{"id":"court_ctb_1454_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1454,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2023-01-20","title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION | In re:                                | Cha","summary_zh":"延期合规动议 —— Ho Wan Kwok 破产案（郭文贵 / Guo Wengui / Miles Guo），CTB 22-50073 ECF #1454（2023-01-20立案）。郭美（Mei Guo）与 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 提交动议，请求将履行法院 2023 年 1 月 20 日调查命令（ECF #1353）下文件检索、翻译与提交的截止日期延长至 2023 年 3 月 13 日。","summary_en":"Motion for Extension of Time — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB Case No. 22-50073 ECF #1454 (filed Jan 20, 2023). Mei Guo and HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC moved for an extension of time through March 13, 2023, to complete the search, review, and production of documents required under the Court's January 20, 2023 Rule 2004 discovery order (ECF #1353).","body_en":"## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| In re:                                | Chapter 11              |\n|---------------------------------------|-------------------------|\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,                  | Case No: 22-50073 (JAM) |\n| Debtors.                              |                         |\n|                                       |                         |\n| HO WAN KWOK,                          |                         |\n| Movant,                               |                         |\n| v.                                    |                         |\n| LUC A. DESPINS,<br>CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE |                         |\n\nRespondent.\n\n**MEI GUO AND HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC'S MOTION FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO COMPLY WITH THE COURT'S ORDER DATED JANUARY 20, 2023**\n\n1. On August 19, 2022, Mei Guo and HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC (\"HK USA\") were each served with a Rule 2004 subpoena (the \"Subpoenas\"). Ms. Guo and HK USA thereafter served timely objections to the document requests attached to the Subpoenas, asserting objections to certain of the enumerated Instructions and Definitions included with the requests for production, as well as objections to certain of the requests for production.\n\n2. On or about October 28, 2022, Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\"), filed a motion pursuant to Rules 26 and 37 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules 2004 and 9016 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure seeking among other things, to compel Ms. Guo and HK USA to comply with the Subpoenas.\n\n3. Ms. Guo and HK USA responded to the Trustee's motion on November 14, 2022.\n\n- 4. A hearing in connection with the Trustee's motion was held on November 30, 2022.\n- 5. On January 20, 2023, the Court entered an Order granting the Trustee's motion in\n\npart (the \"January 20 Order\") (ECF #1353).\n\n6. Relevant to the Subpoenas, the January 20 Order directed that:\n\nMei Guo and HK (USA) shall, by 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2023, search for and produce to the Trustee:\n\n(i) documents responsive to the Trustee's requests, except as to the documents that concern the Lady May, dated June 1, 2014, or later, unless a particular request specifies a different time period and such time period does not begin before June 1, 2014;\n\n(ii) documents responsive to the Trustee's requests, except as the documents concern the Lady May, as to both assets the Debtor acknowledges he owns and assets that allegedly belong to persons or entities other than the Debtor, including without limitation his family members, including Mei Guo herself, and associated entities, including HK (USA) itself; and\n\n(iii) documents responsive to the Trustee's requests that are within their custody, possession, or control, except as to the documents that concern the Lady May, including without limitation documents in the files of their current or former counsel and other agents and advisors, unless such documents have already been produced by their current or former counsel and other agents and advisors but without consideration of any potential future production by their current or former counsel and other agents and advisors.