In re Visteon Corp., No. 10-1944-cv, 2010 WL 2735715 (3d Cir. July 13, 2010), the Third Circuit held that Visteon Corporation (Visteon) could not terminate unvested retiree health and life insurance benefits during a Chapter 11 bankruptcy without seeking court approval pursuant to Bankruptcy Code § 1114, 11 U.S.C. § 1114. The Third Circuit’s decision departs from the rulings of many other federal courts, and is in tension, if not outright conflict, with the Second Circuit’s decision in LTV Steel Co. v. United Mine Workers (In re Chateaugay Corp.), 945 F.2d 1205 (2d Cir.
I. Introduction
On Tuesday, the FDIC held the first in a series of proposed roundtable discussions on the implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, which is intended to bring transparency to the rulemaking process. Government officials, industry executives, academics and investors were invited to participate in the discussion.
It is no surprise that there are risks inherent in doing business with a debtor in bankruptcy, including, of course, the risk that the debtor may not have the money to pay for goods sold to it on credit. Businesses can manage those risks by, for example, shortening trade credit terms, obtaining the debtor’s agreement to pay on delivery or in advance for product, or obtaining a deposit or letter of credit as security. But, once a debtor has paid for goods or services it actually received, most vendors would probably assume that the transaction cannot be challenged.
The FDIC is currently responding to one of the worst financial crises in the history of the nation’s banking system. Sheila Bair, Chairman of the FDIC, expects that 2010 “will be the high water mark for the banking crisis.”1 Just over the last two years, 268 banks have failed in the United States, which is nearly ten times the number of failed banks during the prior eight-year period.2
Introduction
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.
NOVELTY
Party and novelty goods company Oriental Trading Co., Inc. has filed for Chapter 11 protection with a prepackaged plan of reorganization.
OIL
American Consolidated Transportation Companies, Inc v RBS Citizens NA (In re American Consolidated Transportation Companies, Inc), Adversary No 10-00154, Bankruptcy No 09-26062 (Bankr ND Ill July 13, 2010)
CASE SNAPSHOT
In re EDM Corporation, 2010 WL 1929772 (8th Cir BAP May 14, 2010)
CASE SNAPSHOT
In re 15375 Memorial Corporation, et al, 430 BR 142 (Bankr D Del May 17, 2010)
CASE SNAPSHOT