{"id":"court_ctb_1329_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1329,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":null,"title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION | -------------------------------------------","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| -----------------------------------------------------------<br>x |        |                         |  |  |\n|------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-------------------------|--|--|\n| In re:                                                           | :<br>: | Chapter 11              |  |  |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,                                             | :<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) |  |  |\n| Debtors.1                                                        | :<br>: | Jointly Administered    |  |  |\n| -----------------------------------------------------------      | :<br>x |                         |  |  |\n\n# **MOTION, PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY RULE 9006(c)(1), TO EXPEDITE HEARING ON CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE'S MOTION FOR ENTRY OF ORDER SEALING EXHIBIT A TO OBJECTION TO DEBTOR'S MOTION FOR ORDER REMOVING TRUSTEE AND RELATED RELIEF**\n\nLuc A. Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\"), pursuant to Rule 9006(c)(1) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the \"Bankruptcy Rules\"), hereby moves (the \"Motion to Expedite\") this Court for an order scheduling an expedited hearing to consider and determine the Trustee's *Motion for Entry of Order Sealing Exhibit A to Objection to Debtor's Motion for Order Removing Trustee and Related Relief* (the \"Motion to Seal\"). In support of his Motion to Expedite, the Trustee respectfully states as follows:\n\n# **JURISDICTION, VENUE, AND STATUTORY BASIS**\n\n1. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (the \"Court\")\n\nhas jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 and the *Standing Order of*\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, and the Genever Holdings Corporation is Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok (solely for purposes of notices and communications).\n\n*Reference* from the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (as amended). The Motion to Stay, including this Motion to Expedite with respect thereto, is a core proceeding within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b).\n\n2. Venue in this District is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409.\n\n3. The basis for the relief sought by this Motion to Expedite is Bankruptcy Rule 9006(c)(1).\n\n#### **BACKGROUND**\n\n4. On December 30, 2022, The Debtor filed his *Motion for Order Removing Trustee*  [Docket No. 1274] (the \"Removal Motion\").\n\n5. On January 13, 2023, the Trustee filed his *Objection* to the Removal Motion on the public docket, except for Exhibit A thereto (the \"Confidential Exhibit\"), which the Trustee has filed under seal pursuant to the Motion to Seal.\n\n6. The Confidential Exhibit is a declaration obtained by the Trustee during his investigation from a witness who has knowledge and information supporting the Trustee's counterclaims in the HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC adversary proceeding [Adv. Proc. No. 22-05003] (the \"HK Adversary Proceeding\").\n\n7. The Confidential Exhibit is also highly relevant to the Trustee's Removal Objection, inasmuch as it constitutes one of the prime fruits of the Trustee's ongoing investigation of the Debtor's financial affairs and reflects progress in the Trustee's efforts to recover assets that properly belong to the chapter 11 estate.\n\n8. The declarant who swore to the Confidential Exhibit has expressed concern for the declarant's personal safety in the event that the contents of the Confidential Exhibit and/or the\n\n2\n\ndeclarant's identity is disclosed to the Debtor, his relatives, his associates, or his counsel and advisors other than those described herein.\n\n9. The Trustee shares the declarant's concerns in light of, among other things, the Debtor's conduct in this case toward the Trustee and his professionals and the Court's recent finding that the Debtor's pattern of harassing and intimidating conduct \"is having a chilling effect on potential witnesses and creditors in these cases.