{"id":"court_ctb_2295_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":2295,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"UNKNOWN","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| ------------------------------------------------------                                                                                                                                                        |                           | x                                                                       |                              |\n|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------|\n| In re:                                                                                                                                                                                                        |                           | :<br>:                                                                  | Chapter 11                   |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.,1                                                                                                                                                                                         |                           | :<br>:                                                                  | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)      |\n|                                                                                                                                                                                                               | Debtors.                  | :<br>:                                                                  | (Jointly Administered)       |\n| ------------------------------------------------------<br>LUC A. DESPINS, CHAPTER 11<br>TRUSTEE,<br>v.<br>GREENWICH LAND, LLC and<br>HING CHI NGOK,<br>------------------------------------------------------ | Plaintiff,<br>Defendants. | :<br>x<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>:<br>x | Adv. Proceeding No. 23-05005 |\n|                                                                                                                                                                                                               |                           |                                                                         |                              |\n\n## **JOINT REPORT OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE AND DEFENDANTS GREENWICH LAND, LLC AND HING CHI NGOK REGARDING PERSONALTY AND FIXTURES LOCATED ON OR IN TACONIC PROPERTY**\n\nLuc A. Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the\n\nchapter 11 case (the \"Chapter 11 Case\") of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Debtor\"), and as plaintiff in the\n\nabove-captioned adversary proceeding (the \"Adversary Proceeding\"), by and through his\n\nundersigned counsel, and defendants Greenwich Land, LLC and Hing Chi Ngok (the\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\"Defendants,\" and, together with the Trustee, collectively, the \"Parties\") hereby submit this joint report (the \"Joint Report\") in response to the Court's order at the status conference on October 24, 2023 directing the Parties to meet and confer regarding the personalty and fixtures located in or on the premises at 373 Taconic Road, Greenwich, Connecticut (the \"Taconic Property\"). The Parties respectfully state the following:\n\n1. On August 24, 2023, the Court entered its *Memorandum of Decision and Order Granting in Part Motion for Preliminary Injunction* in the adversary proceeding against Taurus Fund LLC, Scott Barnett, and Taurus Management LLC [Adv. Proc. 23-05017, Doc. No. 47] (the \"Mahwah PI Order\").