On March 21st, Blue Springs Ford ("Blue Springs") filed a chapter 11 petition for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. Based in Blue Springs, Missouri, Blue Springs has operated as an authorized Ford dealership since 1978. Like most dealerships, the company sells and services Ford vehicles and provides general maintenance and repair services. See the Declaration of Blues Springs' President in Support of First Day Motions (the "Declaration" or "Decl.") at *2.
Summary
This Installment will address the potential legal disabilities that exist under the New York Debtor and Creditor Law for the Wilpon/Katz families, the owners of the New York Mets (collectively, the “Wilpon Interests”), in their effort to sell a minority interest(s) in the Mets, in light of the existence of the lawsuit against them (the “Wilpon Case”) by Irving Picard, the Trustee in the Bernard L. Madoff bankruptcy.
Summary
In a 56 page opinion published June 9, 2011, Judge Walsh ruled that a method of operating in which all of the credits and debits between two companies were netted out allows this same method to be used in calculating a set-off defense in preference litigation. Judge Walsh’s opinion is available here (the “Opinion”).
Background
Summary
In a 5 page decision signed May 4, 2011, Judge Walsh of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court held that a proceeding initiated by a Debtor, seeking contribution relating to environmental claims is non-core. Judge Walsh’s opinion is available here (the “Opinion”).
Background
Introduction
A discovery dispute gave the bankruptcy court an opportunity to rule on the common interest privilege which, the court said, has completely replaced the joint defense privilege for information sharing among clients with different attorneys, citing In re Teleglobe Communications Corp., 493 F.3d 345, 364 n. 20 (3d Cir. 2007). Leslie Controls, Inc., Case No. 10-12199 (Bankr. D. Del. 9/21/10)(Sontchi, B.J.).
Introduction
American Safety Razor Company ("ASR"), one of the largest manufacturers of shaving razors and blades, filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware on July 28, 2010. According to the Declaration of ASR's Chief Financial Officer, Andrew Bolt (the "Bolt Declaration"), the company's net sales for 2009 totaled $330 million, down from the $351 million in sales achieved in 2008. See Bolt Declaration, pgh. 11.
Introduction
Section 548 of the United States Bankruptcy Code allows for the avoidance of transfers that are either intentionally or constructively fraudulent. Section 548 provides, in relevant part, as follows:
“You have been served” – the famous phrase uttered by process servers everywhere, may never be heard by a bankruptcy defendant.
Why?