{"id":"court_ctb_1565_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1565,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":"2023-01-20","title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION CHAPTER 11","summary_zh":"延期动议 —— Ho Wan Kwok 破产案（郭文贵 / Guo Wengui / Miles Guo），CTB 22-50073 ECF #1565（2023-01-20立案）。债务人郭文贵申请将回应受托人关于藐视法庭拟令（Order to Show Cause）的截止期限延长 30 天至 2023 年 4 月 27 日。郭文贵指出其于 2023 年 3 月 15 日因纽约南区刑事起诉被捕并羁押于布鲁克林大都会拘留所，需要时间聘请刑事辩护律师并就第五修正案反对自证其罪特权进行协调。","summary_en":"Motion for Extension of Time — In re Ho Wan Kwok (Miles Guo / Guo Wengui), CTB 22-50073 ECF #1565 (filed 2023-01-20). Individual Debtor Ho Wan Kwok moved for a 30-day extension of time, through April 27, 2023, to respond to the Trustee's Motion for an Order to Show Cause regarding contempt. The motion states that Kwok was arrested on federal criminal charges on March 15, 2023, and detained at MDC Brooklyn, necessitating extra time to coordinate with newly retained criminal counsel regarding his Fifth Amendment privilege.","body_en":"## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n## CHAPTER 11\n\nIn re:\n\nHO WAN KWOK, *et al.*,\n\nCase No. 22-50073(JAM)\n\nDebtors. [1](#page-0-0)\n\n#### **MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO RESPOND TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE**\n\nPursuant to D. Conn. L. Civ. R. 7(b), made applicable by Local Bankr. R. 1001-1(b), defendant Ho Wan Kwok, the individual debtor (the \"Individual Debtor\"), respectfully moves for a thirty (30) day extension of time, from March 28, 2023 to and including April 27, 2023, to respond to the Chapter 11 Trustee's (the \"Trustee\") Motion for Order to Show Cause Why Debtor, Mei Guo, and HK (USA) Should not be Held in Contempt of Court for Failure to Comply with Order Compelling Compliance with Rule 2004 Subpoenas and Sanctioned for Such Conduct (the \"Order to Show Cause\" (Doc. No. 1453)). The Individual Debtor states that good cause exists to grant the requested extension based on the following:\n\n1. On January 20, 2023 this Court entered its Order Granting In Part Motion to Compel Compliance with Rule 2004 Subpoenas (the \"Motion to Compel Order\") Doc. No. 1353). As it relates to the Individual Debtor, the Motion to Compel Order required him to produce certain categories of documents by 5:00 p.m. on January 31, 2023, and to file, by 5:00\n\n<span id=\"page-0-0\"></span><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) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation.\n\np.m. on February 7, 2023, a sworn declaration concerning, *inter alai*, efforts to locate and review responsive documents.\n\n2. The Individual Debtor's counsel thereafter informed the Trustee's counsel by email that the \"[Individual Debtor] is asserting his rights under the 5th Amendment, including any rights under the Act of Production Doctrine,\" and on February 7, 2023, the Individual Debtor filed a sworn declaration stating:\n\n> I am the Debtor in the above-captioned Chapter 11 case and am in receipt of the Court's order on the Trustee' s Motion to Compel, dated January 20, 2023, Doc. No . 1353 . I hereby invoke my rights under the 5th Amendment to the United States Constitution, including under the act of production doctrine, with respect to the Subpoena dated August 17, 2022, in its entirety, including all requests for documents and information set forth therein.