\n\n2. Pursuant to the Mahwah PI Order, on September 1, 2023, the Trustee and his counsel conducted a tour of the Mahwah Mansion with professionals from Kroll, LLC to inspect and document the conditions of the premises and the personal property and fixtures located in or on the Mahwah Mansion.\n\n3. On October 23, 2023, the Trustee filed an *Emergency Motion for Status Conference to Discuss Preservation of Property of Estate* [Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 89] (the \"Emergency Motion\") describing his preliminary findings regarding the conditions of the premises and personal property and fixtures located in or on the Mahwah Mansion.\n\n4. In light of these findings, the Trustee sought a status conference to discuss the preservation and protection of estate assets by among other things, authorizing the Trustee to conduct an immediate video tour of the Taconic Property to document items that are on the premises and to document the condition of the premises (the \"Video Tour\").\n\n5. On October 23, 2023, the Court entered its *Order Granting the Trustee's Emergency Motion* [Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 71], ordering counsel for Taurus Fund LLC and counsel for Greenwich Land, LLC to appear at the status conference.\n\n6. On October 24, 2023, the Court held the emergency status conference, which was attended by the Trustee and counsel for the Defendants. The Court directed the Parties to meet and confer, specifically regarding immediately conducting the Video Tour.\n\n7. On October 26, 2023, the Parties met and conferred, but disagreed as to whether or how to proceed with the Video Tour.\n\n#### **Trustee's Position**\n\n8. The Trustee believes the Video Tour is necessary to obtain an inventory of all the items, personalty, and fixtures presently located in or on the Taconic Property so the Trustee can identify any items that are presently missing and/or that may go missing in the future. During the Parties' meet and confer, the Trustee emphasized that the Video Tour is not intended to be and would not be an intrusive process. Specifically, to ensure a speedy, non-intrusive video tour, the Trustee represented that:\n\n- a. the Trustee will not personally attend the Video Tour at the Taconic Property;\n- b. only a limited number of professionals from Kroll, LLC will be present to conduct the Video Tour;\n- c. the Video Tour will not take more than two hours, and will take place at a mutually-agreeable time during the day; and\n- d. counsel for Greenwich Land, LLC may attend the Video Tour.\n\n9. The Court has the power under section 105 of the Bankruptcy Code to enter an order authorizing the Trustee to conduct the Video Tour in accordance with the above parameters to preserve and protect potential estate property located on or in the Taconic Property.\n\n10. The Trustee is fearful that, absent this relief, the Defendants may dissipate potential estate property, as they have in the past, in violation of the Bankruptcy Code and/or a court order. For example, in the memorandum of law in support of his motion for summary judgment [Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 78] (the \"Memorandum of Law\"), the Trustee described how the Defendants (i) sold their property located at 33 Ferncliff Road, Cos Cob, Connecticut after the commencement of this chapter 11 case despite having received a restraining notice from PAX preventing them from selling the property, and (ii) systematically dissipated the sale proceeds thereafter. The Memorandum of Law further describes how Defendants have, through the spending of funds, continued to dissipate Greenwich Land's assets in violation of this Court's temporary restraining order entered on March 28, 2023 [Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 14] and the preliminary injunction entered on May 26, 2023 [Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 53].