In re Millennium Lab Holdings II, LLC
In re Millennium Lab Holdings II, LLC
Opinion of the Court
Re: D.I.: 312, 313, 325, 326, 327, 328, 330, 339, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 367
MEMORANDUM
This matter is before the Court on the motion (the “Rule 2004 Motion” or “Motion”)
Background
The Debtors are in the business of providing laboratory-based diagnostic testing. In April 2014, the Debtors borrowed approximately $1.8 billion
On November 10, 2015, the Debtors filed petitions for chapter 11 relief together
On December 14, 2015, an order confirming the Plan was entered. As anticipated, the Plan provided for the creation of the two trusts: the Millennium Corporate Claim Trust (the “Corporate Trust”) and the Millennium Lender Claim Trust (the “Lender Trust,” and collectively with the Corporate Trust, the “Trusts”). The Corporate Trust holds the Debtors’ retained claims, and the Lender Trust holds claims contributed by the Consenting Lenders.
On December 21, 2015, Mr. Kirschner (the “Trustee”) was appointed as the trustee of both Trusts. On April 6, 2016, the Trustee filed the Rule 2004 Motion seeking authority to examine the Third Parties on behalf of both the Corporate Trust and the Lender Trust. The Trustee seeks to investigate claims the Trusts may have against the Third Parties related to the Debtors’ financial collapse. In particular, the Trustee is seeking to investigate (i) the banks that served as arrangers and/or administrative agents under the 2014 Credit Agreement (i.e. J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.; J.P. Morgan Securities LLC; Citibank Global Markets Inc.; BMO Capital Markets Corp.; Bank of Montreal
On April 22, 2016, the Objectors filed their Objections to the Rule 2004 Motion. The Objectors generally assert that: (i) the Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction over the post-confirmation Rule 2004 Motion and (ii) the information requested in the Rule 2004 Motion either falls outside of the scope of Rule 2004 or is overly broad. Separately, KPMG argues that any discovery disputes between KPMG and the Debtors are governed by the arbitration clause contained in the prepetition engagement agreement between KPMG and the Debtors dated July 10, 2015 (the “KPMG Engagement Agreement”).
On May 4, 2016, the Court held an evidentiary hearing on the Rule 2004 Motion.
Following the hearing, the parties provided limited supplemental briefing.
Discussion
I. Subject Matter Jurisdiction
The Court has authority to determine whether it has subject matter jurisdiction over this Motion.
Bankruptcy courts derive subject matter jurisdiction from federal statute, rather than Article III of the constitution.
Cases falling under the first three categories are typically referred to as core proceedings, whereas proceedings “related to” a case under title 11 are designated as non-core proceedings.
“Cases under title 11” refers to the bankruptcy petition itself.
A proceeding ‘arises under’ title 11 if “the Bankruptcy Code creates the cause of action or provides the substantive right invoked.”
A proceeding ‘arises in’ title 11 if the proceeding “by its nature, and not the particular factual circumstance, could arise only in the context of a bankruptcy case.”
Whether a proceeding ‘relates to’ a bankruptcy case varies depending on whether the proceeding is commenced pre or post confirmation. Pre-confirmation, a proceeding ‘relates to’ a bankruptcy case if “the outcome of that proceeding could conceivably have any effect on the estate being administered in bankruptcy.”
Both the Trustee, in his initial submission, and therefore the Objectors, in their Objections, argue that the Rule 2004 Motion should be analyzed in the context of the “related to” jurisdictional analysis laid out in Resorts. The Objectors argue that the Rule 2004 Motion does not have the mandated close nexus to the bankruptcy plan or proceeding, and thus the Court does not have bankruptcy court jurisdiction over the matter. The Court disagrees.
The “related to” analysis proposed by the Objectors is unsuitable for a Rule 2004 motion. Multiple courts have held that Rule 2004 is a rule of bankruptcy procedure that does not exist “independent of a bankruptcy environment.”
The fact that this Rule 2004 Motion was filed post-confirmation does not alter this conclusion. Four years after Resorts, the Third Circuit in Seven Fields explored post-confirmation jurisdiction in the context of “arising in” jurisdiction. In Seven Fields, the court held that once the bankruptcy court determines that it has “arising in” jurisdiction over a matter, the analysis is complete.