\" (Memorandum of Decision Granting in Part Motion for Preliminary Injunction [Adv. Proc. No. 22-05032 (the \"Injunction Proceeding\") ECF No. 128] (Jan. 11, 2023) (the \"Injunction Decision\").)\n\n# **THE MOTION TO SEAL**<sup>2</sup>\n\n10. By the Motion to Seal, the Trustee seeks entry of an order approving the filing of the Confidential Exhibit under seal and restricting its disclosure and the disclosure of the information therein (including the declarant's identity) to (a) the Trustee and his counsel, (b) the Debtor's counsel at Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C. (\"Z&Z\") and Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (\"CSG\"), *i.e.*, the Debtor's counsel with respect to the Removal Motion and the HK Adversary Proceeding, and (c) the Court and its staff.\n\n11. The Trustee requested the foregoing relief, because it is essential that the Trustee be permitted to use the Confidential Exhibit in the contexts of the HK Adversary Proceeding and the Removal Motion/Removal Petition, while also providing for the protection of the declarant's personal safety.\n\n<sup>2</sup> The following summary of the relief sought in the Motion to Stay is qualified in its entirety by the Motion to Stay.\n\n#### **RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n12. Bankruptcy Rule 9006(c)(1) provides that the Court may reduce the notice period when requested by motion upon cause shown. Cause exists to consider and determine the Motion to Seal upon an expedited basis. The Trustee respectfully requests that the Court schedule a hearing with respect to the Motion to Seal for Monday, January 23, 2023, at 10 a.m. (when the Court has already scheduled a matter in an adversary proceeding related to this chapter 11 case) or otherwise as soon as the Court is available.\n\n13. Determination of the Motion to Stay on an expedited basis is crucial to avoid any delay to proceedings in the HK Adversary Proceeding (where evidentiary proceedings commence next month and as to which discovery is ongoing) and to determination of the Debtor's Removal Motion and the Trustee's Removal Objection.\n\n14. Finally, the Trustee requests that the Court order that any opposition to the Motion to Stay be filed on or before January 19, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.\n\n### *[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK.]*\n\nWHEREFORE, Trustee requests that the Court issue an Order, substantially in the form\n\nattached hereto, setting a hearing on the Motion to Seal on January 23, 2023, setting a deadline to\n\nobject to the Motion to Seal, and ordering such other and further relief as is just and proper.\n\nDated: January 13, 2023 LUC A. DESPINS, New Haven, Connecticut CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\nBy: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey*\n\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n*and*\n\nNicholas A. Bassett *(pro hac vice* pending) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n*and*\n\nAvram E. Luft *(pro hac vice* pending) Douglass Barron (*pro hac vice* pending) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*\n\n# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| -----------------------------------------------------------<br>x |             |                         |  |  |\n|------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------|--|--|\n| In re:                                                           | :<br>:      | Chapter 11              |  |  |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,                                             | :<br>:<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) |  |  |\n| Debtors.1                                                        | :<br>:      | Jointly Administered    |  |  |\n| -----------------------------------------------------------<br>x |             |                         |  |  |\n\n#### **ORDER SCHEDULING EXPEDITED HEARING**\n\nThe Court having considered the motion (the \"Motion to Expedite\") seeking an expedited hearing on the chapter 11 trustee's (the \"Trustee\") *Motion for Entry of Order Sealing Exhibit A to Objection to Debtor's Motion for Order Removing Trustee and Related Relief* (the \"Motion to Seal\"); and good cause appearing, it is hereby\n\n**ORDERED,** that a hearing on the Motion to Seal shall be held on **January 23, 2023, at**\n\n**10:00 a.m.