{"id":"court_ctb_1373_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1373,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":null,"title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT )","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT**\n\n)\n\n)\n\n)\n\nDebtors.1\n\nIn re: ) Chapter 11 ) Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) HO WAN KWOK, *et al.*, ) (Jointly Administered)\n\n## **ORDER DIRECTING THE PARTIES TO MEDIATION**\n\n)\n\nPursuant to D. Conn. Bankr. L.R. 9019-2 (a), the Court orders Mr. Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\"), Mr. Luc A. Despins (the \"Chapter 11 Trustee\"), Genever Holdings Corporation, Genever Holdings LLC, Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. (\"PAX\"), the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the \"Committee\"), HK International Funds Investments (USA) Ltd. LLC, Bravo Luck Ltd., Greenwich Land LLC, Golden Spring (New York) Ltd., Lamp Capital LLC, Ms. Hing Chi Ngok, Mr. Qiang Guo, and Ms. Mei Guo (each a \"Party\" and, collectively, the \"Parties\") to mediate the disputes in these Jointly Administered Chapter 11 cases and certain adversary proceedings, including without limitation *HK Int'l Funds Invs. (USA) Ltd. v. Despins ex rel. Kwok*, Adv. P. No. 22-05003 (JAM) and *Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. v. Kwok*, Adv. P. No. 22-05032 (JAM), with the Honorable James J. Tancredi, United States Bankruptcy Judge (the \"Mediator\").\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtors in these Jointly Administered 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 (case number: 22-50592 (JAM); last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation (case number: 22-50542 (JAM)). 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\nThese Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and related adversary proceedings are headed in the wrong direction. The dynamic among the Parties is in need of rehabilitation. Mediation, at this juncture, is more than warranted for the reasons set forth below.\n\n The Debtor filed his voluntary Chapter 11 petition in this Court on February 15, 2022. (ECF No. 1.) On several occasions, including during the first two months of the case, the Debtor has declared his wish to fairly and equitably resolve the claims of his creditors in these cases. (*See* Debtor's Declaration, ECF No. 107 ¶ 3.)\n\nAmong early developments in the Debtor's Chapter 11 case, the Debtor's largest creditor, PAX, filed a Motion to Dismiss or Convert the Debtor's case. (ECF No. 183, the \"Motion to Dismiss.\") Although the facts surrounding the Motion to Dismiss are complex, on June 15, 2022, the Court entered a Memorandum of Decision and Order Denying Motion to Dismiss Without Prejudice and Granting Joinder to Motion for Appointment of Chapter 11 Trustee. (ECF No. 465.) *In re Kwok*, 640 B.R. 514 (Bankr. D. Conn. 2022). On July 8, 2022, Mr. Luc A. Despins was appointed as the Chapter 11 Trustee. (ECF No. 523.)\n\nSince the appointment of the Chapter 11 Trustee, the Debtor, PAX, the Chapter 11 Trustee, and other parties have filed numerous and extensive pleadings in these Chapter 11 cases. A multitude of issues have been brought before the Court, including, in pertinent part, numerous discovery issues relating to the Chapter 11 Trustee's investigation into the assets of the Debtor, (*See* Main Case ECF Nos. 756–58, 856, 923, 995, 1046, 1184, 1303); issues relating to the Debtor's Chapter 11 bankruptcy estate's (the \"Estate\") interest in certain properties and the commencement of several adversary proceedings concerning certain assets which may be property of the Estate (*See, e.g.