\n\n11. The Trustee's photographic evidence further suggests that the Defendants have been moving personalty and fixtures out of the Taconic Property following the Debtor's petition date. For example, the images attached hereto as **Exhibit A** show that the wall fixture identified in Tab 29 of the exhibit to the Emergency Motion and seen in the Taconic Property on May 16, 2020, was still located in the Taconic Property as of January 16, 2022, merely one month prior to the Debtor's petition date. The wooden table and blue desk identified in Tab 28, which were seen in the Taconic Property on March 27, 2020, was still located in the Taconic Property as of January 18, 2022. These pieces of furniture were subsequently identified in the Mahwah Mansion on September 1, 2023, at Tabs 26, 38, and 39 of the exhibit to the Emergency Motion.\n\nThere are reasonable grounds to believe that the above-mentioned pieces of furniture were still located in the Taconic Property on the Debtor's petition date.\n\n12. The issue at hand is binary and straightforward: either the Court permits the Trustee to obtain and preserve evidence of assets which the Trustee believes are the property of the estate through the Video Tour, or it does not. The Trustee is confused by the Defendants' position as to what, if anything, could be achieved by further meeting and conferring. Any delay could only potentially lead to further dissipation of property of the estate. To the extent the Court requires the Trustee to file a separate motion for the Video Tour, which the Trustee believes is unnecessary, such motion should be heard on an expedited timetable in light of the history of dissipation of estate assets by the Defendants and others associated with the Debtor.\n\n13. For all of these reasons, the Trustee respectfully requests that the Court to enter an order authorizing the Trustee to conduct an immediate video tour at the Taconic Property to document the items, personalty, and fixtures in or on the premises and to document conditions of the premises.\n\n### **Defendants' Position**\n\n14. Defendants Greenwich Land, LLC and Hing Chi Ngok, by their counsel, respectfully submit this status update at the direction of the Bankruptcy Court. On October 26, 2023, Defendants, through counsel, met and conferred with the Trustee. The parties were unable to reach a consensual resolution regarding the Trustee's Emergency Motion. Defendants remain willing to continue meeting and conferring with the Trustee, but the Trustee has advised Defendants that he does not believe further meeting and conferring would be productive. Therefore, to the extent the Trustee wishes to seek relief, he should file a motion seeking relief and Defendants will respond to any such motion. Defendants respectfully request that the Court\n\nnot require Defendants to respond on an emergency basis while Defendants' counsel is busy preparing Defendants' opposition to the Trustee's summary judgment motion. As it relates to Greenwich Land, the Trustee's Motion for Status Conference was based on purported photographs from videos that have been on the Internet for approximately three years. Defendants respectfully request that the Court not acquiesce to the Trustee's contrived \"emergency\" and that any motion filed by the Trustee be addressed deliberatively after Defendants have a reasonable opportunity to respond.\n\n15. Defendants submit this status report without prejudice to their pending motion to withdraw the reference and all of their rights, remedies, and arguments relating and attendant thereto.