{"id":"court_ctb_1273_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1273,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":null,"title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION In re:","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\nIn re:\n\nChapter 11\n\nHO WAN KWOK, *et al.*\n\nDebtors.\n\nCase No: 22-50073 (JAM)\n\n## *EX-PARTE* **MOTION PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY RULE 9006(c)(1) TO PRESCRIBE NOTICE AND EXPEDITE THE HEARING ON HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC'S MOTION FOR ORDER AUTHORIZING HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC TO ENGAGE JAMES PIZZARUSO AS CAPTAIN OF THE LADY MAY**\n\nPursuant to Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9006(c)(1), HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC (\"HK USA\"), by and through its undersigned counsel, hereby moves (the \"Motion to Expedite\") for an order (i) scheduling a hearing on an expedited basis to consider HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC's Motion for Order Authorizing HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC to Engage James Pizzaruso as Captain of the Lady May (the \"Motion to Engage\") and (ii) prescribing notice of said hearing. In support of its Motion to Expedite, HK USA respectfully states as follows.\n\n1. This Court has jurisdiction over this Motion to Expedite pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334. This is a core proceeding pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 157(b). Venue is proper in this Court for these cases and this motion pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409, respectively. The basis for the relief requested in Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9006(c)(1).\n\n2. On April 29, 2022, this Court issued the Stipulated Order Compelling HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC to Transport and Deliver that Certain Yacht, the \"Lady May\" [Doc. No. 299] (the \"Stipulated Order\"). Pursuant to the Stipulated Order, HK\n\nUSA cannot \"engage or hire\" a new captain for the Lady May \"absent further order from this Court.\" Stipulated Order, at ¶ 8.\n\n3. On December 29, 2022, the Lady May's current captain, Lloyd Bernard, advised the undersigned that he had tendered his resignation as captain of the yacht and advised that January 6, 2023, would be his last day as captain of the Lady May. Mr. Bernard has further advised that he has accepted a new position, which is scheduled to begin on February 5, 2023. Mr. Bernard's family is in Costa Rica and, between January 6 and February 5, Mr. Bernard plans to visit with his family, who he has not seen in more than four months.\n\n4. Yachtzoo, the yacht management company for the Lady May, has made arrangements for James Pizzaruso to replace Mr. Bernard. Mr. Pizzaruso is planning to arrive at the Lady May on January 5, 2023. Mr. Bernard would take January 5 and January 6 to assist Mr. Pizzaruso is familiarizing himself with the Lady May and her remaining crew prior to Mr. Bernard's planned departure from the Lady May the evening of January 6.\n\n5. As set forth in the Motion to Engage, it is critical that the Lady May have a captain. Specifically, having a captain (i) is a condition of maintaining the Lady May's insurance coverage, as required by the Stipulated Order; (ii) is required by Bridgeport Harbor Marina to enable the Lady May to be moved to make room for other vessels or in the case of emergencies; (iii) is necessary in the event the Lady May must be moved due to severe weather or other emergencies; (iv) is required to enable HK USA to comply with requests for sea trials made by the chapter 11 trustee Luc A. Despins (the \"Trustee\"); and, (v) to conduct the anticipated haul out of the yacht to perform the valve repairs pursuant to this Court's order.\n\n6. Accordingly, without a qualified captain to replace Mr. Bernard, the safety and security of the Lady May will be compromised and HK USA will be unable to comply with\n\n2\n\nmultiple aspects of this Court's existing orders. For the reasons set forth in the Motion to Engage, Mr. Pizzaruso is well-qualified to replace Mr. Bernard as captain of the Lady May and no partiesin-interest will be prejudiced if this Court grants the relief sought in the Motion to Engage.\n\n7. Due to the necessity of having a captain aboard the Lady May and Mr. Bernard's upcoming departure date of January 6, HK USA respectfully submits that the Motion to Engage should be adjudicated as soon as possible and no later than January 6, 2023. Accordingly, HK USA respectfully submits that good cause exists to expedite the hearing to consider the Motion to Engage.