{"id":"court_ctb_3095_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":3095,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":null,"title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION | In re:                              | Chapt","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"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.1                           | Jointly Administered               |\n|                                     |                                    |\n| LUC A. DESPINS, CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE, |                                    |\n| Plaintiff,                          |                                    |\n| v.                                  | Adv. Proceeding No. 24-05162 (JAM) |\n| NARDELLO & CO., LLC,                |                                    |\n| Defendant.                          |                                    |\n|                                     |                                    |\n\n## **LIMITED OBJECTION TO PROPOSED AMENDED ORDER APPROVING PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO AVOIDANCE CLAIM ADVERSARY PROCEEDINGS**\n\nNardello & Co., LLC (\"Nardello\") hereby objects to the motion (the \"Motion\") of Luc Despins, as Chapter 11 Trustee in the above captioned matter (the \"Trustee\"), to modify the Court's previously entered *Order Approving Procedures Applicable to Avoidance Claim Adversary Proceedings* (ECF No. 2578) (the \"Avoidance Procedures Order\") to provide for the inclusion of certain Mediation Procedures. In support of this Limited Objection, Nardello asserts as follows.\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## **OBJECTION**\n\nTo avoid unnecessary duplication in these cases, Nardello hereby joins in and adopts the Limited Objection of Anthem Healthchoice Assurance, Inc. and Anthem Health Plans, Inc. to the Motion (ECF. No 3084) (the \"Anthem Objection\") and the Limited Objection of Marcum LLP to the Motion (ECF. No 3088) (the \"Marcum Objection,\" and together with the Anthem Objection, the \"Adopted Objections\"). In addition, Nardello objects to the Motion to the extent that the proposed mediation procedures favor the Trustee to the prejudice of Avoidance Defendants.\n\nAs set forth in the Adopted Objections, Nardello neither objects to the concept of mediation itself nor to the majority of the proposed procedures. Nardello does object, however, to those provisions that favor the Trustee. For example:\n\n- There should not be different rules for the Trustee than there are for the Avoidance Defendants.\n\t- o The Trustee should not be entitled to select the \"Mediation Panel\", presumably with *ex parte* communications with Judge Tancredi (see Para 2.k), from which a mediator is appointed without any input from the relevant Avoidance Defendant.\n\t- o The conduct of the mediation itself should not be in the office of the Trustee (see Para 2.o), especially if Avoidance Defendants are not permitted to appear at the mediation via video-conference, if the mediation schedule will be set by the mediator on only 21 days notice, and if the Avoidance Defendants – who may be obligated to appear in person thousands of miles from their home or business location – can only reschedule the mediation with the Trustee's consent or upon motion to the court (which motion may or may not be heard within the shortened time frame) (See para 2.0).\n\t- o The procedures should not require the appearance of a 'representative' of the Avoidance Defendant but only require the appearance of counsel for the Trustee (see para 2.s).\n\t- o The Trustee cannot be permitted *ex parte* communications with Judge Tancredi or any other mediator.\n- The procedures should not allow the \"consolidation\" of actions without the consent of the relevant Avoidance Defendants (see para 2.l).\n- It should not require a motion and a showing of \"good cause\" to decline participation in mediation (see para 2.m).\n\n• The Trustee should not be permitted to unilaterally 'categorize' defendants. Although reasonable on its face, the implication of that categorization is not clear. To the extent categorization is approved, it should be on notice to Avoidance Defendants with an opportunity to be heard, and the practical and legal implications of that categorization needs to be established and approved by this Court.\n\nEach of these provisions can be easily corrected to avoid bias in favor of the Trustee and\n\nprejudice to the Avoidance Defendants. The procedures should be amended to provide as follows:\n\n- Any communication with Judge Tancredi or a mediator must be on notice to all relevant Avoidance Defendants.