Tenth Circuit Upholds Recharacterization of Debt to Equity

While not expressly authorized by the Bankruptcy Code, it is generally well-established that a bankruptcy court, as a court of equity, is not bound by a party’s characterization of a transaction and, instead, may recharacterize the nature of the transaction, acknowledging the economic realities involved.  The prime example occurs in instances where an insider purports to loan money to a […]

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Ninth Circuit Limits Bankruptcy Jurisdiction in Fraudulent Conveyance Cases

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently held that a bankruptcy judge does not have jurisdictional authority to enter a final judgment in a fraudulent conveyance action against a non-claimant to a bankruptcy estate.  See Executive Benefits Insurance Agency v. Arkison (In re Bellingham Insurance Agency, Inc.), No. 11-35162 (9th Cir. Dec. 4, 2012).   Such […]

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Texas District Court Affirms Fees in Stellar Case

In an appeal in ASARCO LLC’s chapter 11 bankruptcy case, pending in the Southern District of Texas, the U.S. District Court recently affirmed the Bankruptcy Court’s award of a fee enhancement, a.k.a. a fee bump, to ASARCO‘s bankruptcy counsel, which had obtained “extremely favorable” results for the Debtor and its creditors.  See ASARCO LLC v. Baker Botts, L.L.P., Case No. 2:11-CV-290 (S.D.T.X. […]

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Third Circuit Clarifies How to Value Collateral

In In re Heritage Highgate, Inc., No. 11-1889 (3d Cir. March 20, 2012), the Third Circuit Court of Appeals recently determined how bankruptcy courts should value collateral retained by a chapter 11 debtor in order to establish the amount of the creditor’s secured claim pursuant to section 506(a) of the Bankruptcy Code.  In doing so, the […]

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