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The Delaware Bankruptcy Insider is a premier blog designed to bring its readers a comprehensive analysis of the latest Delaware corporate bankruptcy news and rulings. Brought to you by Ashby & Geddes, P.A.
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Recent Posts
- Getting Noticed in the Digital Age: Delaware Bankruptcy Court Finds Email Notice Satisfies Due Process but Not Rule 2002
- Third Circuit Reversal Paves the Way For NextEra to Potentially Recover Administrative Expenses Incurred in Connection With Failed Merger
- Delaware District Court Disagrees with Bankruptcy Court’s Ruling and Holds That Committee’s Challenge Rights Survived Entry of the Sale Order and Consummation of Sale
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Anti-Assignment Clauses Enforced to Void and Nullify Claims Purchases
Prior to the commencement of the Woodbridge chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, one of the many debtors (“Woodbridge”) issued three promissory notes, each containing an anti-assignment clause. The clause prohibited the lenders from assigning the notes, the related loan agreements, and any other instruments executed in connection therewith absent the written consent of Woodbridge. If a non-consensual assignment was attempted, the provision provided that the assignment would be null and void. Similar language existed in the related loan agreements… Read More
Bankruptcy Court Fails to Find Wholesaler-Debtor Constructively Received Goods Delivered to Third Parties Twenty Days Before Bankruptcy; 503(b)(9) Claim Reclassified
In re ADI Liquidation, Inc., No. 14-12092 (KJC), 2017 WL 2712287 (Bankr. D. Del. June 22, 2017), aff’d Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. v. AW Liquidation, Inc. (In re ADI Liquidation, Inc.), No. 17-903 (CFC), 2019 WL 211528 (D. Del. Jan. 16, 2019)
In this Opinion, the Delaware Bankruptcy Court examined whether a debtor, formerly known as Associated Wholesalers, Inc. (“AWI”), constructively received goods that were ordered by and delivered to its customers from claimant, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. (“BBU”) during the twenty day period prior to AWI’s petition date (the “Twenty Day Goods”). While the goods were never in AWI’s physical… Read More
Set Off of Administrative Claim Against Preference Liability is Permissible and Not a “Disguised New Value Defense”
Official Comm. of Unsecured Creditors of Quantum Foods, LLC v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (In re Quantum Foods, LLC), No. 15-50254 (KJC), 2016 WL 4011727 (Bankr. D. Del. July 25, 2016)
In this Opinion, the Delaware Bankruptcy Court addressed a question that remained in the wake of the Third Circuit’s Opinion in Friedman’s: although post-petition goods and services may not be counted as subsequent new value under section 547(c)(4) of the Bankruptcy Code, may they still be used to offset alleged preference liability? See Friedman’s Liquidating Tr. v. Roth Staffing Co., LP (In re Friedman’s Inc.), 738… Read More
Bankruptcy Court Sidesteps Corporate Governance Issue, Deciding Motion to Dismiss Chapter 11 Cases on Other Grounds
In re Intervention Energy Holdings, LLC, No. 16-11247 (KJC), 2016 WL 3185576 (Bankr. D. Del. June 3, 2016)
In this Opinion, Judge Kevin J. Carey denies a secured creditor and common member’s motion to dismiss the Chapter 11 cases of two Delaware limited liability companies for lack of corporate authority, siding with other federal courts that have “consistently refused to enforce waivers of federal bankruptcy rights.” Op. at *10. In doing so, the Court declines “the parties’ invitation to decide what may well be a question of first impression of state law (i.e., determining the scope of LLC… Read More
Court Dismisses Involuntary Chapter 11 Case on Findings of Bad Faith and Failure to Meet Standards under Section 303
In re Metrogate, LLC, No. 15-12593 (KJC), 2016 WL 3150177 (Bankr. D. Del. May 26, 2016), (with note regarding In re Diamondhead Casino Corp., No. 15-11647 (LSS), 2016 WL 3284674 (Bankr. D. Del. June 7, 2016))
