{"id":"court_ctb_4200_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":4200,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"DECLARATION","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| -----------------------------------------------------------<br>x |             |                         |  |\n|------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------|--|\n| In re:                                                           | :<br>:      | Chapter 11              |  |\n| HO WAN KWOK, et al.                                              | :<br>:      | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) |  |\n| Debtors.                                                         | :<br>:<br>: | Jointly Administered    |  |\n| -----------------------------------------------------------      | x           |                         |  |\n\n## **SUPPLEMENTAL DECLARATION OF DOUGLAS S. SKALKA REGARDING NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C., COUNSEL FOR LUC A. DESPINS, CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE, GENEVER HOLDINGS CORPORATION, AND GENEVER HOLDINGS LLC**\n\nI, Douglas S. Skalka, being duly sworn, do depose and say:\n\n1. I am a principal of the law firm of Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C. (\"NPM\"), which maintains its principal offices at 195 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510. NPM is employed in the above-captioned chapter 11 cases (the \"Chapter 11 Cases\") as Connecticut and conflicts counsel for Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as Chapter 11 Trustee (the \"Trustee\") appointed in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the \"Individual Debtor\"), and as co-counsel for the debtors Genever Holdings Corporation and Genever Holdings LLC (collectively, the \"Genever Debtors\" and, together with the Individual Debtor, collectively, the \"Debtors\").\n\n2. I make this supplemental declaration (the \"Declaration\") on behalf of NPM regarding connections to individuals and entities that are parties in interest or that have otherwise been involved in respect to the Chapter 11 Cases. This Declaration supplements prior declarations regarding this subject matter that NPM has filed in these Chapter 11 Cases.\n\n3. Since his appointment, the Trustee has filed twenty-two (22) applications pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2004 seeking orders (the \"Rule 2004 Orders\") from the Court to obtain documents and information from individuals and entities which the Trustee believed had relevant information regarding the Individual Debtor's financial affairs. The Court's Rule 2004 Orders granting these applications have authorized the Trustee to obtain discovery from several hundred individuals and entities, including banks and other financial institutions (collectively, the \"Discovery Parties\").\n\n4. The Trustee has also filed more than three hundred adversary proceedings against various individuals and entities (collectively, the \"Adversary Defendants\").\n\n5. NPM maintains a computer database (the \"Database\") containing, *inter alia*, the names of all NPM's current and former clients and, with respect to any engagement, adverse and related persons. I caused to be submitted to, and checked against, the Database all of the names of Discovery Parties and Adversary Defendants.\n\n6. NPM's review of its Database has identified connections to certain Discovery Parties as follows:\n\na. In 2020 and 2021, prior to the Individual Debtor's bankruptcy filing on February 15, 2022 (the \"Petition Date\"), NPM represented City National Bank in one matter, for which NPM was paid fees and costs in the total amount of \\$9,755.02 on March 17, 2021.\n\nb. Prior to the Petition Date, NPM represented First Republic Bank in connection with one foreclosure and bankruptcy matter. NPM received payment of legal fees and costs in the total amount of \\$3,941.00 for its services between March 2013 and February 2014.\n\nc. Between 2015 and 2023, NPM represented Bank of America in connection with six (6) discrete matters between 2015 and 2023. NPM received payment of legal fees\n\n2\n\nand costs in connection with five (5) matters, in the total amount of \\$36,486.32, between December 2015 and July 2021. NPM received payment in connection with the sixth matter in the amount of \\$5,572.50 in December 2023.\n\nd. NPM represented First County Bank in connection with various loan transactions between 2017 and 2022. Prior to the Petition Date, NPM received payment in connection with 20 such transactions in the total amount of \\$94,238.00. NPM received payment in connection with 7 such transactions in the total amount of \\$25,988.00 between April and December 2022.