'My Claim Is What?'
October 01, 2003
For many years, the holder of a stock redemption claim against a company in bankruptcy faced almost certain demotion to the class of interest holders. No matter how long ago the stock redemption occurred, no matter the solvency of the company, and no matter how innocent the holder appeared, any claim for unpaid installments due under a stock redemption agreement was sent to the back of the line. In 1996, the Supreme Court issued a decision that rekindled hope for stock redemption claimants; recent case law, unfortunately, has failed to maintain a uniform front on this issue.
Media Tips for Bankruptcy Lawyers
October 01, 2003
Is it safe to put your reputation in the hands of a reporter you do not know and have no reason to trust? Yes, but only if you follow the rules. Whether you are on the debtor or creditor side, following the rules will have you quoted often in the media, because reporters will know you are a good source for their bankruptcy-related stories.
The Wagoner Doctrine Keeps Rolling
October 01, 2003
A truism of bankruptcy is that assets available to pay creditors are few and far between. Among them are causes of action, and thus both debtors and trustees rightly hoard the right to sue third parties. Does the debtor or trustee have standing to sue when the entity brought the harm upon itself? Generally, the answer is no, and thus in this present environment of corporate misdeeds and scandals, litigation against outsiders is foreclosed by the debtor's own misfeasance.
Foreign Debtors in Chapter 11
September 25, 2003
Last month's article concluded with 'Surviving a Motion to Dismiss or Suspend,' which discussed the exact boundaries of international comity, and explained that these boundaries are not clear. Therefore, a court's decision on a motion to dismiss or suspend a non-U.S. debtor's bankruptcy case under section 305(a)(2) (which invokes the 304(c) factors) will depend heavily on the case's specific facts.
Test Your Expertise ' DIP Financing
September 25, 2003
For the reader who has been involved in more debtor-in-possession(DIP) financings than he or she can remember, please treat this article as the opportunity to impress yourself with just how much you know about it. Check off each category if you can truthfully say 'I knew that!' A sum of eight or more checks makes you a big dipper.
Lien Creation and Lien Perfection: What's the Difference?
September 23, 2003
It is generally understood that materialmen, contractors, subcontractors and others (collectively called 'contractors') who perform labor or furnish materials on construction projects are entitled under state law to assert a mechanics' lien against real property for the value of the labor or materials they provide. What is less clear is the effect of a bankruptcy petition that is filed before the contractor has taken the necessary steps to create or perfect its rights.
Sigh of Relief: Derivative Actions Safe for Now
September 23, 2003
Much to the relief of many in the Third Circuit, its long-awaited en banc ruling in the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of <i>Cybergenics Corp. v. Chinery</i>, (<i>en banc</i>) No. 01-3805 (May 29, 2003) disagreed with the decision of one of its panels and upheld the right of parties other than a debtor or trustee to pursue avoidance actions under the Bankruptcy Code on a derivative basis. In doing so, the court supported the well-established practice allowing these derivative actions, and eschewed a slavish plain-language interpretation of Section 544(b) in favor of a broader, multi-section reading.
Releasing the Albatross
September 01, 2003
In the context of large Chapter 11 cases, the resolution of disputed claims can often be the proverbial albatross around the neck of the debtor, delaying the closing of the debtor's case to the detriment of the debtor's estate.
