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08/18/2011 – Order filed in the Sharon Vernell Cofield Adversary Proceedings by Cofield et al before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Randy D. Doub in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Eastern District of South Carolina, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Randy D. Doub holds that under Stern v. Marshall, 564 U.S.—, 131 S. Ct. 2594, 252011 WL 2472792 (June 23, 2011), the Court has authority to render a final judgment in the pending adversary proceeding. Judge Doub found that, in determining the amount and dischargeability of Plaintiffs claim, “[t]he alleged breach of contract defense is so intertwined with the Plaintiff’s claim, that consideration of the facts and circumstances of the breach of contract defense is necessary to determine the outcome of this proceeding.” »»» Read rest of article . . .
08/12/2011 – Plaintiff’s Memorandum of Law in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss filed in the Spansion, Inc. Adversary Proceedings by Barclays Capital Inc. before Chief, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin J. Carey in the District of Delaware filed by Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC (Wilmington, DE) attorney Ronald S. Gellert; ASK Financial LLP (St. Paul, MN) attorneys Joseph L. Steinfeld, Jr. and Karen M. Scheibe .
Pirinate Consulting Group, LLC, Claims Agent (the “Plaintiff”) for the Chapter 11 Estates of Spansion, Inc., et al. (the “Debtors”), filed this opposition to the Motion to Dismiss (the “Motion to Dismiss”) filed by defendant, Barclays Capital Inc. (the “Defendant”). Plaintiff is in the awkward position of requesting leave to amend its complaint to preserve its fraudulent conveyance count by alleging that the $1.5 million “preferential payment” to the Defendant was actually a retainer that was not fully earned. With no effort made to support a contention that the original complaint adequately alleged a constructive fraudulent transfer, practically the entire brief is premised on a proposed amended complaint. The real question presented by this brief is whether Chief, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin J. Carey will grant leave to amend. While the Plaintiff is unapologetic as to the deficiencies in the original complaint, the Plaintiff forcefully argues that it has a good fraudulent conveyance case … if the amended complaint is allowed. »»» Read rest of article . . .
Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss filed in the Spansion, Inc. Adversary Proceedings by Barclays Capital Inc. before Chief, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin J. Carey in the District of Delaware filed by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (Wilmington, DE) attorneys Robert J. Stearn, Jr. and Julie A. Finocchiaro.
Defendant Barclays Capital Inc. (“Defendant”), filed this motion to dismiss pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) seeking dismissal of only the counts of the complaint based on claims of constructive fraudulent transfer pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 548(a)(1)(B), authorized post-petition transfer under 11 U.S.C. § 549, and disallowance of claims pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 502(d) and (j). The preferential transfer count pursuant to to 11 U.S.C. § 547 is left alone. The complaint was filed by plaintiff Pirinate Consulting Group, LLC (“Plaintiff”), Claims Agent for the bankruptcy estates of Spansion, Inc., et al. (the “Debtors”). This brief was filed back in April, 2011, and on its face, this simple, seven page brief is unimpressive. Its tactical brilliance was only revealed by Plaintiff’s August 12, 2011 response. »»» Read rest of article . . .
08/12/2011 – Memorandum of Law in Support of Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss filed in the Linens n Things Adversary Proceedings by Liberty Mutual Insurance Company before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christoper S. Sontchi in the District of Delaware filed by Seitz, Van Ogtrop & Green, P.A. (Wilmington, DE) attorney R. Karl Hill; and Choate Hall & Stewart LLP (Boston, MA) attorneys Douglas R. Gooding and Mark A. DeFeo.
Defendant, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company (“Liberty”) seeks dismissal of a preferential transfer recovery action filed by Charles M. Forman, the Chapter 7 Trustee (the “Trustee”) of the substantively-consolidated estate of Linens Holding Co., et. al. (the “Debtors”). The Trustee seeks to avoid and recover two transfers totaling $419,318. Liberty argues that the Trustee has failed to make the required factual averments with respect to the 547(b)(5) element of an avoidance claim – i.e. that the Defendant received more than it would have received in a Chapter 7 liquidation had the pre-petition transfer not been made. In fact, the Defendant asserts that it was a fully secured creditor. Defendant’s implication is that the complaint would not have been filed if the Trustee had done the investigation necessary to meet the Iqbal/Twombley pleading standards. Registered users click here to see a copy of this brief.
08/12/2011 – Defendant’s Memorandum in Support of Motion to Dismiss Adversary Proceeding filed in the Adversary Proceedings by Galassini before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Pamela S. Hollis in the Northern District of Illinois (Eastern) filed by O’Rourke & Moody (Chicago, IL) attorney Michael C. Moody .
Defendant, Timothy Galassini (“Defendant” or “Mr. Galassini”) seeks dismissal of a Section 547 – preference – and a Section 548 – fraudulent conveyance – complaint filed by his former wife as debtor-in-possession (“Plaintiff” or “Debtor”). Pursuant to a Dissolution of Marriage, the Defendant received $174,025 for marital assets, $100,000 toward Mr. Galassini’s attorneys fees in the divorce action and $360,000 connection with the Debtor’s receipt of sole title to the marital residence. The motion to dismiss is based on the domestic support defense in Section 547(c)(7) and the Debtor’s solvency during the preference period. Registered users click here to see a copy of this brief. »»» Read rest of article . . .