*, *HK Int'l Fund Invs. (USA) Ltd. LLC v. Despins ex rel. Kwok*, Adv. P. No. 22-05003 (JAM) (Bankr. D. Conn.) and *Despins ex rel. Kwok v. Bravo Luck Ltd.*,\n\nAdv. P. No. 22-05027 (JAM) (Bankr. D. Conn.)); and issues relating to the Chapter 11 Trustee's control of the Debtor's economic and corporate governance rights (*See* Main Case ECF No. 717, the \"Corporate Governance Order\").\n\nRecently, after a four-day evidentiary hearing during which 100 exhibits were introduced, the Court issued a preliminary injunction relating to an ongoing protest and social media campaign directed against the Chapter 11 Trustee and others (Corrected Order Granting in Part Motion for Preliminary Injunction, *Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund v. Kwok* (*In re Kwok)*, Adv. P. No. 22-05032 (JAM) (Bankr. D. Conn. Jan. 13, 2023), ECF No. 134). During the hearing, the Debtor and his counsel testified that the Debtor and PAX had been involved in negotiations to reach a global resolution of the issues in these cases and that a settlement meeting was held with the Trustee in November, 2022.\n\nThe Debtor also recently filed a Motion to Remove the Trustee. (ECF No. 1274, the \"Motion to Remove.\") In the Motion to Remove, the Debtor continues to assert that he wishes to \"work constructively to maximize recoveries to creditors in an efficient and expeditious way,\" but states he \"will not deal with the Trustee.\" The Committee and PAX have both filed objections to the Motion to Remove, contending that it is the Debtor – not the Trustee – who is impeding cooperation and constructive action in these bankruptcy cases. (ECF Nos. 1313 and 1325.) PAX for its part, however, remains \"hopeful that a global settlement can be reached.\"\n\nMost recently, an order holding the Debtor in contempt of the Court's Corporate Governance Order was issued (ECF No. 1372). Furthermore, the Court is holding on January 26, 2023, regarding the Debtor's alleged interference with the Proof of Claim process in these cases. (ECF No. 1345.)\n\nWhile a global settlement may remain elusive, the Court believes that mediation will set the Parties on the path towards constructive dispute resolution.\n\nAccordingly, pursuant to D. Conn. L. Bankr. R. 9019-2(a), it is hereby\n\n**ORDERED:** The Parties are referred to the Mediator at the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut, Abraham Ribicoff Federal Building, 450 Main Street, 7th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103 for mediation (the \"Mediation\"); and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** Counsel for the Parties and Parties without counsel or record are directed to immediately contact the Mediator by email directed to the Hartford courtroom deputy email box of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (CourtroomDeputy\\_Hartford@ctb.uscourts.gov); and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** The Mediator may meet in private conference with less than all of the Parties and/or their counsel. At his discretion, the Mediator may conduct the Mediation in person, via video conference, or via audio conference, or any combination thereof. The Mediation will include more than one session. At the discretion of the Mediator, after consultation with the Parties, the Mediator may mediate different issues on different dates with one, some, or all of the Parties and/or their counsel.