The Federal Trade Commission has had a full mailbox recently. It received a request to investigate caffeine-infused malt beverages and a request for a new privacy law. And the FTC sent a cautionary letter to a magazine addressing privacy issues in a consumer bankruptcy.
FTC Amends Telemarketing Sales Rule: On July 29, 2010, the FTC announced new amendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule that will prohibit debt relief companies from collecting advanced fees.
With the August 4, 2010 auction of the division leading Texas Rangers looming and the memory of last year's bankruptcy sale of the Phoenix Coyotes fresh in our minds, there has been a lot of discussion among bankruptcy professionals about the unique issues that arise when a sports club files for bankruptcy. Generally, sports clubs file bankruptcy for the same reasons as other businesses — as a last resort to save going concern value and/or to avail themselves of some strategic advantage under the Bankruptcy Code.
On Friday, the Oregon Division of Finance and Corporate Securities closed LibertyBank, headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank.
On Friday, the Georgia Department of Banking & Finance closed NorthWest Bank and Trust, headquartered in Acworth, Georgia, and appointed the FDIC as receiver for the bank.
On Friday, the Washington Department of Financial Institutions closed The Cowlitz Bank, headquartered in Longview, Washington and appointed the FDIC as receiver.
The following is a list of some recent larger US bankruptcy filings in various industries. To the extent you are a creditor to any of these debtors, or other entities which may have filed for bankruptcy protection, you as a creditor are entitled to certain protections under the Bankruptcy Code.
GAMING
Riviera Holdings Corp., owner of Las Vegas’ Riviera Hotel & Casino, has filed for Chapter 11 protection.
RAZORS AND BLADES
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission announcedamendments to the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) relating to the telemarketing of debt relief services, including new restrictions on advance fees charged by debt relief companies.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has announced that it will amend its Regulation 190.04(d)(2) regarding the operation of a commodity broker in bankruptcy. Currently, a bankruptcy trustee is prohibited, immediately upon the commencement of the commodity broker’s bankruptcy case, from processing any new trades on behalf of customers of the commodity broker, with limited exceptions.