\n- If Judge Tancredi believes it necessary, the Trustee, in consultation with Judge Tancredi (on notice to all Avoidance Defendants), shall establish a 'mediation panel,' from which each Avoidance Defendant is entitled to select a mediator.\n- The mediation schedule and location should be agreed to by all parties, and each party should be entitled to appear via video conference.\n- It should be acceptable for a representative of each party (in person or via videoconference) to attend, which such representative can be counsel, so long as such representative has full settlement authority.\n- Each Avoidance Defendant should have the right to opt out of mediation pursuant to the filing of a notice, and should have the right to opt out of any 'consolidation' or 'categorization' through written notice to the Trustee and mediator.\n\n### **CONCLUSION**\n\nNardello agrees that reasonable and proper mediation procedures can be in the best interest\n\nof the estate and the proceedings. Those procedures, however, must treat the parties equally.\n\nDated: April 12, 2024 Stamford, CT\n\n# FINN DIXON & HERLING LLP\n\nBy: /s/ Henry P. Baer, Jr.\n\nHenry P. Baer, Jr. FINN DIXON & HERLING LLP Six Landmark Square Stamford, CT 06901-2704 Tel: (203) 325-5000 Fax: (203) 325-5001 E-mail: hbaer@fdh.com\n\n*Attorneys for Nardello & Co., LLC*\n\n## **CERTIFICATION**\n\nI hereby certify that on April 12, 2024 a copy of the foregoing 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. Parties may access this filing through the Court's system.\n\n> /s/ Henry P. Baer, Jr. Henry P. Baer, Jr. FINN DIXON & HERLING LLP Six Landmark Square Stamford, CT 06901-2704 Tel: (203) 325-5000 Fax: (203) 325-5001 E-mail: hbaer@fdh.com","body_zh":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION（美国康涅狄格区破产法院布里奇波特分院）\n\n案件涉及：第 11 章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等， 案件编号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。1 联合审理\n\nLUC A. DESPINS（卢克·A·德斯平斯），第 11 章受托人，\n原告，\nv. 辩论程序编号：24-05162 (JAM)\nNARDELLO & CO., LLC，\n被告。\n\n对拟议批准适用于撤销权索赔辩论程序程序的修订裁定之有限异议\n\nNardello & Co., LLC（「Nardello」）特此对上述标题案件中的第 11 章受托人（「受托人」）Luc Despins 提出的动议（「动议」）提出异议，该动议旨在修改本法院先前作出的《批准适用于撤销权索赔辩论程序的程序裁定》（ECF No. 2578）（「撤销程序裁定」），以纳入某些调解程序。为支持本有限异议，Nardello 声明如下。\n\n1 这些第 11 章案件中的债务人为 Ho Wan Kwok（亦称郭文贵、Miles Guo 和 Miles Kwok，以及众多其他化名）（纳税人识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（纳税人识别号后四位：8202）和 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异议\n\n为避免在这些案件中出现不必要的重复，Nardello 特此加入并采纳 Anthem Healthchoice Assurance, Inc. 与 Anthem Health Plans, Inc. 对该动议提出的有限异议（ECF. No 3084）（「Anthem 异议」）以及 Marcum LLP 对该动议提出的有限异议（ECF. No 3088）（「Marcum 异议」，与 Anthem 异议合称为「被采纳异议」）。此外，鉴于拟议的调解程序偏袒受托人而损害撤销权被告的利益，Nardello 在此范围内对该动议提出异议。\n\n正如在被采纳异议中所述，Nardello 既不对调解概念本身提出异议，也不对大部分拟议程序提出异议。然而，Nardello 确实对那些偏袒受托人的条款提出异议。例如：\n\n- 对受托人不应适用与撤销权被告不同的规则。\n\t- o 不应允许受托人自行挑选「调解人小组」（据推测是通过与 Tancredi 法官进行单方面沟通，见第 2.k 款），并从中指定一名调解人而无需相关撤销权被告提供任何意见。\n\t- o 调解本身的进行不应在受托人的办公室（见第 2.o 款），尤其是如果撤销权被告不被允许通过视频会议参加调解，如果调解日程由调解人在仅提前 21 天通知的情况下设定，以及如果撤销权被告——其可能不得不亲自前往距其住所或营业地点数千英里之外的地方出庭——只能在获得受托人同意或向法院提出动议（该动议在缩短的时间范围内可能被审理，也可能不被审理）的情况下才能重新安排调解（见第 2.o 款）。\n\t- o 该程序不应要求撤销权被告的「代表」出庭，而仅要求受托人的律师出庭（见第 2.s 款）。\n\t- o 绝不能允许受托人与 Tancredi 法官或任何其他调解人进行单方面沟通。\n- 该程序不应允许在未经相关撤销权被告同意的情况下「合并」诉讼（见第 2.l 款）。\n- 拒绝参与调解不应要求提出动议并证明存在「正当理由」（见第 2.m 款）。\n\n• 不应允许受托人单方面对被告进行「分类」。虽然表面上看起来合理，但这种分类的含义并不明确。在分类获得批准的范围内，应当通知撤销权被告并给予陈述意见的机会，且该分类的实际和法律含义需要由本法院确立并批准。\n\n这些条款中的每一项都可以很容易地予以纠正，以避免偏袒受托人并损害撤销权被告的利益。该程序应修改并规定如下：\n\n- 与 Tancredi 法官或调解人的任何沟通都必须通知所有相关的撤销权被告。\n- 如果 Tancredi 法官认为有必要，受托人应在与 Tancredi 法官协商后（通知所有撤销权被告）建立一个「调解人小组」，每位撤销权被告均有权从中选择一名调解人。\n- 调解日程和地点应由各方一致同意，且各方均应有权通过视频会议出席。\n- 各方由一名代表（亲自或通过视频会议）出席应被接受，该代表可以是律师，只要该代表具有完全的和解授权。\n- 每位撤销权被告均应有权通过提交通知选择退出调解，并应有权通过向受托人和调解人发送书面通知选择退出任何「合并」或「分类」。\n结论\n\nNardello 同意，合理且适当的调解程序可以符合破产财产和诉讼程序的最大利益。然而，这些程序必须平等对待各方当事人。\n\n日期：2024 年 4 月 12 日，康涅狄格州斯坦福\nFINN DIXON & HERLING LLP\n\n签署人：/s/ Henry P. Baer, Jr.\n\nHenry P. Baer, Jr. FINN DIXON & HERLING LLP Six Landmark Square Stamford, CT 06901-2704 电话：(203) 325-5000 传真：(203) 325-5001 电子邮件：hbaer@fdh.com\n\nNardello & Co., LLC 的代理律师\n证明书\n\n我特此证明，于 2024 年 4 月 12 日，上述文书的副本已通过电子方式提交，并通过邮寄方式送达给无法接受电子提交的任何人。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人，或通过邮寄方式发送给无法接受电子提交的任何人。各方当事人均可通过法院系统查阅本提交文件。\n\n> /s/ Henry P. Baer, Jr. Henry P. Baer, Jr. FINN DIXON & HERLING LLP Six Landmark Square Stamford, CT 06901-2704 电话：(203) 325-5000 传真：(203) 325-5001 电子邮件：hbaer@fdh.com","key_entities":["Je","Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","Guo","Miles Guo","Luc Despins","Paul Hastings","CIPA"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":2578,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":1042,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:43:44"}