\n\n## [*Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank*]\n\nNew York, New York\n\n### Dated: October 27, 2023 LUC A. DESPINS, CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\n By: */s/ Nicholas A. Bassett1* Nicholas A. Bassett (admitted *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 (admitted *pro hac vice*) G. Alexander Bongartz (admitted *pro hac vice*) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com alexbongartz@paulhastings.com\n\n *and*\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 dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*\n\n<sup>1</sup> As to everything except Defendants' Position.\n\nNew York, New York\n\nDated: October 27, 2023 GREENWICH LAND, LLC and HING CHI NGOK\n\n By: */s/ Christopher J. Major*<sup>3</sup>  Christopher J. Major, Esq. Austin D. Kim, Esq. Michael B. Sloan, Esq. MEISTER SEELING & FEIN PLLC 125 Park Avenue, 7th Floor New York, NY 10017 Tel: (212) 655-3500 Email: cjm@msf-law.com adk@msf-law.com msloan@msf-law.com\n\n*Counsel for the Defendants*\n\n<sup>3</sup> As to Defendants' Statement only.\n\n# **EXHIBIT A**\n\n<span id=\"page-9-0\"></span>**TAB 1**\n\n![](_page_9_Picture_2.jpeg)\n\n**373 Taconic Road, Greenwich, CT – January 16, 2022[1](#page-9-0)**\n\n<sup>1</sup> *See* Kwok January 16, 2022 livestream at [http](http) posted by account Guo Wengui. Tab 29 of the exhibit to the Trustee's Emergency Motion shows the wall fixture in the Taconic Property on May 16, 2020, and Tab 39 show the wall fixture in the Mahwah Mansion on September 1, 2023.\n\n<span id=\"page-10-0\"></span>**TAB 2**\n\n![](_page_10_Picture_2.jpeg)\n\n# **373 Taconic Road, Greenwich, CT – January 18, 2022[2](#page-10-0)**\n\n <sup>2</sup> *See* Kwok January 18, 2022 livestream at [http](http) posted by account Guo Wengui on January 19, 2022. Tab <sup>28</sup> of the exhibit to the Trustee's Emergency Motion shows the wooden table and blue desk in the Taconic Property on March 27, 2020. Tab 31 shows the blue desk in the Taconic Property on February 26, 2021. Tab 26 shows the blue desk in the Mahwah Mansion on September 1, 2023, and Tab 38 shows the wooden table in the Mahwah Mansion on September 1, 2023.","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格州破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n------------------------------------------------------ x\n\n关于： :\n: 第11章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等，1 :\n: 案件编号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。 :\n: （合并审理）\n\nLUC A. DESPINS（卢克·A·德斯平斯），第11章\n受托人，\n原告，\nv.\nGREENWICH LAND, LLC（格林威治土地有限责任公司）及\nHING CHI NGOK（岳庆芝），\n\n被告。 :\nx\n\nx 对抗性诉讼编号：23-05005\n\n第11章受托人与被告GREENWICH LAND, LLC及HING CHI NGOK关于位于TACONIC房产上或内部的动产与固定附着物的联合报告\n\nLuc A. Despins（卢克·A·德斯平斯），以在Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵）（下称“债务人”）的第11章破产案（下称“第11章案件”）中被任命的第11章受托人（下称“受托人”）身份，并作为上述标题对抗性诉讼（下称“对抗性诉讼”）的原告，由其下述签字律师代表，与被告Greenwich Land, LLC（格林威治土地有限责任公司）及Hing Chi Ngok（岳庆芝）（下称\n\n1 本案各第11章案件中的债务人为Ho Wan Kwok（亦称郭文贵、Miles Guo和Miles Kwok，以及其他众多化名）（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（仅用于接收通知和通信目的）。\n\n“被告”，并与受托人统称为“各方”）特此提交本联合报告（下称“联合报告”），以回应法院于2023年10月24日状态会议上的命令，该命令指示各方就位于373 Taconic Road, Greenwich, Connecticut（康涅狄格州格林威治塔科尼克路373号）的房产（下称“Taconic房产”）内或其上的动产和固定附着物进行磋商。各方谨此陈述如下：\n\n1. 2023年8月24日，法院在针对Taurus Fund LLC、Scott Barnett和Taurus Management LLC的对抗性诉讼中作出了判决备忘录及部分批准初步禁令动议的裁定[Adv. Proc. 23-05017, Doc. No. 47]（下称“Mahwah初步禁令裁定”）。\n\n2. 依据Mahwah初步禁令裁定，于2023年9月1日，受托人及其律师与来自Kroll, LLC的专业人员一同对Mahwah豪宅进行了实地巡视，以检查并记录房屋状况以及位于Mahwah豪宅内或其上的个人财产和固定附着物。\n\n3. 2023年10月23日，受托人提交了《关于讨论保护破产财团财产的紧急状态会议动议》[Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 89]（下称“紧急动议”），描述了其关于Mahwah豪宅内或其上的房屋状况、个人财产及固定附着物的初步调查结果。\n\n4. 鉴于这些调查结果，受托人请求召开状态会议，以讨论破产财团资产的保全与保护，其中包括授权受托人对Taconic房产进行即时视频巡视，以记录现场物品并记录房屋状况（下称“视频巡视”）。\n\n5. 2023年10月23日，法院作出了《批准受托人紧急动议的裁定》[Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 71]，命令Taurus Fund LLC的律师和Greenwich Land, LLC的律师出席状态会议。\n\n6. 2023年10月24日，法院召开了紧急状态会议，受托人及被告律师均出席了会议。法院指示各方进行磋商，特别是关于立即开展视频巡视的事宜。