\n\n**ORDERED:** The Mediation will begin on January 30, 2023, and shall continue through March 3, 2023, unless further Order of this Court shall extend or abridge its duration; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** An individual with final authority to settle the controversies and bind each Party shall attend the Mediation on behalf of each Party; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** Information obtained by the Mediator, either in written or oral form, shall be **CONFIDENTIAL** and shall not be revealed by the Mediator unless or until the Party who provided that information agrees to its disclosure; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** The Mediator shall not, without the prior written consent of all the Parties, disclose to any Court any matters which are disclosed to him by any of the Parties or any matters which otherwise related to the Mediation; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** The Mediation shall be considered a settlement negotiation for the purpose of all federal and state laws protecting disclosures made during such conferences from later discovery or use in evidence. The entire Mediation process shall be **CONFIDENTIAL, AND NO STENOGRAPHIC, WRITTEN, ELECTRONIC, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF RECORDING OR INTERNET POSTING SHALL BE MADE EXCEPT TO MEMORIALIZE A DEFINITIVE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT.** All communications and conduct, oral or written, during the Mediation by any Party or a Party's agent, employee, or attorney are **CONFIDENTIAL** and, where appropriate, are to be considered work product and privileged. Such conduct, statements, promises, offers, views and opinions shall not be subject to discovery or admissible for any purpose, including impeachment, in any litigation or other proceeding involving the Parties; provided, however, that evidence otherwise subject to discovery or admissible is not excluded from discovery or admission in evidence simply as a result of having been used in connection with this Mediation process; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** Parties (i) shall not call or subpoena the Mediator as a witness or expert in any proceeding relating to the Mediation, the subject matter of the Mediation; (ii) shall not subpoena any notes, documents or other material prepared by the Mediator in the course of or in\n\nconnection with the Mediation; and (iii) shall not offer in evidence any statements, views or opinions of the Mediator; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** The Mediator and his agents shall have absolute judicial immunity as provided under State and Federal laws, including the common law, from liability for any act or omission in connection with the Mediation, and from compulsory process to testify or produce documents in connection with the Mediation; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** The Court will hold the hearings presently scheduled to be held on January 24, 26, and 31, 2023. Following those hearings, during the Mediation, absent compelling cause, all hearings in these Jointly Administered Chapter 11 cases and related adversary proceedings, are stayed, including without limitation all hearings in *HK Int'l Funds Invs. (USA) Ltd. v. Despins ex rel. Kwok*, Adv. P. No. 22-05003 (JAM) and *Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. v. Kwok*, Adv. P. No. 22-05032 (JAM). The Parties are ordered and directed to negotiate in good faith and encouraged to refrain from legal process which can be deferred, addressed by consensus, or duly considered by the Mediator; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** During the Mediation, there will be