Fifth Circuit Restricts Double Recovery in Fraudulent Transfer Action

The laws of preferential and fraudulent transfers under the Bankruptcy Code can often seem theoretical and formulaic. When certain boxes are checked, it appears, at first blush, that a pre-bankruptcy transfer can be avoided, regardless of any intent or surrounding circumstances. However, in Whitlock v. Lowe (In re Curtis DeBerry), Case No. 18-50335 (5th Cir. […]

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New Jersey District Court Holds that No Evidentiary Hearing is Necessary to Appoint Chapter 11 Trustee

In MicroBilt Corporation v. Ranger Specialty Income Fund, L.P. et al. (In re Princeton Alternative Income Fund, LP), Case No. 3:18-CV-16557 (D.N.J. Nov. 27, 2019), the District Court for the District of New Jersey recently affirmed a bankruptcy court’s decision to appoint a chapter 11 trustee, without conducting a traditional evidentiary hearing.  The holding reinforces that […]

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5th Circuit Upholds Subordination of Deemed Dividends Under Section 510(b)

In In re Linn Energy, LLC, 2019 WL 4149481 (5th Cir. Sept. 3, 2019), the Fifth Circuit recently reminded us that if a debt instrument looks like a security and quacks like a security, it likely is a security for purposes of subordination under section 510(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.  The implications of characterizing an instrument […]

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SCOTUS Determines Trademark Licensee’s Rights Survive Rejection by Debtor in Bankruptcy

A debtor has the right to assume or reject any executory contract or unexpired lease through its bankruptcy, pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code. A trademark license is an executory contract that is subject to assumption or rejection if performance remains due from both parties to the contract. A debtor will reject a trademark license if […]

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“Special Circumstances” did not Save a 12 Year Old Involuntary Case

In Popular Auto, Inc. v. Reyes-Colon (In re Reyes-Colon), Nos. 17-1971, 17-1972, 2019 WL 1785039 (1st Cir. April 24, 2019), the First Circuit recently ruled that “special circumstances” does not authorize a bankruptcy court to use its equitable powers to contravene the numerosity requirement for an involuntary petition under section 303(b)(1) of the Code.  This twelve year dispute did not […]

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Delaware Court Holds Environmental Claim of Unknown Claimant Discharged by Chapter 11 Plan

Addressing unknown future claims in a chapter 11 bankruptcy involves two competing concerns: (a) providing a debtor with a fresh start and (b) providing an unwitting claimant with due process. These competing concerns clash when a debtor seeks to confirm its plan of reorganization, which is intended to provide remedies to all the debtor’s creditors […]

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