After considering the parties’ arguments, we will affirm the order of the district court and thus, in effect, the order of the bankruptcy court as we conclude that the bankruptcy court had core jurisdiction in this case. The bank*623 ruptcy and district courts were not required to address the “close nexus” test because the test was not applicable in this “arising in” proceeding. As we discussed in Resorts, the “close nexus” standard only applies for the purposes of determining whether a federal court has jurisdiction over a non-core “related to” proceeding in the post-confirmation context. Appellants seem to believe that any time a party files a case post-confirmation, the “close nexus” test is triggered. This is plainly not the case. While courts may choose to rely on “related to” jurisdiction because it is the broadest category of federal bankruptcy jurisdiction when examining their own jurisdiction, it certainly is not incumbent upon them to do so, because, as occurred here, a party may argue and a court may decide that a proceeding falls within one of the narrower categories of jurisdiction, such as “arising in” jurisdiction, in which case “related to” jurisdiction and the corresponding “close nexus” test are not implicated.39
The court in Seven Fields further explained that in contrast to cases based on “related to” jurisdiction, “eases that ‘aris[e] in’ the bankruptcy case must satisfy a stringent standard in which the matter must have an intimate connection with the bankruptcy proceedings, and thus the stage at which the complaint is filed is not determinative.”
Notwithstanding this straightforward analysis, the Objectors argue that the Court, in conducting its post-confirmation jurisdictional analysis, should not look at the Rule 2004 Motion itself, but rather should look through the Motion to the underlying causes of actions that the Trustee may bring based on information gathered from his investigations. The Objectors contend that because the causes of action that will follow an investigation are non-core and do not have the requisite “close nexus” to the bankruptcy proceeding, the Court does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this Rule 2004 Motion.
The Court is not persuaded that the cases cited by the Objectors dictate a dif
Second, while some of the decisions offered by the Objectors are couched in a jurisdictional framework, a careful reading demonstrates that their analyses truly turns on whether the requested examinations comport with the scope of Rule 2004, rather than whether the court has jurisdiction over the motions. So, for example, in In re Express One International, Inc., the court evaluated whether the party requesting the Rule 2004 examinations had demonstrated good cause for the 2004 examinations, not whether the court had jurisdiction to decide the Rule 2004 motion.
Finally, in In re Cinderella Clothing Industries, the bankruptcy court did look through the Rule 2004 request to the potential causes of action that would stem from an investigation in order to determine whether the court should grant the Rule 2004 motion.
None of these cases convince the Court that in order to determine whether it has
The Objectors’ final challenge to subject matter jurisdiction also fails. Certain of the Objectors argue that the Plan does not contain the requisite reservation of jurisdiction language to provide the Court with jurisdiction over the Motion.
In re Insilco is instructive.
Having dealt with all of the objections to the Court’s jurisdiction, the Court concludes that it has subject matter jurisdiction over the Rule 2004 Motion.
II. Scope of the Trustee’s Rule 2004 Motion
Rule 2004 provides that “[o]n motion of any. party in interest, the court may order
Rule. 2004 further provides that:
[t]he examination of an entity under this rule or of the debtor under § 343 of the Code may relate only to the acts, conduct, or property or to the liabilities and financial condition of the debtor, or to any matter which may affect the administration of the debtor’s estate, or to the debtor’s right to a discharge. In ... a reorganization case under chapter 11 of the Code ... the examination may also relate to the operation of any business and the desirability of its continuance, the source of any money or property acquired or to be acquired by the debtor for purposes of consummating a plan and the consideration given or offered therefor, and any other matter relevant to the case or to the formulation of a plan.56
The purpose of a Rule 2004 examination is to “discover the nature and extent of the bankruptcy estate” in order to distribute debtor’s assets for the benefit of its creditors.
A Rule 2004 examination is not a deposition; it starves a different purpose and is governed by different procedural rules.
Nevertheless, parties do not have an absolute right to Rule 2004 examinations—the granting of a Rule 2004 examination is dependent on the discretion of the court.