In this Opinion, the Delaware Bankruptcy Court dismissed an involuntary chapter 11 case against Metrogate, LLC f/k/a Advance Realty Group, LLC (“Metrogate”) on findings that it failed to meet the standards under section 303 of the Bankruptcy Code and was filed in bad faith. Judge Kevin J. Carey’s ruling clarified statutory requirements under section 303 and confirmed bad faith as an independent ground… Read More
Absent Other Unusual Factors, Evidence of Timing Range May Be Enough to Satisfy Burden Under Section 547(c)(2)(A)
Forman v. Moran Towing Corp. (In re AES Thames, LLC), Case No. 13-50395 (KJC), 2016 WL 853091 (Bankr. D. Del. Mar. 3, 2016)
In this Memorandum, evidence that payments made during the preference period fell within historical ranges was enough for Judge Kevin Carey to rule that the timing was “subjectively” ordinary under section 547(c)(2)(A) of the Bankruptcy Code, even though the average timing compared unfavorably to the parties’ historical dealings. The Court’s analysis sheds light on the “somewhat unique circumstances” in which a court may emphasize the importance of the range of payment timing for purposes of… Read More
Unsecured Creditor Not Entitled to Postpetition Attorney’s Fees Provided For Under Enforceable Prepetition Contract
In re Tribune Media Co., No. 08-13141 (KJC), 2015 WL 7307305 (Bankr. D. Del. Nov. 19, 2015)
This Memorandum from the Honorable Kevin J. Carey of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court arose from a dispute over a $30 million unsecured claim for postpetition attorney’s fees and costs (the “Fee Claim”) submitted by an indenture trustee (the “Indenture Trustee”) for certain unsecured subordinated securities issued prepetition by debtor Tribune Company. According to the Indenture Trustee, its Fee Claim should be allowed under the express terms of the governing indenture as well as the United States Supreme Court decision Travelers Casualty & Surety Company… Read More
Prepetition Claim of Third Party Service Provider for Fringe Benefits Provided to Debtors’ Employees Entitled to Priority Treatment Under Section 507(a)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code
In re Tropicana Entm’t, LLC, No. 08-10856 (KJC), 2015 WL 6112064 (Bankr. D. Del. Oct. 14, 2015)
In a recent post-confirmation dispute arising in the chapter 11 bankruptcy cases of Tropicana Entertainment, LLC and its related entities (collectively, the “Debtors”), the Honorable Kevin J. Carey was faced with a question over which courts are split—whether a prepetition claim asserted by a third party service provider of employee benefits is entitled to priority under section 507(a)(5) of the Bankruptcy Code. The answer of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court was yes, such a claim may receive priority treatment pursuant to such section… Read More
The Baha Mar Debtors Sent Packing Back To The Bahamas
In re Northshore Mainland Servs., Inc., 2015 WL 5444707, Case No. 15-11402 (KJC), — B.R. —- (Bankr. D. Del. Sept. 15, 2015)
In His Honor’s most recent Memorandum, Judge Carey dismissed the chapter 11 cases of the Baha Mar debtors (the “Debtors”), except as to one—Northshore Mainland Services, Inc, which is a Delaware corporation with operations in the United States. Despite the Court’s acknowledgment of the significant benefits to all parties in proceeding with a restructuring under chapter 11, the Court appeared constrained to rule that all parties would be best served by dismissal under Bankruptcy Code section… Read More
Delaware Bankruptcy Court Holds That Discharge Does Not Affect Additional Insured’s Rights to Pursue Indemnification Against Debtors’ Insurer
In re SelectBuild Illinios, LLC, Case No. 09-12085 (KJC), 2015 WL 3452542 (Bankr. D. Del. May 28, 2015)
The Delaware Bankruptcy Court recently denied a Motion to Enforce a Permanent Injunction against a contract counterparty, The Ryland Group, Inc. d/b/a Ryland Homes (“Ryland”), and held that Ryland could seek indemnification as an additional insured from the Reorganized Debtors’ insurer, ACE American Insurance Company (“ACE”).
By way of background, Ryland and debtor SelectBuild Illinois, LLC (“SelectBuild”) entered into a construction contract whereby SelectBuild would perform work as a subcontractor for Ryland. The contract required SelectBuild to indemnify Ryland in certain circumstances… Read More