\n\nFebruary 7, 2023, Declaration of Mr. Ho Wan Kwok Concerning Invocation of Fifth Amendment Privilege in Regard to Rule 2004 Discovery (Exhibit A to Doc. No. 1444).\n\n3. The Order to Show Cause challenges the Individual Debtor's invocation of his Fifth Amendment privilege in response to the Motion to Compel Order, and seeks to hold the Individual Debtor in contempt.\n\n4. On February 13, 2023, this Court issued its Order Granting In part Motion for Order to Appear and Show Cause Why the Court Should not Hold the HK Parties in Contempt of Court (the \"February 13 Order\" (Doc. No. 1455)). The February 13 Order stated that the Court would set a briefing schedule on the Individual Debtor's assertion of his Fifth Amendment privilege at the conclusion of the mediation. *Id.*, at 2.\n\n5. Following the completion of the mediation, on March 7, 2023, this Court held a status conference on a number of matters. During the status conference the Court ordered the Debtor to respond to the Order to Show Cause by March 28, 2023.\n\n2\n\n6. As the Court is aware, on the morning of March 15, 2023, less than six weeks after the Individual Debtor invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege in response to the Motion to Compel Order, a twelve count indictment was unsealed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York charging the Individual Debtor and Kin Ming Je, a/k/a \"William Je\" with various federal crimes. The Individual Debtor was arrested by federal law enforcement authorities on March 15, 2023, and remains in federal custody; the Department of Justice has filed a lengthy memorandum arguing that the Individual Debtor should be denied bail and detained pending trial. *See USA v. Kwok*, 1:23cr118 (Doc. No. 7).\n\n7. The Individual Debtor is currently being held at MDC Brooklyn. The Individual Debtor's bankruptcy counsel have not communicated with him directly since his arrest, and understand that his present focus and priority is on retaining criminal counsel and obtaining release on bail—as of March 20, 2023, the criminal case docket, *USA v. Kwok*, 1:23cr118, indicates that the Individual Debtor is represented by a public defender. [2](#page-2-0)\n\n8. The Individual Debtor and his bankruptcy counsel require the requested extension to fully assess the impact of the indictment and his arrest on the relief sought in the Order to Show Cause, and to work with criminal counsel, once retained, to fully and properly respond to the Order to Show Cause in light of these same incredibly serious events.\n\n9. The Trustee will not be prejudiced by this extension. Indeed, even if the Court were to order the Individual Debtor to produce documents or other materials despite his Fifth Amendment invocation the Individual Debtor cannot do so as long as he remains incarcerated, which could be through trial.\n\n<span id=\"page-2-0\"></span><sup>2</sup> Criminal counsel that had previously advised the Individual Debtor on various matters will not be representing him in connection with his March 15 arrest and the indictment.\n\n10. This is the Individual Debtor's first request for extension of time with respect to the foregoing time limitation.\n\n11. Pursuant to D. Conn. L. Civ. R. 7(b)(2), counsel for the Individual Debtor has inquired of counsel for the Trustee as to Trustee's position on the requested extension of time, and the Trustee's counsel stated that the Trustee objects to the requested extension.