The Rule 2004 Motion on behalf of the Corporate Trust
The Trustee seeks to conduct an investigation on behalf of the Corporate Trust in order to explore prepetition causes of action the Debtors may have against the Third Parties. In particular, the Trustee states that he seeks document production bearing upon the Debtors’ financial collapse and chapter 11 filing. He argues that the facts as he knows them to date create “a strong suspicion of wrongdoing” in connection with the 2014 Credit Agreement, which caused creditors substantial harm.
The Objectors argue that the Trustee has failed to demonstrate the requisite good cause to warrant the requested Rule 2004 examinations,
The party seeking to conduct a 2004 examination has the burden of showing good cause for the examination which it seeks.
The Court will defer on ruling on the breadth of the specific requests until the parties meet and confer to see whether the parties can resolve their differences. The Trustee is encouraged to avoid duplicative requests, both with respect to documents already in the Trustee’s possession and in terms of targeting document requests to the most relevant Third Party(ies).
The Rule 2004 Motion on behalf of the Lender Trust
The Trustee’s request to use Rule 2004 to investigate claims held by the Lender Trust is not within the scope or purpose of Rule 2004. Although the Lender Trust was established pursuant to the Plan, it is not comprised of debtor claims. Rather, the Consenting Lenders voluntarily contributed their claims to the Lender Trust (presumably to more effectively prosecute the claims), and those Consenting Lenders, not all claimants in Class 2, will be the beneficiaries of any recovery from that trust.
An investigation into the existence of the Consenting Lenders’ claims against non-debtor Third Parties does not fall within the scope or purpose of Rule 2004 as it is not an investigation into the “property or to the liabilities and financial condition of the debtor,”
As for movants’ desire to identify third parties [in addition to the debtor] who may also be liable to them, that, quite simply is neither this court’s concern nor the purpose of Rule 2004. No matter how artfully one tries to disguise the requested examinations, by dressing them up in the robes of bankruptcy administration, their real purpose is to identify another entity movants might be. able to collect from, and whether those efforts would have any impact on the bankruptcy estate is of no real concern to .them. Movants understandably want to [sic] their money, but that does not justify turning a tool that has been developed to efficiently administer bankruptcy estates into a private collection device for creditors. Movants have other tools and other fora which they can use to investigate their rights against third parties and to collect the amounts they are owed. They should use them and not Rule 2004.”78
Does the Trustee’s role as trustees for both the Corporate Trust and the Lender Trust compel a different result?
The Court recognizes that, as of now, the same individual serves as trustee for both Trusts. The Court further recognizes that, as currently stylized, the document requests proposed by the Trustee are propounded on behalf of both the Corporate Trust and the Lender Trust. Thus, even as the Court denies the Trustee’s request for Rule 2004 examinations with respect to the Lender Trust, the granting of the Trustee’s request for Rule 2004 examinations with respect to the Corporate Trust effectively provides the Trustee with the information sought in both of his capacities. While Objectors did not raise this concern in exactly this context, the Court has considered this issue.
Research did not reveal a reported case directly on point. But, multiple courts have held that the possible use of information obtained through a Rule 2004 examination in collateral litigation pending in a different forum is not sufficient reason to deny an examination if it is not sought for the purpose of circumventing the federal rules of civil or bankruptcy procedure.
III. Arbitration Clause in the KPMG Engagement Agreement
Finally, KPMG argues that, as the prepetition Engagement Agreement between the Debtors and KPMG contains an arbitration clause, the Trustee’s request to obtain information from KPMG should be governed by certain arbitration discovery rules, rather than by Rule 2004.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that the Federal Arbitration Act requires courts to “rigorously enforce agreements to arbitrate.”
The arbitration clause in the KPMG Engagement Agreement provides that “[a]ny dispute or claim between the parties shall be submitted first to nonbinding mediation and if mediation is not successful within 90 days after the issuance of one of the parties of a request for mediation then to binding arbitration.”
New Century TRS Holdings, Inc., decided by Judge Carey, is illustrative.
Similarly compelling is the decision in In re Friedman’s.
