Joshua Jordan was the CEO of Prehired LLC (“Prehired”), a “members-only workforce accelerator.” In December 2023, Jordan logged into Prehired’s Wells Fargo bank account online. He transferred $74,000 to the account of another...more
The filing of an appeal in federal court generally divests the lower court of jurisdiction. This rule of appellate jurisdiction applies both to appeals from a district court to a court of appeals and from a bankruptcy court...more
While the bankruptcy world’s eyes are locked on the genetic code up for auction in 23andMe’s chapter 11 proceedings, we are also focused on a more old fashioned asset: New York City real estate. 19 East 75th Street (the...more
The U.S. bankruptcy system is generally an efficient mechanism for companies and individuals seeking to restructure their debts and obtain a fresh start. However, the effectiveness of the bankruptcy system relies on integrity...more
The Bankruptcy Code provides immediate and automatic protection to a debtor upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition, staying legal claims and debt collection efforts against a debtor—subject to certain exceptions. See 11...more
Section 548 of the bankruptcy code authorizes a trustee, debtor, or other appropriate party to avoid actual and constructive fraudulent transfers that occurred prepetition. In order to prove that a transfer was an actual...more
At the motion to dismiss stage, courts usually won’t consider affirmative defenses. This issue arose recently in a preferential transfer case, where a defendant sought to dismiss a complaint by arguing it was a mere conduit,...more
When an involuntary bankruptcy petition is dismissed, section 303(i) of the Bankruptcy Code permits a debtor to seek reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs from the petitioners, and, if the petition was filed in bad faith,...more
An appeals court has issued an insightful decision on the availability of damages when an involuntary bankruptcy petition is filed in bad faith. See Stursberg v. Morrison Sund PLLC, No. 23-1186, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 20286...more
Under federal law, a debtor may be criminally prosecuted for various kinds of misconduct in connection with a bankruptcy case, including concealing assets, falsifying information, embezzlement, or bribery. See 18 U.S.C. §§...more
8/27/2024
/ Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Bribery ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Corporate Misconduct ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Debtors ,
Embezzlement ,
Falsified Documents ,
Fraudulent Concealment ,
Indictments
In Harrington v. Purdue Pharma L.P., 144 S. Ct. 2071 (2024) (“Purdue”), the Supreme Court held that the Bankruptcy Code does not authorize nonconsensual releases of nondebtors as part of a chapter 11 plan. The Court narrowly...more
8/1/2024
/ Automatic Stay ,
Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Chapter 11 ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Harrington v Purdue Pharma L P ,
Indemnification Clauses ,
Non-Debtors ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Purdue Pharma ,
SCOTUS
At a hearing in mid-March, the Delaware bankruptcy court held Camshaft Capital Fund, LP, Camshaft Capital Advisors, LLC, Camshaft Capital Management (collectively, “Camshaft”) and William Cameron Morton, principal of...more
To file bankruptcy in the U.S., a debtor must reside in, have a domicile or a place of business in, or have property in the United States. 11 U.S.C. § 109(a). In cross border chapter 15 cases, courts have considered whether...more
4/26/2024
/ Appeals ,
Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Chapter 15 ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Cross-Border ,
Debtors ,
Domicile ,
Foreign Bankruptcies ,
Insolvency ,
Jurisdiction ,
UK
In 2019, Congress enacted the Small Business Reorganization Act, which created subchapter V within chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Congress’ intent was to create a more cost-efficient and streamlined restructuring process...more
We have previously blogged about the section 546(e) defense to a trustee’s avoidance powers under the Bankruptcy Code. A trustee has broad powers to set aside certain transfers made by debtors before bankruptcy. See 11 U.S.C....more
Publicly, Diamond Finance Co. (“Diamond”) provided car loans to individuals with less-than-stellar credit. While Diamond did have “some actual business,” its purpose “quickly became a front to lure unsuspecting investors.”...more
The Fifth Circuit recently ruled that a debtor can sell a preferential transfer action under Bankruptcy Code section 363 to a purchaser that is not a representative of the bankruptcy estate. Briar Cap. Working Fund Cap.,...more
We have previously blogged about the section 546(e) defense to a trustee’s avoidance powers under the Bankruptcy Code. A trustee has broad powers to set aside certain transfers made by debtors before bankruptcy. See 11...more
After years of litigation involving state, federal, Irish, and (to a lesser extent) Swiss law; transfers of numerous assets, including Ireland’s priciest-personal residence; a jury trial; and extensive post-trial briefing,...more
Federal law assigns to U.S. district courts original jurisdiction over all cases under Title 11 (the Bankruptcy Code) and all civil proceedings arising under Title 11 or arising in or relating to Title 11. See 28 U.S.C. §...more
Section 544(b)(1) of the Bankruptcy Code enables a trustee to step into the shoes of a creditor and avoid a transfer “of an interest of the debtor in property” that an unsecured creditor could avoid under applicable state...more
7/31/2023
/ Appeals ,
Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Bankruptcy Trustees ,
Chapter 7 ,
Class Action ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Creditors ,
Debtors ,
Fraudulent Transfers ,
Sovereign Immunity ,
Trustees
Sometimes we blog about cases with unusual fact patterns. The cases don’t stand for any overriding legal principle. They might not have application beyond the parties to them. But they can make for good reading, giving...more
When he was appointed by the Eleventh Circuit, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Peter D. Russin probably did not expect to have to decide who has rights to the Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok handles associated with social-media-forward...more
6/27/2023
/ Chapter 11 ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Corporate Restructuring ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Inventions ,
Marketing ,
Personal Brands ,
Social Media ,
Social Selling ,
Summary Judgment ,
Vital Pharmaceuticals
On May 8, cryptocurrency platform Bittrex filed for chapter 11 in Delaware. Bittrex’s first day filings emphasize that, unlike many other crypto filings over the past year, this case is not a “free fall” bankruptcy. In...more
This post is about a junkyard, hogs getting slaughtered, and a bankruptcy judge poised to sanction a creditor and her counsel. The message from the case to would-be claimants in other cases is simple: do not “overreach.” In...more