\n\n7. 2023年10月26日，各方进行了磋商，但就何种方式或是否推进视频巡视存在分歧。\n受托人立场\n\n8. 受托人认为，视频巡视对于获取目前位于Taconic房产内或其上的所有物品、动产和固定附着物的清单是必要的，以便受托人能够查明目前已缺失和/或将来可能缺失的任何物品。在各方磋商期间，受托人强调，视频巡视并非旨在且不会成为一种侵入性的程序。具体而言，为确保迅速且无侵入性的视频巡视，受托人表示：\n\n- a. 受托人本人不会亲自前往Taconic房产参与视频巡视；\n- b. 仅有来自Kroll, LLC的有限数量专业人员在场进行视频巡视；\n- c. 视频巡视耗时将不超过两小时，并将在白天双方均同意的时间进行；以及\n- d. Greenwich Land, LLC的律师可以参加视频巡视。\n\n9. 法院根据《破产法典》第105条有权作出裁定，授权受托人按照上述参数进行视频巡视，以保全和保护位于Taconic房产上或内部的潜在破产财团财产。\n\n10. 受托人担心，若无此项救济，被告可能会像过去那样违反《破产法典》和/或法院命令而转移潜在的破产财团财产。例如，受托人在支持其简易判决动议的法律备忘录[Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 78]（下称“法律备忘录”）中描述了被告如何(i)在收到PAX阻止其出售财产的限制通知后，仍在本第11章案件开始后出售了其位于33 Ferncliff Road, Cos Cob, Connecticut的财产，以及(ii)此后系统性地转移了出售收益。法律备忘录进一步描述了被告如何通过支出资金，违反本法院于2023年3月28日作出的临时限制令[Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 14]及于2023年5月26日作出的初步禁令[Adv. Proc. Doc. No. 53]，持续转移Greenwich Land的资产。\n\n11. 受托人的照片证据进一步表明，在债务人提出破产申请日之后，被告一直在将动产和固定附着物搬出Taconic房产。例如，本报告附件A所附图像显示，在紧急动议附件第29页所标识且于2020年5月16日在Taconic房产中所见的墙壁固定附着物，截至2022年1月16日（仅在债务人申请日前一个月）仍位于Taconic房产内。在第28页所标识且于2020年3月27日在Taconic房产中所见的木桌和蓝色书桌，截至2022年1月18日仍位于Taconic房产内。这些家具随后于2023年9月1日在Mahwah豪宅中被确认，见紧急动议附件第26、38和39页。\n\n有合理理由相信，上述家具在债务人申请日仍位于Taconic房产内。\n\n12. 眼下的问题是非此即彼且直截了当的：要么法院允许受托人通过视频巡视获取并保全受托人认为是破产财团财产的资产证据，要么不允许。受托人对被告关于进一步磋商能达成何种目的（如果有的话）的立场感到困惑。任何延误都可能导致破产财团财产的进一步流失。如果法院要求受托人就视频巡视单独提出动议（受托人认为这是不必要的），鉴于被告及与债务人相关的其他人员转移破产财团资产的历史，该动议应按加急时间表进行审理。\n\n13. 基于所有这些理由，受托人谨请求法院作出裁定，授权受托人在Taconic房产进行即时视频巡视，以记录现场内部或之上的物品、动产和固定附着物，并记录现场状况。\n被告立场\n\n14. 被告Greenwich Land, LLC和Hing Chi Ngok（岳庆芝）通过其律师，遵照破产法院的指示谨此提交本进展通报。2023年10月26日，被告通过律师与受托人进行了磋商。双方未能就受托人的紧急动议达成一致解决方案。被告仍愿意继续与受托人进行磋商，但受托人已告知被告，他认为进一步磋商不会有建设性结果。因此，在受托人希望寻求救济的范围内，他应当提出寻求救济的动议，被告将对任何此类动议作出回应。被告谨请求法院\n\n不要在被告律师正忙于准备对受托人简易判决动议的反对应答期间，要求被告以紧急程序作出答复。关于Greenwich Land，受托人关于状态会议的动议是基于据称来自已在互联网上流传约三年的视频中的照片。被告谨请求法院不要迁就受托人刻意人为制造的“紧急情况”，并要求受托人提交的任何动议在被告获得合理的回应机会后予以审慎处理。\n\n15. 被告提交本进展报告并不损害其未决的撤回移送动议以及与之相关和随附的所有权利、救济和主张。\n[本页其余部分故意留白]\n\nNew York, New York（纽约州纽约市）\n日期：2023年10月27日 LUC A. DESPINS（卢克·A·德斯平斯），第11章受托人\n\n签署人：/s/ Nicholas A. Bassett1\nNicholas A. Bassett（经特别许可出庭）\nPAUL HASTINGS LLP\n2050 M Street NW\nWashington, D.C., 20036\n(202) 551-1902\nnicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n以及\n\nAvram E. Luft（经特别许可出庭）\nG. Alexander Bongartz（经特别许可出庭）\nPAUL HASTINGS LLP\n200 Park Avenue\nNew York, New York 10166\n(212) 318-6079\naviluft@paulhastings.com\nalexbongartz@paulhastings.com\n\n以及\n\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616)\nPatrick R. Linsey (ct29437)\nNEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C.\n195 Church Street, 13th Floor\nNew Haven, Connecticut 06510\n(203) 781-2847\ndskalka@npmlaw.com\nplinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n第11章受托人之律师\n\n1 适用于除被告立场之外的所有内容。\n\nNew York, New York（纽约州纽约市）\n\n日期：2023年10月27日 GREENWICH LAND, LLC 及 HING CHI NGOK（岳庆芝）\n\n签署人：/s/ Christopher J. Major3\nChristopher J. Major, Esq.\nAustin D. Kim, Esq.\nMichael B. Sloan, Esq.\nMEISTER SEELING & FEIN PLLC\n125 Park Avenue, 7th Floor\nNew York, NY 10017\n电话：(212) 655-3500\n电子邮箱：cjm@msf-law.com\nadk@msf-law.com\nmsloan@msf-law.com\n\n被告之律师\n\n3 仅适用于被告陈述部分。\n附件 A\n\n第 1 项\n\n373 Taconic Road, Greenwich, CT – 2022年1月16日[1]\n\n1 参见郭文贵于2022年1月16日在[http]由账号Guo Wengui发布的直播。受托人紧急动议附件第29页显示了2020年5月16日在Taconic房产中的墙壁固定附着物，第39页显示了2023年9月1日在Mahwah豪宅中的墙壁固定附着物。\n\n第 2 项\n373 Taconic Road, Greenwich, CT – 2022年1月18日[2]\n\n2 参见郭文贵于2022年1月18日在[http]由账号Guo Wengui于2022年1月19日发布的直播。受托人紧急动议附件第28页显示了2020年3月27日在Taconic房产中的木桌和蓝色书桌。第31页显示了2021年2月26日在Taconic房产中的蓝色书桌。第26页显示了2023年9月1日在Mahwah豪宅中的蓝色书桌，第38页显示了2023年9月1日在Mahwah豪宅中的木桌。","key_entities":["Kwok","Guo","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","Paul Hastings","Miles Guo"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":1896,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 13:09:15"}