[the debtor] has not identified a specific cause of action that is the source of its request for Rule 2004 examination ... Although the investigations may reveal that there is a claim directly against E & Y [the accounting firm] that can be asserted by the estate, that determination has not yet been made and has not been submitted to mediation or arbitration. Accordingly, the arbitration clause and dispute resolution procedures simply have not been triggered because there is no identifiable, discrete dispute between the parties that could be argued to control the scope of discovery.96
The rationale in In re Daisytek, Inc., cited by KPMG, is unpersuasive in this instance.
The Court finds that the arbitration clause in the KPMG Engagement Agreement does not apply to this Rule 2004 Motion.
Conclusion
The Court has subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate this post-confirmation Rule 2004 Motion. The Trustee has demonstrated good cause with respect to the
. Motion of the Plan Trustee for Authority to Take Targeted Discovery, Pursuant to the Debtors' Confirmed Plan or Reorganization, Confirmation Order, Bankruptcy Code Section 105(a)
. The Trustee requests document production from: (a) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A; (b) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC; (c) Citibank Global Markets Inc,; (d) BMO Capital Markets Coip.; (e) Bank of Montreal; (f) Sun-Trust Bank; (g) Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; and (h) KPMG LLP,
. See Objection of JPMorgan Chase Bank, M.A., J.P, Morgan Securities LLC, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP to the Motion of the Plan Trustee for Authority to Take Discovery Under Rule 2004 (the "JP Morgan Objection”) [D.I. 325]; Objection of SunTmst Bank to the Motion of the Plan Trustee for Authority to Take Discovery Under Bankruptcy Rule 2004 (the "SunTrust Objection”) [D.I. 326]; Objection of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to the Motion of the Plan Tmstee for Authority to Take Discovery Under Rule 2004 (the "Citigroup Objection”) [D.I. 327]; Objection to Motion of the Plan Tmstee for Authority to Take Targeted Discovery, Pursuant to the Debtors' Confirmed Plan of Reorganization, Confirmation Order, Bankmptcy Code Sections 105(a) and Bankmptcy Rule 2004 (the "BMO Objection") [D,I. 328]; KPMG LLP's Objections to the Plan Trusts’ Motion to take Targeted Discovery, Pursuant to the Debtor’s [sic] Confirmed Plan of Reorganization, Confirmation Order, Bankruptcy Code Section 105(a) and Bankmptcy Rule 2004 (the "KPMG Objection”) [D.I. 330]; Supplemental Objection of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP to the Motion of the Plan Tmstee for Authority to Take Discovery Under Rule 2004 (the "JP Morgan Supplemental Objection”) [D.I. No. 358]; Joinder of Citigroup Global Markets Inc. to the "Supplemental Objection of JPMorgan Chase Bank, M.A., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP to the Motion of the Plan Tmstee for Authority to Take Discovery Under Rule 2004” (the "Citigroup Supplemental Objection”) [D.I. 359]; KPMG LLP’s Supplemental Objections to the Plan Trusts ’ Motion to Take Targeted Discovery (the “KPMG Supplemental Objection”) [D.I, 360]; Supplemental Objection of SunTmst Bank to the Motion of the Litigation Tmstee for Authority to Take Discovery Under Bankmptcy Rule 2004 (the "Sun-Trust Supplemental Objection”) [D.I. 361]; Joinder of the BMO Entities in the Supplemental Objection Filed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. to Plan Tmstee for Authority to Take Targeted Discovery, Pursuant to the Debtors' Confirmed Plan or Reorganization, Confirmation Order, Bankmptcy Code Section 105(a) and Bankmptcy Rule 2004 (the "BMO Supplemental Objection") [D.I. 362] (each, an "Objection,” and collectively, the "Objections”).
. The Court is writing for the parties. A detailed background of the Debtors, their business, the. Plan and the bankruptcy case is found in In re Millennium Lab Holdings II, LLC, 543 B.R. 703 (Bankr. D. Del. 2016), which supplements the background discussion herein.
. The 2014 Credit Agreement permitted borrowings up to $1,825,000,000. See Trustee Ex. 2. The Trustee states that the amount of indebtedness incurred pursuant to the 2014 Credit Agreement was $1,8 billion. See Rule 2004 Motion at ¶ 2.