\n\n(ECF #1353).\n\n7. Upon receipt of the Order, Ms. Guo and HK USA began taking steps to comply\n\nwith the Order, including searching for hard copy records and conducting an inventory of\n\nelectronic records.\n\n8. Shortly after receipt of the January 20 Order, on January 24, 2023, the Court\n\nentered an Order Directing the Parties to Mediation (the \"Mediation Order\") (ECF #1373).\n\n9. In the Mediation Order, the Court ordered that:\n\n[D]uring 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.\n\n(ECF #1373).\n\n10. Accordingly, following the Mediation Order, Ms. Guo and HK USA attempted to work with the Trustee in good faith, through counsel, to come to an agreed upon schedule for the production of documents required by the January 20 Order. At all times, the Trustee understood that Ms. Guo and HK USA would need additional time, beyond that provided in the January 20 Order.\n\n11. After several meet and confer sessions by email and telephone, the parties conducted a meet and confer conference earlier today to discuss a schedule for the production of documents required by the January 20 Order.\n\n12. Ms. Guo and HK USA explained, through counsel, that while they do not believe that they are in possession of a significant number of documents responsive to the Subpoenas, it will be costly and time intensive for them to confirm that fact. Among other things, Ms. Guo needs to search electronic documents for records responsive to the Subpoenas, as well as have those documents translated for review and possible production.\n\n13. Accordingly, Ms. Guo and HK USA advised the Trustee that they require an additional thirty (30) days from today to complete their search, review and production. Counsel made clear that Ms. Guo and HK USA would begin producing documents as early as next week, and would continue to produce documents on a rolling basis, but were placing a realistic timeline on their practical and logistical ability to fully comply with the January 20 Order.\n\n14. The Trustee objected to that timeframe, and Ms. Guo and HK USA's motion for an extension of time follows.<sup>1</sup>\n\n15. For the reasons set forth herein, Ms. Guo and HK USA move for an Order extending the time to comply with the January 20 Order, through and including March 13, 2023.\n\nDated at Roseland, New Jersey this 10th day of February, 2023.\n\n## **HK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC AND MEI GUO**\n\n*/s/ Lee Vartan*  Lee Vartan Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC 105 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland, NJ 07068 Telephone: (973) 530-2107 Email: [lvartan@csglaw.com](mailto:lvartan@csglaw.com) *Attorneys for HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC and Mei Guo*\n\nStephen M. Kindseth (ct14640) Aaron A. Romney (ct28144) Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C. 10 Middle Street, 15th Floor Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 Telephone: (203) 368-4234 Email: [skindseth@zeislaw.com](mailto:skindseth@zeislaw.com) [aromney@zeislaw.com](mailto:aromney@zeislaw.com) *Local Counsel for HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC and Mei Guo*\n\n<sup>1</sup> Ms. Guo and HK USA are in receipt of the Trustee's Order to Show Cause filed earlier this evening as ECF #1453, and will separately respond to that application. Ms. Guo and HK USA are not attempting to avoid the January 20 Order; they are actively working to comply with the Order. They simply need more time to do so.\n\n## **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**\n\nI hereby certify that on this 10th day of February, 2023, 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 of Electronic Filing. Parties may access this filing through the Court's CM/ECF System.