themselves being solicited to serve on “official” unsecured creditors’ committees.

After a relatively brief and checkered stint in Delaware courts, it appears that the cause of action against corporate directors for “deepening insolvency” may have lost its place in Delaware corporate jurisprudence.

Yesterday, in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, General Motors announced that it is currently attempting to restructure debt held by the U.S. Treasury Department. Under a current proposal, GM would convert at least 50% of its debt held by the U.S. Treasury Department into common shares. As a result of the conversion Treasury would hold greater than 50% of GM’s common shares.

Yellowstone Mountain Club LLC (Yellowstone Club) developed land near Yellowstone National Park in Montana as a high-end residential development with a private ski and golf club.

The development of Yellowstone Club didn’t progress as promptly or as smoothly as projected. Memberships ended up being sold at substantially discounted prices.

It is not surprising that within an economic outlook which seems permanently set to "gloomy" many companies are having to think about reorganising their operations or restructuring their holding structures This article highlights some of the tax and other considerations which must be borne in mind when considering such reorganisations or restructurings with reference to some recent (and less recent) cases and changes in the law and points which have come to the fore in the current climate.

Recapitalisations

In an unusual ruling recently entered in the Chapter 11 case of Yellowstone Mountain Club, LLC and certain of its subsidiaries, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Montana equitably subordinated the claim of a non-insider senior secured lender. While the equitable subordination of a claim is rare, the Yellowstone decision may signal that courts will be looking at loan transactions with a highly critical eye.

Directors and officers managing corporations, especially when the corporation is insolvent or operating in insolvency situations, need to be cognizant of their fiduciary duties. This alert provides a brief overview of these fiduciary duties, including practical considerations in the exercise of these duties.

Fiduciary Duties When a Corporation is Solvent

In Biltmore Assocs., LLC v. Twin City Fire Insurance Co., 2009 WL 1976071 (9th Cir.