. Amended Prepackaged Joint Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization of Millennium Lab Holdings II, LLC [D.I. No. 182],
. Under the Plan, the term "Excluded Parties” means any party not expressly identified as one of the Released Parties, or as a Related Party of such Released Parly, including but not limited to (a) Bank of Montreal, (b) BMO Capital Markets, (c) Citibank Global Markets Inc., (d) Citibank, N.A., (e) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, (f) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., in its individual corporate capacity and in its capacity as Prior Administrative Agent, (g) KPMG LLP, (h) Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (including its partners and other attorneys), (i) Suntrust Bank, and (j) any affiliates or Related Parties of the foregoing parties listed in (a) through (i). Although not specifically listed in this definition, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP falls within the definition of Excluded Parties,
. In re Millennium Lab Holdings II, LLC, 543 B.R. at 706; see also Plan Confirmation Court Decision Tr. 12:4-5, Dec. 11, 2015 [D.I. 206],
. Capitalized terms not defined herein are ascribed the meaning provided to them in the Plan.
. See Plan, Article V(F)(iii).
. See Plan, Article V(G)(iii).
. See Plan, Article V(F)(i), (ii); Plan, Article V(G)(i), (ii).
. The Trustee appears to refer to Bank of Montreal as an administrative agent or arranger. However, it is not evident to the Court that Bank of Montreal served in either of these roles with respect to the 2014 Credit Agreement.
. See KPMG Objection at ¶¶ 22-23 [D.I. 330],
. Plan Trustee’s Omnibus Reply to Objections to the Motion of the Plan Trustee for Authority to Take Targeted Discovery, Pursuant to the Debtors’ Confirmed Plan of Reorganization, Confirmation Order, Bankruptcy Code Sections 105(a) and Bankruptcy Rule 2004 (the "Trustee’s Omnibus Reply”) [D.I. 339].
. See Rule 2004 Mot. Hr’g Tr„ May 4, 2016 [D.I. 353],
. Declaration of Marc S. Kirschner in Support of the Trustee’s Motion to Take Targeted Discovery Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 2004 at ¶ 9 ("Kirschner Declaration”) [D.I. 313],
. See JP Morgan Supplemental Objection; Citigroup Supplemental Objection; KPMG Supplemental Objection; SunTrust Supplemental Objection; BMO Supplemental Objection; Plan Trustee’s Omnibus Supplemental Reply to Supplemental Objections of the Motion of the Plan Trustee for Authority to Take Targeted Discovery, Pursuant to the Debtors' Confirmed Plan of Reorganization, Confirmation Order, Bankruptcy Code Sections 105(a) and Bankruptcy Rule 2004 [D.I. 367],
. See, e.g., In re BWI Liquidating Corp., 437 B.R. 160, 163 (Bankr. D. Del. 2010) (citation omitted) (holding that a federal court has authority to determine whether it has subject matter jurisdiction over a dispute).
. See, e.g., In re Resorts Int’l, Inc., 372 F.3d 154, 161 (3d Cir. 2004) (citations omitted).
. In re McMahon Books, Inc., 173 B.R. 868, 873 (Bankr. D. Del. 1994).
. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 and 157; see also In re Resorts Int’l, Inc., 372 F.3d at 162.
. See In re Resorts Int’l, Inc., 372 F.3d at 162 (citation omitted).
. See In re New Century TRS Holdings, Inc., 505 B.R. 431, 440 (Bankr. D. Del.), appeal dismissed sub nom., In re New Century TRS Holdings Inc., 526 B.R. 562 (D. Del. 2014), aff’d sub nom., In re New Century TRS Holdings, Inc., 619 Fed.Appx. 46 (3d Cir. 2015) (citation omitted).
. Id. at 441 (citations omitted); see also 1 COLLIER ON BANKRUPTCY ¶ 3.01 [3](e)(i) (Alan N. Resnick & Henry J. Sommer eds., 16th ed. 2016).
. See 1 COLLIER ON BANKRUPTCY ¶ 3.01 [3](e)(i) (Alan N. Resnick & Henry J. Sommer eds., 16th ed. 2016).
. In re New Century TRS Holdings, Inc., 505 B.R. at 441 (citation omitted).
