{"id":"court_ctb_1960_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":1960,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":null,"title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT HO WAN KWOK, *et al.*, ) (Jointly Administered)","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT**\n\nHO WAN KWOK, *et al.*, ) (Jointly Administered)\n\n)\n\n)\n\n)\n\nDebtors.<sup>1</sup>\n\nIn re: ) Chapter 11 ) Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)\n\n) RE: ECF No. 1805\n\n## **ORDER GRANTING MOTION TO COMPEL G-CLUB TO COMPLY WITH RULE 2004 SUBPOENA**\n\nBefore the Court is the Motion for Entry of Order Compelling G-Club Operations LLC to Comply with Rule 2004 Subpoenas (the \"Motion to Compel\"), ECF No. 1805<sup>2</sup> , filed by Mr. Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as Chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") for the bankruptcy estate of Mr. Ho Wan Kwok, on May 18, 2023. On June 1, 2023, G-Club Operations LLC (\"G-Club\") filed the (1) Preliminary Objection to Trustee's Motion to Compel and (2) Motion to Modify Rule 2004 Subpoena (the \"Preliminary Objection\"). (ECF No. 1846.)\n\nAfter obtaining an extension of time to respond, on June 22, 2023, G-Club filed the Supplemental Objection to Motion to Compel and Request for Related Relief (the \"Supplemental Objection,\" and together with the Preliminary Objection, collectively, the \"Objection\"). (ECF\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> The Motion to Compel is an omnibus motion seeking varying relief against multiple parties. For the sake of clarity, this Order treats the Motion to Compel as a motion seeking relief against G-Club only.\n\nNo. 1924.) On June 23, the Trustee filed a reply (the \"Reply\"). (ECF No. 1934.) Hearings were held on the Motion to Compel on June 6, 2023 and June 27, 2023.\n\nExhibit C3 to the Declaration of Avram E. Luft attached to the Motion to Compel establishes that G-Club was served with the Rule 2004 subpoena on December 9, 2022, a fact which G-Club does not dispute. Exhibits Q, R, and S to the Declaration of Avram E. Luft further establish that the Trustee attempted to negotiate compliance with the Rule 2004 subpoena on several occasions. As stated on the record during the hearings held on the Motion to Compel, counsel for G-Club does not dispute the timeline of events established by counsel for the Trustee, but rather the characterization of G-Club's response to the Trustee's efforts.\n\nG-Club did not produce any documents to the Trustee before June 6, 2023. Between June 6, 2023 and June 30, 2023, G-Club produced 300 documents. The Trustee argues that (i) G-Club's production is long overdue, (ii) G-Club has engaged in bad faith dilatory behavior, and (iii) G-Club's objections to the scope of the Rule 2004 subpoena are unreasonable given this Court's previous findings relating to G-Club, the serious allegations relating to G-Club in the criminal action styled *United States v. Kwok*, Case No. 23 Cr. 118 (AT) (S.D.N.Y. June 14, 2023) (the \"Criminal Action\"), and the Trustee's investigation. G-Club argues that (a) it needs an additional 60 days to comply with the Rule 2004 subpoena because an independent management firm was appointed on June 1, 2023 after all of G-Club's management \"left\"<sup>3</sup> in March 2023 and (b) the Rule 2004 subpoena is overbroad given that Mr. Kwok was just a spokesperson and the Rule 2004 subpoena asks for documents containing the personally identifying information of G-Club's members.