no release of escrowed funds pursuant to the Lady May Stipulation (ECF No. 299); and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** The Mediator is authorized to seek any amendments to this Order during the Mediation the Mediator believes is necessary to assist with the Mediation; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** This Order will be docketed in *In re Kwok*, Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) as well as *HK Int'l Funds Invs. (USA) Ltd. v. Despins ex rel. Kwok*, Adv. P. No. 22-05003 (JAM) and *Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. v. Kwok*, Adv. P. No. 22-05032 (JAM); and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** The Trustee will serve this Order on all Parties and on the escrow agent for the funds held in escrow pursuant to the Lady May Stipulation (ECF No. 299) and file a certificate of service demonstrating compliance with this Order on or before January 26, 2023.\n\nDated at Bridgeport, Connecticut this 24th day of January, 2023.","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT（美国康涅狄格区破产法院）\n\n)\n\n)\n\n)\n\n债务人。1\n\n关于：) 第 11 章 ) 案号：22-50073 (JAM) HO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，) (合并审理)\n指令各方当事人进行调解的裁定\n\n)\n\n根据 D. Conn. Bankr. L.R. 9019-2 (a)（《康涅狄格区破产地方规则》第 9019-2 条 (a) 款），本法院指令 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）先生（以下简称“债务人”）、Luc A. Despins 先生（以下简称“第 11 章受托人”）、Genever Holdings Corporation、Genever Holdings LLC、Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P.（以下简称“PAX”）、Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors（无担保债权人官方委员会，以下简称“委员会”）、HK International Funds Investments (USA) Ltd. LLC、Bravo Luck Ltd.、Greenwich Land LLC、Golden Spring (New York) Ltd.、Lamp Capital LLC、Hing Chi Ngok（岳庆芝）女士、Qiang Guo（郭强）先生及 Mei Guo（郭美）女士（每一方单独称为“一方当事人”，合称为“各方当事人”），在 United States Bankruptcy Judge（美国破产法官）James J. Tancredi 阁下（以下简称“调解员”）主持下，就这些合并审理的第 11 章破产案件及若干对抗性诉讼中的争议进行调解，包括但不限于 HK Int'l Funds Invs. (USA) Ltd. v. Despins ex rel. Kwok，对抗性诉讼案号：22-05003 (JAM) 以及 Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. v. Kwok，对抗性诉讼案号：22-05032 (JAM)。\n\n1 在这些合并审理的第 11 章破产案件中，债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（又名 Guo Wengui、Miles Guo 和 Miles Kwok，以及其他众多化名）（税务识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（案号：22-50592 (JAM)；税务识别号后四位：8202）及 Genever Holdings Corporation（案号：22-50542 (JAM)）。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC 和 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（仅用于接收通知和通信）。\n\n这些第 11 章破产案件及相关对抗性诉讼的走向偏离了正确轨道。各方当事人之间的互动关系亟待修复。基于下文所述理由，在当前关头开展调解是非常必要的。\n\n 债务人于 2022 年 2 月 15 日向本法院提交了自愿第 11 章破产申请。（ECF No. 1。）在多个场合，包括在本案的前两个月内，债务人曾声明其希望在这些案件中公平合理地解决其债权人的权利主张。（见债务人声明，ECF No. 107 ¶ 3。）\n\n在债务人第 11 章破产案件的早期进展中，债务人的最大债权人 PAX 提交了驳回或转换债务人案件的动议。（ECF No. 183，以下简称“驳回动议”。）尽管围绕驳回动议的事实情况十分复杂，本法院仍于 2022 年 6 月 15 日作出了《无偏见驳回动议并准许参加指定第 11 章受托人动议的裁决备忘录与裁定》。（ECF No. 465。）In re Kwok, 640 B.R. 514 (Bankr. D. Conn. 2022)。2022 年 7 月 8 日，Luc A. Despins 先生被指定为第 11 章受托人。（ECF No. 523。）\n\n自第 11 章受托人获指定以来，债务人、PAX、第 11 章受托人及其他当事人在这些第 11 章案件中提交了大量且篇幅巨大的诉状。大量争议事项被呈递至本法院，其中包括相关重要部分：涉及第 11 章受托人对债务人财产开展调查的大量证据开示争议，（见主案 ECF Nos. 756–58, 856, 923, 995, 1046, 1184, 1303）；涉及债务人第 11 章破产财产（以下简称“破产财产”）在特定资产中的权益，以及就可能属于破产财产的特定资产提起的若干对抗性诉讼（见，例如，HK Int'l Fund Invs. (USA) Ltd. LLC v. Despins ex rel. Kwok，对抗性诉讼案号：22-05003 (JAM) (Bankr. D. Conn.) 以及 Despins ex rel. Kwok v. Bravo Luck Ltd.，\n\n对抗性诉讼案号：22-05027 (JAM) (Bankr. D. Conn.)）；以及涉及第 11 章受托人控制债务人的经济权利和公司治理权利的争议（见主案 ECF No. 717，以下简称“公司治理裁定”）。\n\n近期，在进行了为期四天、出示了 100 件证据的证据听证会后，本法院就针对第 11 章受托人及其他人正在进行的抗议和社交媒体活动发布了初步禁令（《部分准许初步禁令动议的修正裁定》，Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund v. Kwok (In re Kwok)，对抗性诉讼案号：22-05032 (JAM) (Bankr. D. Conn. Jan. 13, 2023)，ECF No. 134）。