. Stoe v. Flaherty, 436 F.3d 209, 218 (3d Cir. 2006), as amended (Mar. 17, 2006) (citation omitted).
. Id. at 164 (citing Pacor, Inc. v. Higgins, 743 F.2d 984, 994 (3d Cir. 1984)).
. 1 COLLIER ON BANKRUPTCY ¶3.01 [3](e)(ii) (Alan N. Resnick & Henry J. Sommer eds., 16th ed. 2016).
. In re Resorts Int’l, Inc., 372 F.3d at 166— 67.
. Id. at 167, 168-69.
. See, e.g., JP Morgan Objection at ¶¶ 9-16; KPMG Objection at ¶¶ 8-14; JP Morgan Supplemental Objection ¶¶ 6-8; KPMG Supplemental Objection at ¶¶ 6-16.
. In re Refco, Inc., No. 06 Civ. 1888 (GEL), 2006 WL 1379616, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. May 16, 2006) (emphasis in original) (citation omitted); see also In re Recoton Corp., No. 04 Civ. 2466 (DLC), 2004 WL 1497570, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. July 1, 2004) (citation omitted) (Rule 2004 is "an action that has as its foundation the creation, recognition, or adjudication of rights which would not exist independent of a bankruptcy environment.”).
. In re New Century TRS Holdings, Inc., 505 B.R. at 441.
. A determination that the Court has “arising under” rather than “arising in” jurisdiction would not alter the conclusion that the Court has subject matter jurisdiction over the Motion,
. See In re Seven Fields Dev. Corp., 505 F.3d 237, 260 (3d Cir. 2007).
. Id. (citations omitted).
. Id. at 265 n.26 (alteration in original) (emphasis added).
. See, e.g., JP Morgan Objection at ¶¶ 9-16; KPMG Objection at ¶¶ 8-14; JP Morgan Supplemental Objection at ¶¶ 6-8; KPMG Supplemental Objection ¶¶ 4-5. While this argument was premised on “related to” jurisdiction, I will consider it nonetheless.
. In re Friedman’s, Inc., 356 B.R. 779, 784 (Bankr. S.D. Ga. 2005); see also In re Refco, Inc., 2006 WL 1379616, at *2 (citation omitted) (finding that while the claims that the committee may later bring may be non-core, "the investigation into the possible existence of those yet-to-be-determined claims [via a Rule 2004 examination] is purely a bankruptcy matter”); In re Table Talk, Inc., 51 B.R. 143, 146 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1985) (emphasis in original) (stating, in the mandatory withdrawal context, that even assuming arguendo that an antitrust suit, "when and if it is filed, would be subject to mandatory withdrawal” because it was non-core "it does not logically follow that a Rule 2004 examination would, at this time, be precluded by a future contingency.”); cf. In re SemCrude L.P., No 11-1174 (SLR), 2012 WL 5554819, at *3 (D. Del. Nov. 15, 2012) (affirming the bankruptcy court’s decision to look at the motion before it—a motion to enjoin—and not the subject matter of the underlying litigation pending in a dif
. See In re Express One Intern., Inc., 217 B.R. 215, 217 (Bankr. E.D. Tex. 1998).
. See In re Good Hope Refineries, Inc., 9 B.R. 421, 422-23 (Bankr. D. Mass 1981) (emphasis added) ("I am satisfied that this Court can properly exercise jurisdiction over actions brought by a Debtor after a Plan has been confirmed by the Court, even if such actions are against a post-filing creditor, with no claim against the estate.. .1 now turn to the issue of whether or not, under the facts of this case, the Court should exercise its jurisdiction.”).
. See In re Cinderella Clothing Indus., Inc., 93 B.R. 373, 378-79 (Bankr. E.D. Pa. 1998).
. See Id. The court did permit a Rule 2004 examination to the extent it was "limited in scope to the enforcement of the asset purchase agreement and the debtor’s ability to comply with the terms of the confirmed plan.” Id. at 379.