\n\nWHEREFORE, The Individual Debtor respectfully requests that the Court enter an order extending his time to respond to the Order to Show Cause by thirty (30) days, through and including April 27, 2023.\n\nDated at Bridgeport, Connecticut this 20h day of March 2023.\n\n# THE DEFENDANT, HO WAN KWOK\n\n*/s/ James M. Moriarty* Eric Henzy (ct12849) Aaron A. Romney (ct28144) James M. Moriarty (ct21876) Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C. 10 Middle Street, 15th Floor Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 Telephone: (203) 368-4234 Facsimile: (203) 368-5485 Email: [ehenzy@zeislaw.com](mailto:ehenzy@zeislaw.com) aromney@zeislaw.com [Jmoriarty@zeislaw.com](mailto:Jmoriarty@zeislaw.com)\n\n## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n## CHAPTER 11\n\nIn re:\n\nHO WAN KWOK, *et al.*,\n\nCase No. 22-50073(JAM)\n\nDebtors. [3](#page-4-0)\n\n## **[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO RESPOND TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE**\n\nUpon consideration of the Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Order to Show Cause filed by the Individual Debtor Ho Wan Kwok; it appearing that proper and adequate notice of the Motion has been given under the circumstances and that no other or further notice is necessary; and it appearing that cause exists to grant the relief sought in the Motion; it is hereby\n\nORDERED, ADJUDGED, and DECREED that:\n\n**1.** The Motion is GRANTED as set forth herein and the Individual Debtor Ho Wank Kwok shall file his response to the Order to Show Cause on or before April 27, 2023.\n\n<span id=\"page-4-0\"></span><sup>3</sup> The Debtors in these jointly administered chapter 11 cases are Ho Wan Kwok (also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok) (last four digits of tax identification number: 9595), Genever Holdings LLC (last four digits of tax identification number: 8202) and Genever Holdings Corporation.\n\n### **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**\n\nI hereby certify that on March 20, 2023, a copy of foregoing Motion for Extension of Time to Respond to Order to Show Cause was filed electronically and served by mail on anyone unable to accept electronic filing. 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> By: */s/ James M. Moriarty \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_* James M. Moriarty (ct21876) Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C. 10 Middle Street, 15th Floor Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 Telephone: (203) 368-4234 Facsimile: (203) 368-5485 Email: [Jmoriarty@zeislaw.com](mailto:Jmoriarty@zeislaw.com)","body_zh":"美国破产法院 康涅狄格区 布里奇波特分院\n第11章\n\n关于：\n\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，\n\n案号：22-50073(JAM)\n\n债务人。[1]\n关于延长对出示理由令作出回应期限的动议\n\n根据通过《地方破产规则》第1001-1(b)条适用的《康涅狄格区地方民事诉讼规则》第7(b)条，被告即个人债务人Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）（以下简称“个人债务人”），谨提请将对第11章受托人（以下简称“受托人”）提交的《关于要求下达命令要求债务人、Mei Guo（郭美）及HK (USA)就未能遵守强制作出符合第2004条传票规定的命令出示不应被判藐视法庭并受处罚之理由的动议》（以下简称“出示理由令”（Doc. No. 1453））作出回应的期限延长三十（30）天，即自2023年3月28日延长至2023年4月27日（含当日）。基于下列事由，个人债务人陈述存在准予所请求延期的充分理由：\n\n1. 2023年1月20日，本法院作出了《关于部分准许强制作出符合第2004条传票规定的动议的命令》（以下简称“强制执行命令”）（Doc. No. 1353）。就个人债务人而言，强制执行命令要求其在2023年1月31日下午5:00前提交某些类别的文书，并在2023年2月7日下午5:00前提交一份关于查找和审查应答文书所作努力等事项的宣誓声明。