\n\n8. Furthermore, HK USA respectfully requests that this Court order that the Motion to Engage and this Court's order granting this Motion to Expedite be served upon all parties entitled to notice under applicable statutes and/or rules, all parties to the above-captioned Chapter 11 Case qualified to receive electronic notice via the Court's CM/ECF service, as well as the Trustee, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, and the United States Trustee.\n\n**WHEREFORE**, HK USA respectfully requests that this Court grant this Motion to\n\nExpedite by issuing an order substantially similar to the Proposed Order submitted herewith and grant such other and further relief as this Court deems just and proper.\n\n## HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC\n\nBy: */s/ Christopher H. Blau* Eric A. Henzy (ct12849) Stephen M. Kindseth (ct14640) Christopher H. Blau (ct30120) Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C. 10 Middle Street, 15th Floor Bridgeport, CT 06604 (203) 368-4234 / (203) 549-0872 (fax) Email: [ehenzy@zeislaw.com;](mailto:ehenzy@zeislaw.com) skindseth@zeislaw.com; [cblau@zeislaw.com](mailto:cblau@zeislaw.com) Its Attorneys\n\n## **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**\n\nI hereby certify that on this 30th day of December, 2022, a copy of foregoing was filed electronically. Notice of this filing will be sent by e-mail to all parties by operation of the Court's electronic filing system or by mail to anyone unable to accept electronic filing as indicated on the Notice ofElectronic Filing. Parties may access this filing through the Court's CM/ECF System.\n\n> By: */s/ Christopher H. Blau* Christopher H. Blau (ct30120)","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格区破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n关于：\n\n第 11 章\n\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等\n\n债务人。\n\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n根据《破产程序规则》第 9006(c)(1) 条要求指定通知方式并就 HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC 申请授权其聘请 JAMES PIZZARUSO 担任 LADY MAY 号船长的动议进行快速听证的单方面动议\n\n根据 Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9006(c)(1)，HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC（“HK USA”）由其下述签字律师代表，特此提请（“快速审理动议”）法院作出命令：(i) 以快速方式安排听证会，以审议 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 申请授权其聘请 James Pizzaruso 担任 Lady May 号船长的动议（“聘请动议”）；以及 (ii) 指定该听证会的通知方式。为支持其快速审理动议，HK USA 谨陈述如下。\n\n1. 根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 及 1334，本法院对本快速审理动议具有管辖权。根据 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)，本案属于核心程序。根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 及 1409，本法院分别为上述案件及本动议的适当审判地。所请求救济的法律依据为 Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9006(c)(1)。\n\n2. 2022年4月29日，本法院发布了《强制 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 运输并交付特定游艇“Lady May”号的约定命令》[Doc. No. 299]（“《约定命令》”）。根据该《约定命令》，HK USA “在未经本法院进一步下达命令的情况下”，不得为 Lady May 号“聘用或雇用”新船长。《约定命令》第 8 段。\n\n3. 2022年12月29日，Lady May 号现任船长 Lloyd Bernard 通知下述签字人，他已提出辞去该游艇船长职务，并告知2023年1月6日将是他担任 Lady May 号船长的最后一天。Bernard 先生进一步表示，他已接受了一份新职位，定于2023年2月5日入职。Bernard 先生的家人在哥斯达黎加，在1月6日至2月5日期间，Bernard 先生计划探望其已四个多月未见面的家人。\n\n4. Lady May 号的游艇管理公司 Yachtzoo 已安排由 James Pizzaruso 接替 Bernard 先生。Pizzaruso 先生计划于2023年1月5日抵达 Lady May 号。Bernard 先生将在1月5日和1月6日协助 Pizzaruso 先生熟悉 Lady May 号及其余船员，随后 Bernard 先生计划于1月6日晚离开 Lady May 号。\n\n5. 正如《聘请动议》中所陈述，Lady May 号配备船长至关重要。具体而言，配备船长 (i) 是维持 Lady May 号保险承保范围的条件，正如《约定命令》所要求；(ii) 是 Bridgeport Harbor Marina（布里奇波特港码头）的要求，以便在需要为其他船只腾出空间或发生紧急情况时移动 Lady May 号；(iii) 在 Lady May 号因恶劣天气或其他紧急情况必须移动时属必要之举；(iv) 是 HK USA 配合第 11 章受托人 Luc A. Despins（“受托人”）提出的试航要求所必需；以及 (v) 是为了根据本法院命令对游艇进行预期的起吊出水以执行阀门维修。\n\n6. 因此，若没有合格的船长接替 Bernard 先生，Lady May 号的安全与保障将受到损害，HK USA 也将无法遵守本法院现有命令的多个方面。基于《聘请动议》中所述理由，Pizzaruso 先生完全有资格接替 Bernard 先生担任 Lady May 号船长，且若本法院准予《聘请动议》中所请求的救济，任何利害关系方均不会受到损害。\n\n7. 鉴于 Lady May 号上配备船长的必要性以及 Bernard 先生即将于1月6日离职，HK USA 谨提请法院应尽快且不迟于2023年1月6日对《聘请动议》作出裁决。因此，HK USA 谨提请认定存在充分理由以快速安排听证会审议《聘请动议》。\n\n8. 此外，HK USA 谨请求本法院命令将《聘请动议》及本法院准予本快速审理动议的命令送达给根据适用成文法和/或规则有权获得通知的所有各方、有资格通过法院 CM/ECF 服务接收电子通知的上述第 11 章案件的所有各方，以及受托人、无担保债权人官方委员会和美国联邦受托人。\n\n为此，HK USA 谨请求本法院作出与随函提交的拟定命令实质相同的命令以准予本快速审理动议，并准予本法院认为公正且适当的该等其他及进一步救济。\n\nHK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC\n\n签署人：/s/ Christopher H. Blau\nEric A. Henzy (ct12849)\nStephen M. Kindseth (ct14640)\nChristopher H. Blau (ct30120)\nZeisler & Zeisler, P.C.\n10 Middle Street, 15th Floor\nBridgeport, CT 06604\n(203) 368-4234 / (203) 549-0872 (传真)\n电子邮件：ehenzy@zeislaw.com; skindseth@zeislaw.com; cblau@zeislaw.com\n其代理律师\n\n送达证书\n\n我特此证明，于2022年12月30日，上述文书的一份副本已通过电子方式归档。此归档通知将通过法院电子归档系统的运行以电子邮件形式发送给所有各方，或根据《电子归档通知》所示，通过邮寄方式发送给无法接受电子归档的任何人。各方可通过法院的 CM/ECF 系统查阅此归档文件。\n\n签署人：/s/ Christopher H. Blau\nChristopher H. Blau (ct30120)","key_entities":["Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","CIPA"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":970,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:37:22"}