. Similarly, in In re Bames, the court found that because it would not have jurisdiction over the breach of contract claim that was the subject of the Rule 2004 examination, the Rule 2004 examination would be inappropriate, See In re Barnes, 365 B.R. 1, 4-6 (Bankr. D.D.C. 2007). But, Bames was not a post-confirmation chapter 11 case, rather, it was an individual chapter 7 case that had not yet been closed by the chapter 7 trustee. The
. See, e.g., KPMG Objection at ¶ 13 n.3; KPMG Supplemental Objection at ¶¶ 6-16.
. See, e.g., In re BWI Liquidating Corp., 437 B.R. at 166 (concluding that "a Plan must specifically describe a cause of action in order to retain 'related to’ jurisdiction.”); see also In re AstroPower Liquidating Trust, 335 B.R. 309, 325 (Bankr. D. Del. 2005) (citation omitted) ("The Court concludes that where, as here, the Plan specifically describes an action over which the Court had ‘related to' jurisdiction pre-confirmation and expressly provides for the retention of such jurisdiction to liquidate that claim for the benefit of the estate’s creditors, there is a sufficiently close nexus with the bankruptcy proceeding to support jurisdiction post-confirmation.”).
. In re BWI Liquidating Corp., 437 B.R. at 165 (citation omitted); see also In re Astro-Power Liquidating Trust, 335 B.R. at 325 (citation omitted).
. In re Seven Fields Dev. Corp., 505 F.3d at 265 n.26.
. See In re Insilco Techs., Inc., 330 B.R. 512 (Bankr. D. Del. 2005), aff’d, 394 B.R. 747 (D. Del. 2008).
. See Id. at 519-26.
. The Court takes no position on the need to review a plan for retention of jurisdiction language with respect to matters "related to” the bankruptcy case.
. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2004(a).
. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2004(b).
. In re Washington Mut., Inc., 408 B.R. 45, 50 (Bankr. D. Del. 2009) (citation omitted); see also In re Recoton Corp., 307 B.R, 751, 755 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y,2004) (citation omitted).
. In re Washington Mut., Inc,, 408 B.R. at 50 (quoting In re Enron Corp., 281 B.R. 836, 840 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2002)).
. In re E.W. Resort Dev. V, L.P., L.L.L.P., No. 10-10452 (BLS), 2014 WL 4537500, at *7 (Bankr. D. Del, Sept. 12, 2014) (citations omitted).
. See Simon v. FIA Card Services, 732 F.3d 259, 268 (3d Cir. 2013) (citing In re J & R Trucking, Inc., 431 B.R. 818, 821 (Bankr. N.D. Ind. 2010)).
. In re J & R Trucking, Inc., 431 B.R. at 821; In re Good Hope Refineries, Inc., 9 B.R. at 422 (citations omitted) (discussing Rule 205, the predecessor to Rule 2004); In re Washington Mut., Inc., 408 B.R. at 50 (citation omitted).
. See In re Bennett Funding Grp., Inc., 203 B.R. 24, 28 (Bankr. N.D.N.Y. 1996) (citations omitted),
. See Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2004(a) (emphasis added) ("On motion of any party in interest, the court may order the examination...”); see also In re Enron Corp., 281 B.R. at 840.
. In re Drexel Burnham Lambert Grp., Inc., 123 B.R. 702, 712 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 1991).
. In re J & R Trucking, Inc., 431 B.R. 818, 821 (Bankr. N.D. Ind. 2010) (quoting Norton Bankruptcy Rules, 2009-10 ed., Rule 2004 ed. comment (c), at 136-37).
. Rule 2004 Motion at ¶ 2.
. Claimants in Class 2 are holders of claims arising under or relating to the 2014 Credit Agreement. See Plan, Article III(C)(ii). Under the Plan, general unsecured claims are paid in full in case. See Plan, Article III(C).
. In re Washington Mut., Inc., 408 B.R. at 50 (citation omitted),
. See, e.g., JP Morgan Objection at ¶¶ 21-22; KPMG Objection at ¶¶ 15-21; SunTrust Objection at ¶ 2; BMO Objection at ¶¶ 36-41.
. See, e.g., JP Morgan Objection at ¶¶ 23-31; KPMG Objection at ¶¶ 18-21; Citigroup Objection pp. 1-2; SunTrust Objection at ¶3; BMO Objection at ¶¶ 26-35, 42-51.