** at the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Connecticut, Bridgeport Division,\n\n915 Lafayette Boulevard, Room 123, Bridgeport, CT 06604 (the \"Hearing\"); and it is further\n\n**ORDERED,** that the deadline to object to the Motion to Seal shall be **January 19, 2023,**\n\n**at 5:00 p.m.**; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED,** that a copy of this Order, along with the Motion to Seal and any attachments thereto, shall be served upon all parties to the above-captioned case, and the Trustee shall file a certificate of service in advance of the Hearing.\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, and the Genever Holdings Corporation is Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok (solely for purposes of notices and communications).\n\n# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | x           |                         |\n|-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------|\n| In re:                                                      | :<br>:      | Chapter 11              |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,                                        | :<br>:<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) |\n| Debtors.1                                                   | :<br>:      | Jointly Administered    |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | x           |                         |\n\n### **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**\n\nThe undersigned hereby certifies that on January 13, 2023, the foregoing Motion, including all attachments thereto, was electronically filed. Notice of this filing was sent by e-mail to all parties to the above-captioned chapter 11 case by operation of the Court's electronic filing (\"CM/ECF\") system or by mail to anyone unable to accept electronic filing as indicated on the Notice of Electronic Filing.<sup>2</sup> Parties may access this filing through the Court's CM/ECF system.\n\n| Dated: | January 13, 2023       | LUC A. DESPINS,    |\n|--------|------------------------|--------------------|\n|        | New Haven, Connecticut | CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE |\n|        |                        |                    |\n\nBy: /s/ *Patrick R. Linsey*  Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 821-2000 dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation. The mailing address for the Trustee, Genever Holdings LLC, and the Genever Holdings Corporation is Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok (solely for purposes of notices and communications).\n\n<sup>2</sup> To the extent that the foregoing was filed outside regular business hours, service by mail on recipients unable or not qualified to accept electronic notice was made on the next business day.\n\n*and*\n\nNicholas A. Bassett *(pro hac vice*) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n*and*\n\nAvram E. Luft *(pro hac vice*) Douglass Barron (*pro hac vice*) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n *Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*","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\nx\n\n案件：\n第11章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。1\n合并审理\n\nx\n根据《破产程序规则》第9006(c)(1)条，关于就第11章受托人提请作出封存对债务人撤换受托人及相关救济动议之异议书附件A的裁定的动议进行加急听证的动议\n\nLuc A. Despins 以其在 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）（“债务人”）第11章案件中被指定的第11章受托人（“受托人”）之身份，根据《联邦破产程序规则》（Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure，“《破产程序规则》”）第9006(c)(1)条，特此向本法院提出动议（“加急动议”），请求作出裁定，安排一次加急听证会以审议并决定受托人提请作出封存对债务人撤换受托人及相关救济动议之异议书附件A的裁定的动议（“封存动议”）。为支持其加急动议，受托人恭敬陈述如下：\n管辖权、审理地及法定依据\n\n1. United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区破产法院）（“本法院”）\n\n根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 及 1334 以及 United States District Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区联邦地区法院）的常规移送令（经修订）对本事项拥有管辖权。本中止动议（包括与其相关的本加急动议）属于 28 U.S.C. § 157(b) 所指的核心程序。\n\n1 本第11章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，亦称郭文贵、Miles Guo 及 Miles Kwok，以及其他众多化名）（税务识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（税务识别号后四位：8202）以及 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 及 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为 Paul Hastings LLP（普衡律师事务所）, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 转交 Ho Wan Kwok 破产财产受托人 Luc A. Despins（仅用于通知和通讯目的）。\n\n2. 根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 及 1409，本区的审理地是适当的。\n\n3. 本加急动议所寻求救济的依据为《破产程序规则》第9006(c)(1)条。\n背景\n\n4. 