Plaintiffs Memorandum Addressing the Effect of the Supreme Courts Decision in Stern v. Marshall on the Bankruptcy Courts Ability to Render Final Judgment on the Common Law Claims filed in the Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. Adversary Proceedings by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James M. Peck in the Southern District of New York (Manhattan) filed by Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle LLP (New York, NY) attorneys Joseph D. Pizzurro; L. P. Harrison 3rd; Michael J. Moscato; Nancy E. Delaney; Peter J. Behmke; and Cindi Eilbott Giglio; and Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP attorneys John B. Quinn and Erica Taggart as Special Counsel to Plaintiff Intervenor, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., et al.
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“Plaintiff”) argues that, despite the United States Supreme Court holding in Stern v. Marshall, 131 S. Ct. 2594 (2011), the Court has the power to enter final orders with respect to the 49 counts asserted in the First Amended Complaint (the “Amended Complaint”) — including the common law counts — and the eight counts asserted in JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.’s (“JPMorgan”) counterclaim. This brief is Plaintiff’s half of a duet of briefing requested by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James M. Peck. Reading the 2 briefs side by side, two things are clear: the meaning of Stern is subject to broad and conflicting interpretation; and the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts are left with an task of conducting an initial evaluation of the issues that will entail much of the legal issue analysis that formerly could wait until a motion for summary judgment or even trial. Registered users click here to see a copy of this brief.
08/05/2011 – Defendant’s Supplemental Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss filed in the Lehman Commercial Paper Inc. Adversary Proceedings by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge James M. Peck in the Southern District of New York (Manhattan) filed by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (New York, NY) by attorney Paul Vizcarrondo, Jr.; Of counsel: Harold S. Novikoff, Amy R. Wolf, Douglas K. Mayer, David C. Bryan, Emil A. Kleinhaus and Alexander B. Lees .
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (“JPMorgan” or “Defendant”) argues that, in view of Stern v. Marshall, 131 S. Ct. 2594 (2011) (“Stern”), the Bankruptcy Court lacks authority to determine any of the 49 claims in the Amended Complaint of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“LBHI”) and Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (collectively with LBHI, “Plaintiff”). Registered users click here to see a copy of this brief. »»» Read rest of article . . .
08/03/2011 – Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss filed in the Qimonda Richmond, LLC Adversary Proceedings by Citibank, National Association et al before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Mary F. Walrath in the District of Delaware filed by Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP (Wilmington, DE) attorneys Gregory W. Werkheiser and Andrew R. Remming; and Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP (New York, NY) attorneys Scott A. Edelman and Sander Bak .
Citibank, National Association seeks dismissal of a complaint for recovery of an allegedly preferential and fraudulent transfer of approximately $34 million. Citibank makes arguments based on Citibank’s status as a secured creditor, the presence of “reasonably equivalent” value; and its exercise of a right of setoff, but the first and primary argument is based on the Section 546(e) safe harbor. »»» Read rest of article . . .
07/27/2011 – Defendant’s Reply in Further Support of Its Motion to Dismiss with Prejudice filed in the Sunset Aviation, Inc. Adversary Proceedings by Shorenstein Company LLC before Judge Walsh in the District of Delaware filed by Cross & Simon LLC (Wilmington, Delaware) attorney Michael J. Joyce; and Morrison & Foerster LLP (New York, New York) attorneys Melissa A. Hager John A. Pintarelli. Defendant Shorenstein Company LLC’s reply takes apart every aspect of the Chapter 7 Trustee’s position that substantive consolidation order shifted the date for calculating the preference period to the earliest debtor petition date. However, what makes this reply especially noteworthy is (1) its retort to the Trustee’s “equity of creditors” rhetoric; (2) its discussion of the Third Circuit’s approach to substantive consolidation; and (3) its argument that, if the Court is inclined to give nunc pro tunc effect, it should be to the petition date of the last filing debtor.
07/26/2011 – Memorandum of Law in Support of Citibank N.A., Citicorp North America, Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Limiteds Motion to Dismiss the Trustees Complaint filed in the Bernard l. Madoff Investment Securities LLC Adversary Proceedings by Citibank, N.A. et al before Judge U.S. Bankrutpcy Judge Burton R. Lifland in the Southern District of New York (Manhattan) filed by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP Carmine D. Boccuzzi, Jr. (New York, New York) attorneys David Y. Livshiz, Jr. and David Y. Livshiz.
Defendants Citibank, N.A., Citicorp North America, Inc.’ (“CNAI,” and together with Citibank, N.A., “Citibank”) and Citigroup Global Markets Limited (“CGML” and collectively with Citibank, “the Citi Defendants”) challenge Trustee Irving H. Picard’s effort to “clawback” four transfers, in the aggregate amount of $430 million, received by CGMI, and Citibank as purported subsequent transferees from Fairfield Sentry Limited (“Sentry”) and the Rye Select Broad Market Prime Fund, L.P. (“Prime Fund”). Defendants make three arguments in support of their motion to dismiss the Trustee’s thirteen count complaint to recover transfers on preference, constructive fraudulent conveyance and state law theories. The Defendants argue that the “safe harbors” of sections 546(e) and (g) of the Code protect the Defendants from avoidance the transfers at issue. Additionally, the Defendants claim that the Complaint fails to adequately plead recovery of the transfers under Section 550. However, this memorandum of law is significant for argument that, in the case of Sentry, “the Trustee has expressly relinquished his ability to ever avoid the initial transfers by entering into a settlement agreement with Sentry and agreeing to the entry of a consent judgment that does not avoid the alleged initial transfers.” Registered users click here to see a copy of this brief. »»» Read rest of article . . .