. See In re Eagle-Picher Indus., Inc., 169 B.R. 130, 134 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 1994), as amended No, 1-91-10100, 1994 WL 731628 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio Aug. 2, 1994); see also In re Metiom, Inc., 318 B.R. 263, 268 (S.D.N.Y. 2004) (citation omitted); In re Countrywide Home Loans, Inc,, 384 B.R. 373, 393 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. 2008),
. In re Metiom, Inc., 318 B.R. at 268 (alteration in original) (citation omitted).
. Kirschner Declaration at ¶ 8.
. See Id.
. See, e.g., JP Morgan Objection at ¶¶ 25-29; KPMG Objection at ¶¶ 19-20; BMO Objection at ¶¶ 28-37, 39-51; but see Trustee’s Omnibus Reply at ¶¶ 34-37; 42-44; 48-54.
. See Plan, Article V(G)(iii). The Court recognizes that in this case the two sets of beneficiaries are largely the same.
. Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2004(b).
. In re J & R Trucking, Inc., 431 B.R. at 822-23 (citation omitted); see also In re Hilsen, No. 87-11261 (JMP), 2008 WL 2945996, at *4 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. July 25, 2008) (“Rule 2004 may be used to discover information about estate property, but it is not a proper means to inquire with respect to non-estate property.”); In re Good Hope Refineries, Inc., 9 B.R. at 423 (Rule 205 "is not intended to give the rehabilitated debtor post confirmation a strategic advantage in fishing for potential private litigation.”)
. In re Express One Intern., Inc., 217 B.R. at 217.
. In re Good Hope Refineries, 9 B.R. at 423.
. See In re Table Talk, Inc., 51 B.R. at 145 (alteration in original) (citation omitted) ("It is, however, 'clear that pending litigation ... against the person sought to be examined and the possible use of 205 [now 2004] testimony in that collateral litigation is not sufficient reason for denying examination.' ”); see also In re Mittco, Inc., 44 B.R. 35, 37 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 1984) (citation omitted) (same); In re Mantolesky, 14 B.R. 973, 979 (Bankr. D. Mass. 1981) (citations omitted) (same); In re Buick, 174 B.R. 299, 305 (Bankr. D. Colo. 1994) (permitting a creditor to take a Rule 2004 examination after the trustee had already filed an adversary proceeding); In re Washington Mut., Inc., 408 B.R. at 51-53.
. See In re Washington Mut., Inc., 408 B.R. at 52.
. Id. at 50 (citation omitted).
. See KPMG Objection at ¶¶ 22-23.
. Shearson/American Exp., Inc. v. McMahon, 482 U.S. 220, 226, 107 S.Ct. 2332, 96 L.Ed.2d 185 (1987) (citations omitted).
. See In re New Century TRS Holdings, Inc., 407 B.R. 558, 570 (Bankr. D. Del. 2009) (“before I can consider whether an arbitration clause is enforceable, I must determine whether the particular clause is applicable to the motions before me.”).
. KPMG Objection Ex. 1 at p. 5.
. See, e.g., In re J & R Trucking, Inc., 431 B.R. at 821 (citation omitted).
. See Id.
. See In re New Century TRS Holdings, Inc., 407 B.R. 558 (Bankr. D. Del. 2009).
. Id. at 571.
. Id.
. See In re Friedman’s, Inc., 356 B.R. 779 (Bankr. S.D. Ga. 2005).
. Id. at 784.
. See In re Daisytek, Inc., 323 B.R. 180 (N.D. Tex. 2005)
. Id. at 187.
. KPMG’s argument with respect to arbitration highlights the dangers of speculating as to causes of action that the Trustee might bring in the future. Until a complaint is filed against KPMG, the Court cannot determine whether arbitration is required as to all counts of the complaint, several counts of the complaint, or none of the complaint. See e.g. Hays and Co. v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 885 F.2d 1149, 1155 (3d Cir. 1989) (discussing arbitration in the context of debtor-derived claims as opposed tp causes of action created under the Bankruptcy Code for the benefit of creditors of the estate).
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IN RE: MILLENNIUM LAB HOLDINGS II, LLC, Debtors
- Cited By
- 24 cases
- Status
- Published