On June 27, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court released its 5-4 opinion in connection with the bankruptcy case of Purdue Pharma L.P. (“Purdue”). Over a vigorous dissent authored by Justice Kavanaugh, a narrow majority of the Supreme Court held that the Bankruptcy Code does not permit chapter 11 plans of reorganization to provide for non-consensual releases of non-debtors outside of the asbestos context.
A recent decision by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in In re Walker County Hospital Corporation serves as an important reminder to clients that are purchasing or renewing directors and officers (“D&O”) insurance coverage that the “Insured versus Insured” exclusion must contain the broadest possible exceptions for claims brought against directors and officers following a bankruptcy filing. Without the specific policy language, current and former directors and officers may be exposed to personal liability.
One common denominator links nearly all stressed businesses: tight liquidity. After the liquidity hole is identified and sized, the discussion inevitably turns to the question of who will fund the necessary capital to extend the liquidity runway. For a PE-backed business where there is a credible path to recovery, a sponsor, due to its existing equity stake, is often willing to inject additional capital into an underperforming portfolio company.
In a significant development for the crypto industry, a Delaware bankruptcy court has approved a plan for FTX to return more than $14 billion worth of assets to its creditors. The embattled cryptocurrency exchange, which filed for bankruptcy protection in November 2022, previously estimated that it owed creditors around $11.2 billion. The approved plan will see 98% of creditors receiving 119% of the value of their allowed claims as of the bankruptcy filing date, reflecting a remarkable recovery for affected parties.
Recouping Billions for Distribution
Editor’s Note Here’s What’s Happening in Arbitration Victoria Prussen Spears The AAA Healthcare Payor Provider Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures Important Features and Updates Lisa M. Richman and Maria Cristina Rosales del Prado Five International Arbitration Trends and Topics Jeffrey A. Rosenthal, Ari D. MacKinnon, and Katie L. Gonzalez How to Avoid a Pyrrhic Victory in International Arbitration—Part I James P.
The legislative framework applicable to insolvency and restructuring in Jersey has seen significant developments in recent years, with the introduction of the Companies Regulations No 8 2022 (the Regulations).
The Regulations provide additional powers to a company’s creditors – firstly, in relation to provisional liquidations (an emergency procedure designed to safeguard the assets of a failing company), and secondly in relation to creditors’ winding-ups.
On September 10, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued its opinion in Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. The Hertz Corp. (In re The Hertz Corp.), Case No. 23-1169, 2024 WL 4132132 (3d Cir. Sept.
A new Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals opinion[fn. 1] involves the motion of a federal inmate, who was also a Chapter 7 bankruptcy debtor, for compassionate-release under 18 U.S. § 3582(c)(1)(A). The new Seventh Circuit opinion denies the motion.
Notably, the bankruptcy Debtor/Inmate is serving a 30-year sentence for making false statements during a bankruptcy proceeding The bankruptcy statute is 18 U.S.C. § 152, which declares it is a crime when a person:
Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P., 144 S. Ct. 2017 (June 27, 2024)
In the early 2000s, the conversation around the standards for a good faith filing in bankruptcy was intense, particularly leading up to the passage of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA). Concerns were widespread that bankruptcy provisions were vulnerable to abuse, prompting a national debate on what could constitute a bad-faith filing. Nearly 20 years later, the landscape has evolved significantly. The financial crisis of 2008 brought unprecedented mortgage foreclosures and forced a larger segment of the population to consider bankruptcy.