2022年12月30日，债务人提交了其请求作出撤换受托人裁定的动议 [Docket No. 1274]（“撤换动议”）。\n\n5. 2023年1月13日，受托人在公开案卷中提交了其对撤换动议的异议书，但其附件A（“保密附件”）除外，受托人已根据封存动议对其进行了保密封存提交。\n\n6. 保密附件是受托人在其调查期间从一名证人处取得的声明书，该证人所掌握的知情信息支持受托人在 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 对抗性程序 [Adv. Proc. No. 22-05003]（“香港对抗性程序”）中提出的反诉。\n\n7. 保密附件亦与受托人的撤换异议高度相关，因为它是受托人对债务人财务状况持续调查的主要成果之一，并反映了受托人在追回依法属于第11章破产财产的资产方面所取得的进展。\n\n8. 对保密附件宣誓作证的声明人表示，如果保密附件的内容和/或\n声明人的身份被披露给债务人、其亲属、其关联方，或除本文所述之外的其律师和顾问，声明人对其人身安全表示担忧。\n\n9. 鉴于债务人在本案中对受托人及其专业人员的行为，以及本法院最近认定债务人骚扰和恐吓行为的模式“对这些案件中的潜在证人和债权人产生了寒蝉效应”等情况，受托人对声明人的担忧感同身受。（准予部分初步禁令动议的决定备忘录 [Adv. Proc. No. 22-05032（“禁令程序”）ECF No. 128]（2023年1月11日）（“禁令决定”）。）\n封存动议2\n\n10. 通过封存动议，受托人请求作出裁定，批准保密附件的封存提交，并将其披露以及其中所含信息（包括声明人身份）的披露限制于：(a) 受托人及其律师，(b) 债务人在 Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C.（“Z&Z”）和 Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC（“CSG”）的律师，即债务人就撤换动议和香港对抗性程序聘请的律师，以及 (c) 本法院及其工作人员。\n\n11. 受托人请求上述救济，是因为受托人必须被允许在香港对抗性程序和撤换动议/撤换申请中使用该保密附件，同时亦为声明人的人身安全提供保护。\n\n2 以下对中止动议所寻求救济的概述完全受限于中止动议本身。\n请求的救济\n\n12. 《破产程序规则》第9006(c)(1)条规定，在有充分理由的情况下，经动议申请，本法院可缩短通知期限。目前存在以加急方式审议并决定封存动议的充分理由。受托人谨请求本法院将封存动议的听证会安排在2023年1月23日星期一上午10:00举行（届时法院已在与本第11章案件相关的对抗性程序中安排了审理事项），或在法院有空的尽快时间内举行。\n\n13. 以加急方式对中止动议作出决定至关重要，以避免对香港对抗性程序的进程（该程序将于下个月开始证据采信程序，且证据开示正在进行中）以及对债务人撤换动议和受托人撤换异议的裁决造成任何延误。\n\n14. 最后，受托人请求本法院裁定，对中止动议的任何异议均应在2023年1月19日下午5:00或之前提交。\n[本页其余部分故意留白。]\n\n据此，受托人请求本法院签发一份实质上采用本动议所附格式的裁定，确定于2023年1月23日就封存动议举行听证会，确定对封存动议提出异议的截止日期，并裁定给予其他及进一步公正且适当的救济。\n\n日期：2023年1月13日 LUC A. DESPINS，第11章受托人\n康涅狄格州纽黑文\n\n签署人：/s/ Patrick R. Linsey\n\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n以及\n\nNicholas A. Bassett（特许出庭申请待决） PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n以及\n\nAvram E. Luft（特许出庭申请待决） Douglass Barron（特许出庭申请待决） PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n第11章受托人之代理律师\nUNITED 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\nx\n\n案件：\n第11章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，\n\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。1\n合并审理\n\nx\n排定加急听证会的裁定\n\n本法院经审议请求就第11章受托人（“受托人”）提请作出封存对债务人撤换受托人及相关救济动议之异议书附件A的裁定的动议（“封存动议”）进行加急听证的动议（“加急动议”）；且显示有充分理由，特此\n\n裁定，关于封存动议的听证会应于2023年1月23日\n\n上午10:00在 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）举行，地址为\n\n915 Lafayette Boulevard, Room 123, Bridgeport, CT 06604（“听证会”）；并进一步\n\n裁定，对封存动议提出异议的截止日期为2023年1月19日\n\n下午5:00；并进一步\n\n裁定，本裁定的副本连同封存动议及其任何附件，应送达上述标题案件的所有当事人，受托人应在听证会前提交送达证明。\n\n1 本第11章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，亦称郭文贵、Miles Guo 及 Miles Kwok，以及其他众多化名）（税务识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（税务识别号后四位：8202）以及 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 及 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为 Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 转交 Ho Wan Kwok 破产财产受托人 Luc A. Despins（仅用于通知和通讯目的）。\nUNITED 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----------------------------------------------------------- x\n\n案件：\n第11章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，\n\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。1\n合并审理\n----------------------------------------------------------- x\n送达证明\n\n签署人特此证明，2023年1月13日，前述动议及其所有附件已通过电子方式提交。本提交的通知已通过法院的电子立案系统（“CM/ECF”）以电子邮件方式发送给上述标题第11章案件的所有当事人，或按照电子立案通知书上的指示通过邮寄方式发送给无法接受电子立案的任何人。2 各方当事人可通过法院的 CM/ECF 系统查阅本次提交的文件。\n\n日期：2023年1月13日 LUC A. DESPINS，\n\n康涅狄格州纽黑文 第11章受托人\n\n签署人：/s/ Patrick R. Linsey Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 821-2000 dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n1 本第11章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，亦称郭文贵、Miles Guo 及 Miles Kwok，以及其他众多化名）（税务识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（税务识别号后四位：8202）以及 Genever Holdings Corporation。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 及 Genever Holdings Corporation 的邮寄地址为 Paul Hastings LLP, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 转交 Ho Wan Kwok 破产财产受托人 Luc A. Despins（仅用于通知和通讯目的）。\n\n2 在前述文件于正常工作时间之外提交的情况下，已在下一个工作日通过邮寄方式向无法或不具备接受电子通知资格的接收人进行送达。\n\n以及\n\nNicholas A. Bassett（特许出庭） PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n以及\n\nAvram E. Luft（特许出庭） Douglass Barron（特许出庭） PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n第11章受托人之代理律师","key_entities":["Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Je","Paul Hastings","Guo","Despins","Miles Guo"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":128,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":1852,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 13:04:45"}