\n\n> */s/ Lee Vartan* Lee Vartan","body_zh":"United States Bankruptcy Court District of Connecticut Bridgeport Division（美国康涅狄格区联邦破产法院布里奇波特分部）\n\n关于：第11章\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵）等，案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。\n\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵），\n动议人，\n诉\nLuc A. Despins（吕克·A·德斯平斯），\n第11章受托人\n\n被申请人。\n\nMei Guo（郭美）及 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC（香港国际基金投资（美国）有限公司）请求延长遵守法院2023年1月20日裁定之期限的动议\n\n1. 2022年8月19日，Mei Guo（郭美）与 HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC（“HK USA”）分别被送达了一份《破产程序第2004条传票》（下称“传票”）。随后，郭女士与 HK USA 对传票所附的文件调取请求及时送达了异议，对提交文件请求中列明的某些指示与定义提出了异议，并对某些提交文件请求提出了异议。\n\n2. 2022年10月28日左右，Luc A. Despins 以其作为第11章受托人（下称“受托人”）的身份，根据《联邦民事诉讼程序规则》第26条和第37条以及《联邦破产诉讼程序规则》第2004条和第9016条提起了动议，除其他事项外，请求强令郭女士及 HK USA 遵守传票。\n\n3. 郭女士及 HK USA 于2022年11月14日对受托人的动议作出了回应。\n\n- 4. 2022年11月30日，法院就受托人的动议举行了听证会。\n- 5. 2023年1月20日，法院作出一项裁定，部分批准了受托人的动议（下称“1月20日裁定”）（ECF #1353）。\n\n6. 关于传票，1月20日裁定命令：\n\nMei Guo（郭美）和 HK (USA) 应在2023年1月31日下午5:00之前，向受托人检索并提交：\n\n(i) 符合受托人请求的文件，但日期在2014年6月1日或之后涉及 Lady May（梅号游艇）的文件除外，除非特定请求指定了不同的时间段且该时间段不早于2014年6月1日开始；\n\n(ii) 符合受托人请求的文件，但涉及 Lady May（梅号游艇）的文件除外，既包括债务人承认其拥有的资产，也包括据称属于债务人以外的个人或实体的资产，包括但不限于其家庭成员（包括郭美本人）以及关联实体（包括 HK (USA) 本身）；以及\n\n(iii) 在其保管、占有或控制之下的符合受托人请求的文件，但涉及 Lady May（梅号游艇）的文件除外，包括但不限于其现任或前任律师以及其他代理人和顾问的案卷中的文件，除非该等文件已由其现任或前任律师及其他代理人和顾问提交，但不考虑其现任或前任律师及其他代理人和顾问在未来可能进行的任何提交。\n\n(ECF #1353)。\n\n7. 在收到该裁定后，郭女士和 HK USA 开始采取措施以遵守该裁定，包括检索纸质记录以及对电子记录进行清点。\n\n8. 在收到1月20日裁定后不久，2023年1月24日，法院作出了《责令各方进行调解的裁定》（下称“调解裁定”）（ECF #1373）。\n\n9. 在调解裁定中，法院命令：\n\n调解期间，除有令人信服的事由外，在这些合并审理的第11章破产案件及相关对抗性诉讼中的所有听证会均予中止，包括但不限于 HK Int'l Funds Invs. (USA) Ltd. 诉 Despins 代替 Kwok 案，对抗诉讼案号 22-05003 (JAM)，以及 Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. 诉 Kwok 案，对抗诉讼案号 22-05032 (JAM) 中的所有听证会。命令并指示各方本着诚实信用原则进行谈判，并鼓励各方克制不采取可以推迟、经协商解决或由调解员充分考虑的法律程序。\n\n(ECF #1373)。\n\n10. 因此，在调解裁定作出后，郭女士及 HK USA 试图通过律师与受托人本着诚实信用原则进行合作，以就1月20日裁定所要求的文件提交达成一致的时间表。在任何时候，受托人都理解郭女士及 HK USA 需要比1月20日裁定所规定的时间更多的额外时间。\n\n11. 经过通过电子邮件和电话进行的数次磋商会谈后，各方于今天早些时候举行了一次磋商会议，以讨论1月20日裁定所要求的文件提交时间表。\n\n12. 郭女士和 HK USA 通过律师解释称，虽然他们认为自己并未占有大量符合传票要求的文件，但要证实这一事实将耗费大量成本和时间。除其他事项外，郭女士需要检索电子文件以寻找符合传票要求的记录，并需要将这些文件进行翻译以便审查和可能进行的提交。\n\n13. 因此，郭女士和 HK USA 告知受托人，他们需要从今天起额外的三十（30）天时间来完成检索、审查和提交。律师明确表示，郭女士和 HK USA 最早将在下周开始提交文件，并将以滚动方式持续提交文件，但这是根据他们在实际操作和后勤保障上完全遵守1月20日裁定的能力而制定的切合实际的时间表。\n\n14. 受托人对该时间框架提出了异议，随之郭女士和 HK USA 提出了本延期动议。1\n\n15. 基于本文所述理由，郭女士和 HK USA 请求法院作出裁定，将遵守1月20日裁定的期限延长至2023年3月13日（包含该日）。\n\n2023年2月10日订于新泽西州罗斯兰。\nHK INTERNATIONAL FUNDS INVESTMENTS (USA) LIMITED, LLC 与 MEI GUO（郭美）\n\n/签名/ Lee Vartan  Lee Vartan Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC 105 Eisenhower Parkway Roseland, NJ 07068 电话：(973) 530-2107 电子邮件：[lvartan@csglaw.com] HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 及 Mei Guo 的代理律师\n\nStephen M. Kindseth (ct14640) Aaron A. Romney (ct28144) Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C. 10 Middle Street, 15th Floor Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 电话：(203) 368-4234 电子邮件：[skindseth@zeislaw.com] [aromney@zeislaw.com] HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC 及 Mei Guo 的本地代理律师\n\n1 郭女士和 HK USA 已收到今晚早些时候作为 ECF #1453 提交的受托人《要求说明理由令》，并将就该申请单独作出答复。郭女士和 HK USA 并非企图规避1月20日裁定；他们正在积极努力以遵守该裁定。他们只是需要更多时间来完成这项工作。\n送达证明\n\n我特此证明，于2023年2月10日，上述文书的一份副本已通过电子方式提交。本提交的通知将通过法院电子提交系统的运行以电子邮件形式发送给所有当事方，或根据电子提交通知所示，以邮寄方式发送给无法接受电子提交的任何人。各当事方可通过法院的 CM/ECF 系统查阅本次提交的文件。\n\n> /签名/ Lee Vartan Lee Vartan","key_entities":["Guo","Je","Kwok","Despins","Ho Wan Kwok"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":1353,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":1373,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":1453,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":1174,"status":"published","published_at":"2023-01-20 00:00:00","created_at":"2023-01-20","updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:46:37"}