{"id":"court_ctb_3096_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":3096,"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. 24-05044 (JAM) |\n| TERIS-PHOENIX, LLC,                 |                                    |\n| Defendant.                          |                                    |\n|                                     |                                    |\n\n## **LIMITED OBJECTION TO PROPOSED AMENDED ORDER APPROVING PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO AVOIDANCE CLAIM ADVERSARY PROCEEDINGS**\n\nTeris-Phoenix, LLC (\"Terris\") 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, Teris 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, Teris 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, Teris 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, Teris neither objects to the concept of mediation itself nor to the majority of the proposed procedures. Teris 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, and should not be limited to occurring in Connecticut or New York (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- 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\nTeris agrees that reasonable and proper mediation procedures can be in the best interest of\n\nthe 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\nand\n\nAndrea Chase (*pro hac vice forthcoming)*  Spencer Fane 1000 Walnut Street, Suite 1400 Kansas City, Missouri 64106 Tel: (816) 292-8279 Fax: (816) 474-3216 E-mail: achase@spencerfane.com\n\n*Attorneys for Teris-Phoenix, 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（康涅狄格区美国破产法院布里奇波特分部）\n\n关于：第11章\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵）等人，案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。1 联合审理\n\nLuc A. Despins（吕克·A·德斯平斯），第11章受托人，\n原告，\n诉 对抗性诉讼案号：24-05044 (JAM)\nTeris-Phoenix, LLC（特里斯-菲尼克斯有限责任公司），\n被告。\n\n对提议的批准适用于撤销权主张对抗性诉讼程序的修正裁定的有限异议\n\nTeris-Phoenix, LLC（以下简称“Terris”）特此对上述标题案件中的第11章受托人Luc Despins（以下简称“受托人”）提出的动议（以下简称“本动议”）提出异议，该动议旨在修改法院此前作出的《批准适用于撤销权主张对抗性诉讼程序的裁定》（ECF No. 2578）（以下简称“《撤销程序裁定》”），以纳入若干调解程序。为支持本有限异议，Teris陈述如下。\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，以及其他诸多化名）（纳税人识别号后四位：9595）、Genever Holdings LLC（日内瓦控股有限责任公司）（纳税人识别号后四位：8202）以及Genever Holdings Corporation（日内瓦控股公司）。受托人、Genever Holdings LLC及Genever Holdings Corporation的邮寄地址为Paul Hastings LLP（普衡律师事务所）, 200 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10166 c/o Luc A. Despins，以Ho Wan Kwok破产财产受托人身份转交（仅用于通知与沟通目的）。\n\n异议\n\n为避免在这些案件中出现不必要的重复，Teris特此加入并采纳Anthem Healthchoice Assurance, Inc.（国歌健康之选保险公司）与Anthem Health Plans, Inc.（国歌健康计划公司）对本动议提出的有限异议（ECF No. 3084）（以下简称“《Anthem异议》”）以及Marcum LLP（马库姆有限责任合伙）对本动议提出的有限异议（ECF No. 3088）（以下简称“《Marcum异议》”，与《Anthem异议》合称为“《所采纳异议》”）。此外，由于拟议的调解程序偏袒受托人而损害撤销权诉讼被告的利益，Teris在此范围内对本动议提出异议。\n\n正如《所采纳异议》中所述，Teris既不反对调解概念本身，也不反对拟议程序的大部分内容。然而，Teris确对那些偏袒受托人的条款提出异议。例如：\n\n- 不应对受托人与撤销权诉讼被告适用不同的规则。\n\t- 受托人不应有权选定“调解员名单”（推测是通过与Judge Tancredi（坦克雷迪法官）进行单方面沟通，参见第2.k段），并在未经相关撤销权诉讼被告任何参与的情况下从中指定调解员。\n\t- 调解本身的进行不应设在受托人的办公地点，且不应局限于在康涅狄格州或纽约州举行（参见第2.o段），特别是如果撤销权诉讼被告不被允许通过视频会议出席调解、调解日程将由调解员仅提前21天通知确定、且撤销权诉讼被告（其可能被迫前往距离其住所或营业地数千英里之处亲自出庭）仅能在获得受托人同意或向法院提出动议（该动议在缩短的时限内可能得到也可能得不到听审）的情况下方可重新安排调解时间（参见第2.o段）。\n\t- 该程序不应要求撤销权诉讼被告的“代表”必须出席，却仅要求受托人的律师出席（参见第2.s段）。\n\t- 不得允许受托人与坦克雷迪法官或任何其他调解员进行单方面沟通。\n- 该程序不应允许在未获相关撤销权诉讼被告同意的情况下对诉讼进行“合并审理”（参见第2.l段）。\n- 拒绝参加调解不应被要求提出动议并证明存在“正当理由”（参见第2.m段）。\n- 不应允许受托人单方面对被告进行“分类”。尽管从表面上看合情合理，但该分类的含义并不明确。在分类获得批准的范围内，应当向撤销权诉讼被告发出通知并给予其申辩机会，且该分类的实际及法律后果需由本法院确立并批准。\n\n上述每项条款均可轻易修正，以避免偏袒受托人并对撤销权诉讼被告造成不公正损害。相关程序应修正规定如下：\n\n- 与坦克雷迪法官或调解员的任何沟通均须通知所有相关撤销权诉讼被告。\n- 若坦克雷迪法官认为有必要，受托人应在与坦克雷迪法官协商后（须通知所有撤销权诉讼被告），建立一个“调解员名单”，每位撤销权诉讼被告均有权从中选定一名调解员。\n- 调解日程和地点应由各方当事人协商一致，且各方当事人均应有权通过视频会议出席。\n- 各方当事人的代表出席（亲自或通过视频会议）应当被接受，且只要该代表拥有完全的和解决定权，该代表即可由律师担任。\n- 每位撤销权诉讼被告均应有权根据提交的通知选择退出调解，并应有权通过向受托人和调解员发出书面通知选择退出任何“合并审理”或“分类”。\n\n结论\n\nTeris认同合理且正当的调解程序可以符合破产财产及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（芬恩·迪克森与赫林律师事务所）\n\n签署人：/s/ Henry P. Baer, Jr.\n\nHenry P. Baer, Jr.（小亨利·P·贝尔）\nFINN DIXON & HERLING LLP\nSix Landmark Square\nStamford, CT 06901-2704\n电话：(203) 325-5000\n传真：(203) 325-5001\n电子邮箱：hbaer@fdh.com\n\n以及\n\nAndrea Chase（安德里亚·蔡斯）（临时出庭代理许可 [pro hac vice] 即将取得）\nSpencer Fane（斯宾塞·费恩律师事务所）\n1000 Walnut Street, Suite 1400\nKansas City, Missouri 64106\n电话：(816) 292-8279\n传真：(816) 474-3216\n电子邮箱：achase@spencerfane.com\n\nTeris-Phoenix, LLC 之代理律师\n\n送达证明\n\n本人特此证明，于2024年4月12日，前述文件的副本已通过电子方式归档，并通过邮寄方式送达给无法接受电子归档的任何人。本归档的通知将通过法院电子归档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归档的任何人。当事人可通过法院系统查阅此归档文件。\n\n/s/ Henry P. Baer, Jr.\nHenry P. Baer, Jr.\nFINN DIXON & HERLING LLP\nSix Landmark Square\nStamford, CT 06901-2704\n电话：(203) 325-5000\n传真：(203) 325-5001\n电子邮箱：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":1074,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:44:52"}