\n\n<sup>3</sup> During the hearing held on June 27, 2023, G-Club's counsel stated on the record that prior management \"left\" in March 2023.\n\nIt is clear that the production of documents by G-Club is several months overdue. The production of 300 documents in three weeks is not an encouraging sign. An additional 60-day extension of the time to respond to the Motion to Compel is not reasonable. Moreover, the Trustee has raised concerns regarding allegations that Ms. Yvette Wang, a defendant in the Criminal Action, engaged in fraudulent activity involving G-Club after G-Club had been served with the Rule 2004 subpoena, after Ms. Wang's arrest, and after the resignation of G-Club's former management. (Reply Ex. B.) During the hearings, G-Club's counsel disputed an aspersion about G-Club's conduct and argued that the Southern District of New York has not made any findings in the Criminal Action relating to G-Club. The Court agrees with the Trustee that there need not be findings to support Rule 2004 discovery. Therefore, the Motion to Compel is granted.\n\nThe Court turns to G-Club's scope objections. G-Club's first scope objection is not persuasive. This Court has already found that G-Club is related to Mr. Kwok and \"serve[s] the purposes of [Mr. Kwok], serve[s] as business vehicles for [Mr. Kwok], and [its] members are personally loyal to [Mr. Kwok].\" (Corrected Memorandum of Decision Granting in Part Motion for Preliminary Injunction, *Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund, L.P. v. Kwok (In re Kwok)*, Case No. 22-50073 (JAM), Adv. P. No. 22-05032 (JAM) (Jan. 13, 2023) (hereinafter Social Media/Protest Adversary), ECF No. 133 ¶¶ 2,7.) This finding was based on numerous exhibits and the live testimony of Ms. Jiao Bing Shang. Her testimony addressed how the Himalaya entities helped Mr. Kwok's followers buy G-Club membership. (Social Media/Protest Adversary, ECF No. 98, at \\*413:25–414:6.) Counsel to G-Club stated that she understood why the Trustee is seeking this discovery and understands why he is frustrated with how long this process has taken.\n\nTurning to the second objection, G-Club offered no evidentiary support regarding its concerns about producing personally identifying information of members to the Trustee. G-Club's counsel was not sure if privacy and confidentiality protections exist in G-Club's membership contracts. G-Club could not provide any reason why the Protective Order previously entered on October 6, 2022 in this case, ECF No. 923, is insufficient to address G-Club's confidentiality concerns.\n\nAccordingly, it is hereby\n\n**ORDERED:** The Motion to Compel, ECF No. 1805, insofar as it relates to G-Club, is **GRANTED** as set forth herein; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** G-Club shall produce all documents responsive to the Rule 2004 subpoena on or before July 14, 2023; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED:** On or before July 5, 2023, the Trustee and G-Club shall meet and confer about confidentiality and privacy issues raised by G-Club.\n\nDated at Bridgeport, Connecticut this 28th day of June, 2023.\n\n*Juli* **'L'Mr** *IN1.ning\\_ '/J11ite,{ S ptcy Judge 'lJistr t {cut*","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT（美国康涅狄格区破产法院）\n\n债务人：1\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，\n（合并审理）\n第 11 章\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n涉及：ECF No. 1805\n\n关于准予强制作出动议以命令 G-CLUB 遵守第 2004 条传票的裁定\n\n本法院现审理 Luc A. Despins（卢克·A·德斯平斯）先生以郭文贵先生破产财产的第 11 章破产受托人（下称「受托人」）身份于 2023 年 5 月 18 日提交的《关于要求作出命令强制 G-Club Operations LLC 遵守第 2004 条传票的动议》（下称「强制作出动议」），ECF No. 18052。