We have previously posted about a couple major milestones for Green Field Energy – here Green Field Energy Files for Bankruptcy Protection in Delaware and here: Green Field Energy Services – Preference Actions Filed. In this Opinion, published June 23, 2017, the Court denied the defendants Motion to Abate (or stay the action). A copy of the Opinion is available here.
Alan Halperin, the Trustee of the GFES Liquidation Trust (the “Trustee”), filed a complaint alleging that the defendant, Moreno, received a fraudulent transfer, and that its subsidiary breached two contracts requiring the purchase of preferred stock to fund GFES. The Court denied a motion to dismiss and “considerable” discovery has taken place. A trial on the Trustee’s motion for partial summary judgment is scheduled to begin on December 11, 2017.
One year after the Trustee commenced the adversary proceeding, defendants sought leave to file a third-party complaint against GE, alleging that it was liable for contribution. The Court denied the Third Party Motion, holding that it did not have subject matter jurisdiction. On July 25, 2016, defendants filed with the District Court an appeal motion and notice of interlocutory appeal to enable them to take an interlocutory appeal from the Court’s denial of the Third-Party Motion. The Appeal Motion has been fully briefed and remains pending. On November 22, 2016, defendants filed the Withdrawal Motion so they can add GE as a party and avoid the Court’s jurisdiction limitation. The Withdrawal Motion is pending in the District Court. Now, the defendants have moved for the Bankruptcy Court to “Abate”, or stay, the adversary proceeding pending the District Court’s decisions.
Judge Gross cited Am. Classic Voyages Co. v. Westaff (In re Am. Classic Voyages Co.), 337 B.R. 509, 511 (D. Del. 2006), in holding that courts must consider four other factors on a motion to withdraw the reference, which the Court is weighing on the issue of the likelihood of success. They are (1) promoting uniformity of bankruptcy administration, (2) reducing forum shopping and confusion, (3) fostering economical use of debtor-creditor resources and (4) expediting the bankruptcy process.
While Judge Gross examines each factor in turn, holding that defendants failed to carry their burden for each, it appears that the greatest weight arises from the significant time that defendants allowed to pass prior to moving to join GE and the ability to sue for contribution outside of the Bankruptcy Court.