\n\n1 在这些合并审理的第11章案件中，债务人为Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，又名Guo Wengui、Miles Guo及Miles Kwok）（纳税人识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（纳税人识别号后四位：8202）及Genever Holdings Corporation。\n\n2. 随后，个人债务人的律师通过电子邮件通知受托人的律师，“[个人债务人]正在主张其在宪法第五修正案下的权利，包括在文书提交行为法则下的任何权利”，并且于2023年2月7日，个人债务人提交了一份宣誓声明，其中陈述：\n\n本人系上述第11章案件的债务人，并已收到法院于2023年1月20日就受托人强制执行动议作出的命令（Doc. No. 1353）。本人特此就2022年8月17日的传票整体，包括其中列出的所有文书和信息调取请求，援引本人根据美利坚合众国宪法第五修正案所享有的权利，包括文书提交行为法则项下的权利。\n\n2023年2月7日，Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）先生关于就第2004条证据开示援引第五修正案特权的声明（Doc. No. 1444的附件A）。\n\n3. 出示理由令质疑个人债务人针对强制执行命令援引第五修正案特权的行为，并寻求认定个人债务人构成藐视法庭。\n\n4. 2023年2月13日，本法院发布了《关于部分准许要求下达出庭并出示法院不应认定HK方构成藐视法庭之理由的命令的动议的命令》（以下简称“2月13日命令”（Doc. No. 1455））。2月13日命令指出，法院将在调解结束后就个人债务人主张其第五修正案特权一事制定书面答辩日程表。同上，第2页。\n\n5. 调解结束后，本法院于2023年3月7日就若干事项举行了案件进展听证会。在案件进展听证会期间，法院命令债务人在2023年3月28日之前对出示理由令作出回应。\n\n6. 正如法院所知，在个人债务人针对强制执行命令援引第五修正案特权后不到六周的2023年3月15日上午，United States District Court for the Southern District of New York（美国纽约南区联邦地区法院）启封了一份包含十二项罪名的起诉书，指控个人债务人及Kin Ming Je（余建明，又名“William Je”）犯有多项联邦罪行。个人债务人于2023年3月15日被联邦执法部门逮捕，目前仍处于联邦羁押之中；司法部已提交了一份长篇备忘录，主张应拒绝个人债务人的保释请求并在审判前予以羁押。参见USA v. Kwok，案号1:23cr118（Doc. No. 7）。\n\n7. 个人债务人目前被关押在MDC Brooklyn（布鲁克林大都会拘留中心）。个人债务人的破产律师自其被捕后尚未与其直接沟通，并了解到他目前的重心和首要任务是聘请刑事辩护律师并争取保释获释——截至2023年3月20日，刑事案件卷宗USA v. Kwok（案号1:23cr118）显示，个人债务人由一名公设辩护人代表。[2]\n\n8. 个人债务人及其破产律师需要所请求的延期，以便充分评估起诉书及其被捕对出示理由令所寻求的救济产生的影响，并与一旦聘请的刑事辩护律师开展合作，鉴于这些极其严重的事件，对出示理由令作出充分且适当的回应。\n\n9. 受托人不会因本次延期而受到不利益。事实上，即使法院不顾个人债务人对第五修正案的援引而命令其提交文书或其他材料，个人债务人在被监禁期间也无法照办，而这种监禁状态可能会持续到审判结束。\n\n2 此前在多项事务上为个人债务人提供咨询的刑事律师将不会代表其处理与3月15日逮捕及起诉书相关的事宜。\n\n10. 这是个人债务人针对前述时限首次提出延期请求。\n\n11. 根据《康涅狄格区地方民事诉讼规则》第7(b)(2)条，个人债务人的律师已向受托人的律师询问受托人对所请求延期的立场，受托人的律师表示受托人反对所请求的延期。\n\n据此，个人债务人谨提请法院作出一项命令，将其对出示理由令作出回应的期限延长三十（30）天，延至2023年4月27日（含当日）。\n\n日期：2023年3月20日于康涅狄格州布里奇波特。\n被告：HO WAN KWOK\n\n/s/ James M. Moriarty\nEric Henzy (ct12849)\nAaron A. Romney (ct28144)\nJames M. Moriarty (ct21876)\nZeisler & Zeisler, P.C.\n10 Middle Street, 15th Floor\nBridgeport, Connecticut 06604\n电话：(203) 368-4234\n传真：(203) 368-5485\n电子邮件：ehenzy@zeislaw.com aromney@zeislaw.com Jmoriarty@zeislaw.com\n\n美国破产法院 康涅狄格区 布里奇波特分院\n第11章\n\n关于：\n\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，\n\n案号：22-50073(JAM)\n\n债务人。[3]\n[拟定]关于准许延长对出示理由令作出回应期限的动议的命令\n\n经审议个人债务人Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）提交的《关于延长对出示理由令作出回应期限的动议》；鉴于在此种情况下已作出适当且充分的动议通知，且无需作出其他或进一步通知；且鉴于存在准予动议所寻求救济的事由；特此\n\n命令、裁定并判决如下：\n\n1. 本动议按本命令所列内容予以准许，个人债务人Ho Wan Kwok应在2023年4月27日或该日之前提交其对出示理由令的回应。\n\n3 在这些合并审理的第11章案件中，债务人为Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，又名Guo Wengui、Miles Guo及Miles Kwok）（纳税人识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（纳税人识别号后四位：8202）及Genever Holdings Corporation。\n\n送达证明\n\n本人特此证明，于2023年3月20日，上述《关于延长对出示理由令作出回应期限的动议》的副本已通过电子方式归档，并通过邮寄方式送达给任何无法接收电子归档的人员。本归档通知将通过法院电子归档系统的运作以电子邮件形式发送给所有当事人，或按照电子归档通知上的指引以邮寄方式发送给任何无法接收电子归档的人员。各当事人可通过法院的CM/ECF系统查阅本归档文件。\n\n签署人：/s/ James M. Moriarty\nJames M. Moriarty (ct21876)\nZeisler & Zeisler, P.C.\n10 Middle Street, 15th Floor\nBridgeport, Connecticut 06604\n电话：(203) 368-4234\n传真：(203) 368-5485\n电子邮件：Jmoriarty@zeislaw.com","key_entities":["Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Guo","Je","Miles Guo","Kin Ming Je","William Je"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":1367,"status":"published","published_at":"2023-01-20 00:00:00","created_at":"2023-01-20","updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:50:24"}