在听证会期间，债务人及其律师作证称，债务人和 PAX 一直在参与谈判以期就这些案件中的问题达成全面解决，并于 2022 年 11 月与受托人举行了和解会议。\n\n债务人近期还提交了撤换受托人的动议。（ECF No. 1274，以下简称“撤换动议”。）在撤换动议中，债务人继续坚称其希望“以高效快捷的方式进行建设性合作，使债权人的清偿最大化”，但声明其“不会与受托人打交道”。委员会和 PAX 均对撤换动议提出了异议，主张是债务人——而非受托人——在阻碍这些破产案件中的合作与建设性行动。（ECF Nos. 1313 和 1325。）然而，PAX 就其自身而言，仍然“对达成全面和解抱有希望”。\n\n最近，本法院发布了一项认定债务人违反本法院《公司治理裁定》构成藐视法庭的裁定（ECF No. 1372）。此外，本法院将于 2023 年 1 月 26 日就债务人涉嫌干扰这些案件中债权证明程序的行为举行听证。（ECF No. 1345。）\n\n尽管全面和解可能仍难以企及，但本法院认为调解将引导各方当事人走上建设性争议解决的轨道。\n\n据此，根据 D. Conn. L. Bankr. R. 9019-2(a)，特此\n\n裁定：各方当事人移交至调解员处进行调解（以下简称“调解”），地点为 United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区破产法院），地址：Abraham Ribicoff Federal Building, 450 Main Street, 7th Floor, Hartford, CT 06103；并进一步\n\n裁定：各方当事人的代理律师以及无代理律师或未记录代理人的当事人，被指令立即通过向美国康涅狄格区破产法院哈特福德法庭书记员邮箱（CourtroomDeputy_Hartford@ctb.uscourts.gov）发送电子邮件的方式与调解员取得联系；并进一步\n\n裁定：调解员可与少于全体当事人及/或其代理律师的人员举行私下会议。调解员可自行决定通过现场当面、视频会议、音频会议或其任何组合形式进行调解。调解将包含不止一次会议。经与各方当事人协商后，调解员可自行决定在不同日期与一方、部分或全体当事人及/或其代理律师就不同争议事项进行调解。\n\n裁定：调解将于 2023 年 1 月 30 日开始，并应持续至 2023 年 3 月 3 日，除非本法院另有裁定予以延长或缩短其期限；并进一步\n\n裁定：代表每一方当事人出席调解的人员，必须是对解决争议具有最终决定权且能对该方当事人产生约束力的个人；并进一步\n\n裁定：调解员以书面或口头形式获取的信息应当保密（CONFIDENTIAL），除非且直至提供该信息的一方当事人同意披露，调解员不得泄露该等信息；并进一步\n\n裁定：未经全体当事人事先书面同意，调解员不得向任何法院披露任何一方当事人向其披露的任何事项，或与调解相关的任何其他事项；并进一步\n\n裁定：就保护该等会议期间所作披露免受日后证据开示或用作证据的所有联邦和州法律而言，调解应被视为和解谈判。整个调解过程应当保密（CONFIDENTIAL），除为了以书面形式记录最终和解协议外，不得进行任何速记、书面、电子或任何其他形式的记录或网络发布。任何一方当事人或一方当事人的代理人、雇员或律师在调解期间的所有口头或书面沟通及行为均属保密（CONFIDENTIAL），且在适当情况下应被视为工作成果及享有特权保护。该等行为、陈述、承诺、要约、观点和意见不得在涉及各方当事人的任何诉讼或其他程序中作为证据开示的对象或出于任何目的（包括弹劾质证）被采纳为证据；但原本应受证据开示约束或原本具有可采性的证据，不得仅仅因为其曾与本调解程序相关联而被排除在证据开示或证据采纳之外；并进一步\n\n裁定：各方当事人 (i) 不得在与调解或调解标的相关的任何程序中传唤或传票传唤调解员作为证人或专家；(ii) 不得传票调取调解员在调解过程中或与\n\n调解相关的过程中准备的任何笔记、文件或其他材料；以及 (iii) 不得在证据中提出调解员的任何陈述、观点或意见；并进一步\n\n裁定：调解员及其代理人享有州法和联邦法（包括普通法）所规定的绝对司法豁免权，免于承担与调解相关的任何作为或不作为的法律责任，并免于接受与调解相关的作证或提供文件的强制程序；并进一步\n\n裁定：本法院将举行目前定于 2023 年 1 月 24 日、26 日和 31 日举行的听证会。在上述听证会之后，在调解期间，除有令人信服的理由外，这些合并审理的第 11 章案件及相关对抗性诉讼中的所有听证会一律中止，包括但不限于 HK Int'l Funds Invs. (USA) Ltd. v. Despins ex rel. Kwok，对抗性诉讼案号：22-05003 (JAM) 以及 Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. v. Kwok，对抗性诉讼案号：22-05032 (JAM) 中的所有听证会。指令各方当事人秉持善意进行谈判，并鼓励各方当事人克制不采取可以延期、可以通过协商一致解决或可由调解员充分考虑的法律程序；并进一步\n\n裁定：在调解期间，不得依据 Lady May 规定协议（ECF No. 299）释放托管资金；并进一步\n\n裁定：在调解期间，调解员获授权寻求其认为对协助调解所必需的对本裁定的任何修改；并进一步\n\n裁定：本裁定将记入 In re Kwok，案号：22-50073 (JAM) 以及 HK Int'l Funds Invs. (USA) Ltd. v. Despins ex rel. Kwok，对抗性诉讼案号：22-05003 (JAM) 和 Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. v. Kwok，对抗性诉讼案号：22-05032 (JAM) 的案件卷宗；并进一步\n\n裁定：受托人应将本裁定送达给各方当事人，以及依据 Lady May 规定协议（ECF No. 299）所持有托管资金的托管代理人，并在 2023 年 1 月 26 日或之前提交证明遵守本裁定的送达证书。\n\n2023 年 1 月 24 日签署于康涅狄格州布里奇波特。","key_entities":["Kwok","Despins","Guo","Ho Wan Kwok","Je","Miles Guo","Paul Hastings"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":1,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":107,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":134,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":183,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":299,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":465,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":523,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":717,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":1274,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":1345,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":1372,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":1821,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:59:57"}