2023 年 6 月 1 日，G-Club Operations LLC（G-Club 运营有限责任公司，下称「G-Club」）提交了(1)《对受托人强制作出动议的初步异议》及(2)《变更第 2004 条传票的动议》（下称「初步异议」）。（ECF No. 1846。）\n\n在获得答复延期后，G-Club 于 2023 年 6 月 22 日提交了《对强制作出动议的补充异议及相关救济请求》（下称「补充异议」，与初步异议合称为「异议」）。（ECF\n\n1 这些第 11 章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，亦称郭文贵、Miles Guo、Miles Kwok 以及其他诸多化名）（纳税人识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（纳税人识别号后四位：8202）以及 Genever Holdings Corporation。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 c/o Luc A. Despins, as Trustee for the Estate of Ho Wan Kwok（仅用于通知与通讯目的）。\n\n2 强制作出动议是一项针对多方寻求不同救济的综合动议。为明确起见，本裁定将该强制作出动议仅视为针对 G-Club 寻求救济的动议。\n\nNo. 1924。）6 月 23 日，受托人提交了答辩意见（下称「答辩意见」）。（ECF No. 1934。）法院于 2023 年 6 月 6 日和 2023 年 6 月 27 日就强制作出动议举行了听证会。\n\n强制作出动议所附 Avram E. Luft（阿夫拉姆·E·卢夫特）声明的附件 C 证明，G-Club 已于 2022 年 12 月 9 日被送达第 2004 条传票，G-Club 对此事实并无争议。Avram E. Luft 声明的附件 Q、R 和 S 进一步证明，受托人曾数次尝试就遵守第 2004 条传票进行协商。正如在强制作出动议听证会期间记录在案的那样，G-Club 的法律顾问对受托人法律顾问所列出的事件时间线并无异议，争议仅在于对 G-Club 针对受托人努力所作回应的定性。\n\nG-Club 在 2023 年 6 月 6 日之前未向受托人提供任何文件。在 2023 年 6 月 6 日至 2023 年 6 月 30 日期间，G-Club 提供了 300 份文件。受托人主张：(i) G-Club 提供文件已严重逾期，(ii) G-Club 存在出于恶意的拖延行为，以及 (iii) 鉴于本法院此前关于 G-Club 的认定、在案号为 23 Cr. 118 (AT) 的刑事诉讼案 United States v. Kwok (S.D.N.Y. June 14, 2023)（美国诉郭案，纽约南区，2023 年 6 月 14 日）（下称「刑事诉讼」）中涉及 G-Club 的严重指控，以及受托人的调查，G-Club 对第 2004 条传票范围提出的异议是不合理的。G-Club 则主张：(a) 在 G-Club 的所有管理层于 2023 年 3 月「离开」3 之后，一家独立的管理公司于 2023 年 6 月 1 日被任命，因此其需要额外的 60 天时间来遵守第 2004 条传票；以及 (b) 鉴于郭先生只是一名发言人，且第 2004 条传票要求提供包含 G-Club 会员个人身份识别信息的文件，该第 2004 条传票范围过宽。\n\n3 在 2023 年 6 月 27 日举行的听证会上，G-Club 的法律顾问在记录中陈述前管理层于 2023 年 3 月「离开」。\n\n显而易见，G-Club 提供文件已逾期数月。在三周内仅提供 300 份文件并非令人满意的迹象。对强制作出动议的答复时间再延长 60 天是不合理的。此外，受托人对相关指控提出了关切，指控称刑事诉讼中的被告 Yvette Wang（王雁平）女士在 G-Club 被送达第 2004 条传票之后、在王女士被捕之后以及在 G-Club 前管理层辞职之后，从事了涉及 G-Club 的欺诈活动。（答辩意见附件 B。）在听证会期间，G-Club 的法律顾问对针对 G-Club 行为的抨击提出了异议，并辩称 Southern District of New York（纽约南区）在刑事诉讼中尚未作出任何与 G-Club 相关的认定。法院认同受托人的意见，即支持第 2004 条证据开示并不需要已有既定认定。因此，强制作出动议予以准予。\n\n法院进而审理 G-Club 关于范围的异议。G-Club 关于范围的第一项异议不具说服力。本法院此前已经认定，G-Club 与郭先生存在关联，并且「服务于［郭先生］的目的，充当［郭先生］的商业工具，且［其］成员对［郭先生］个人忠诚」。（《关于部分准予初步禁令动议的决定备忘录更正本》，Pac. All. Asia Opportunity Fund, L.P. v. Kwok (In re Kwok), Case No. 22-50073 (JAM), Adv. P. No. 22-05032 (JAM) (Jan. 13, 2023)（下称「社交媒体/抗议附随诉讼」），ECF No. 133 ¶¶ 2,7。）该认定是基于大量证据附件以及 Jiao Bing Shang（尚皎冰）女士的出庭作证。她的证词阐述了喜马拉雅相关实体如何协助郭先生的追随者购买 G-Club 会员资格。（社交媒体/抗议附随诉讼，ECF No. 98，第 \\*413:25–414:6 行。）G-Club 的法律顾问表示，她理解受托人为何寻求该项证据开示，也理解受托人对这一过程耗时如此之长感到沮丧。\n\n转至第二项异议，关于向受托人提供会员个人身份识别信息的担忧，G-Club 未能提供任何证据支持。G-Club 的法律顾问无法确定 G-Club 的会员合同中是否存在隐私和保密保护条款。G-Club 亦无法提供任何理由说明为何本案此前于 2022 年 10 月 6 日作出的保护令（ECF No. 923）不足以解决 G-Club 的保密关切。\n\n据此，特此\n\n裁定如下：在涉及 G-Club 的范围内，依照本裁定所述，准予强制作出动议（ECF No. 1805）；并进一步\n\n裁定如下：G-Club 应在 2023 年 7 月 14 日或之前，提供符合第 2004 条传票要求的所有文件；并进一步\n\n裁定如下：受托人与 G-Club 应在 2023 年 7 月 5 日或之前，就 G-Club 提出的保密和隐私问题进行会晤商讨。\n\n日期：2023 年 6 月 28 日，于康涅狄格州布里奇波特。\n\nJulie A. Manning（朱莉·A·曼宁）\n美国康涅狄格区破产法官","key_entities":["Kwok","Je","Ho Wan Kwok","Guo","Despins","Miles Guo","Himalaya","Paul Hastings"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":98,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":133,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":923,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":1805,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":1846,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":1934,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":1098,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:43:07"}