Introduction

Last month, the Chapter 7 trustee (the "Trustee") in the Viashow bankruptcy filed avoidance actions against several creditors of the bankruptcy estate.  One avoidance action in particular seeks to recover damages allegedly sustained by Viashow due to breaches of fiduciary duties by its officers and directors (the "D&O Action").  In addition to Viashow's officers and directors, the D&O Action seeks damages against defendants who allegedly "aided and abetted" the officers and directors in their breach.  

Summary

In a 15 page decision signed yesterday, April 5, 2011, Judge Sontchi of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court determined that when a company receives pleadings in a bankruptcy case, even if served on their “doing business as” name, they have received proper service. Judge Sontchi’s opinion is available here.

Background

On October 31, 2010, Wolverine Tube, Inc. ("Wolverine") filed petitions for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. According to the Declaration of Wolverine's President in Support of Debtors' Petitions (the "Declaration"), the company's bankruptcy filing resulted from several factors, most notably a drop in cash due to volatility in commodity prices and high debt obligations. See Declaration at pp. 2-3.

Recently, the Chapter 7 Trustee (the "Trustee") in the HRP Myrtle Beach Holdings bankruptcy, filed several avoidance actions pursuant to sections 547, 548, and 549 of the Bankruptcy Code. The avoidance actions, filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, are before the Honorable Kevin J. Carey, Chief Judge of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court.

Introduction

On May 31, 2010, Specialty Products Holding Corp ("SPHC" or the "Debtor"), filed for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. This post is one of two posts regarding the SPHC bankruptcy. The first post will look at the Debtor's businesses and events leading up to the bankruptcy filing, while a second post will look at how SPHC intends to deal with the large volume of asbestos claims that forced it to file for bankruptcy.

Introduction

In a 33 page decision released March 29, 2017, Judge Sontchi of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court ruled on competing motions to dismiss the remaining claims and counterclaims in an adversary proceeding in the Affirmative Insurance bankruptcy – Adversary Proceeding Case No. 16-50425.

In the recent decision of Pacifica L51 LLC v. New Invs., Inc. (In re New Invs., Inc.), No. 13-36194, 2016 WL 6543520 (9th Cir. Nov. 4, 2016), the Ninth Circuit held that Section 1123(d) of the Bankruptcy Code legislatively overruled Great W. Bank & Tr. v. Entz-White Lumber & Supply, Inc. (In re Entz-White Lumber & Supply, Inc.), 850 F.2d 1338 (9th Cir.

On September 7-8, 2016, various debtors in the ADI Liquidation, Inc. (f/k/a AWI Delaware, Inc.), et al. bankruptcy proceeding filed approximately 332 complaints seeking the avoidance and recovery of allegedly preferential and/or fraudulent transfers under Sections 544 and/or 547, 548 and 550 of the Bankruptcy Code (depending upon the nature of the underlying transactions). The Debtors also seek to disallow claims of such defendants under Sections 502(d) and (j) of the Bankruptcy Code.