\n\ne. NPM represented Comerica Bank in connection with a litigation matter and a commercial loan matter between 2007 and 2012. During this time, NPM received payment in connection with these matters in the total amount of \\$44,252.60.\n\nf. NPM represented Investors Bank in connection with a commercial foreclosure proceeding in 2016 and 2017. NPM received a payment for its services in connection with this matter in the total amount of \\$4,537.18 in 2017.\n\ng. NPM represented Citizens Bank, N.A. in connection with two commercial loan transactions between 1997 and 1999. NPM received payments for legal fees and costs in connection with these matters in the total amount of \\$16,386.58.\n\nh. NPM represents The Bancorp, N.A. in connection with one foreclosure matter which has been pending since 2020. NPM has received payments in the total amount of \\$152,423.01 in connection with this matter. Bancorp has executed a Conflict of Waiver in favor of NPM with respect to its role as the Trustee's Counsel.<sup>1</sup>\n\n<sup>1</sup> NPM's services with respect to Bancorp have been limited to preparing and issuing a subpoena and obtaining production from Bancorp, all of which has occurred cooperatively and in a non-adversarial posture.\n\ni. NPM has represented TD Bank, N.A. (\"TD\") in connection with various commercial lending and commercial litigation matters since 2007. NPM has represented TD in a total of 82 discrete matters over this period of time. Prior to the Petition Date, NPM received payments from TD for its legal fees and costs in the total amount of \\$629,617.90. Since the Petition Date, NPM has received payments of legal fees and costs in the total amount of \\$170,632.00.\n\n7. To the best of my knowledge, none of the foregoing engagements have in any way related to the Debtors or these Chapter 11 Cases.\n\n8. With respect to Adversary Defendants, NPM discloses the following connections:\n\na. AIG Property Casualty Company is an Adversary Defendant in Adv. Proc. No. 23-05007 (the \"AIG Action\"). NPM represents affiliates of American International Group, Inc., including Lexington Insurance Company, in connection with the defense of claims in litigation pending in Connecticut (in matters unrelated to the Chapter 11 Cases or the AIG Action). NPM does not represent AIG Property Casualty Company in any matters, nor is NPM serving as counsel for Genever Holdings LLC in the AIG Action.\n\nb. Meta Platforms Inc. is an Adversary Defendant in Adv. Proc. No. 24-05117 (the \"Meta Action\"). The spouse of Patrick R. Linsey (an NPM principal who provides services to the Trustee and the Genever Debtors) is employed by Meta Platforms Inc. (not in any role related to the Meta Action or its subject matter).\n\nc. John P. Morgan is an Adversary Defendant in Adv. Proc. No. 24-05072 (the \"Morgan Action\"). From May 5, 2020, through October 13, 2020, NPM represented Caritas Investment Limited Partnership (\"Caritas\") in its chapter 11 proceeding filed in this Court, Case No. 17-50456 (the \"Caritas Case\") and received payment for its services in the\n\n4\n\namount of \\$10,000. While the Caritas Case was pending, John A. Morgan was the limited partner of Caritas and a member of the general partner of Caritas. John A. Morgan may also be known as John P. Morgan, *i.e.*, the Adversary Defendant in the Morgan Action. NPM has never served as counsel to either John P. Morgan or John A. Morgan.\n\n9. Based on the foregoing, and the prior declarations filed by NPM in these Chapter 11 Cases, insofar as I have been able to ascertain based on the information currently available to me: (a) NPM has no connection with the Debtors, their creditors, the U.S. Trustee, any person employed in the office of the U.S. Trustee, or any other party with an actual or potential interest in the Chapter 11 Cases or their respective attorneys or accountants; and (b) neither NPM nor any of its attorneys (i) is a creditor, equity security holder, or insider of the Debtors or their affiliates, (ii) has been, within two years before the respective petition dates, a director, officer, or employee of the Debtors or their affiliates, or (iii) has any interest materially adverse to the interests of the Debtors' estates or any class of creditors or equity security holders by reason of any direct or indirect relationship to, connection with, or interest in the Debtors, or for any other reason. Therefore, I believe that NPM is a \"disinterested person\" within the meaning of section 101(14) of the Bankruptcy Code, as modified by section 1107(b).\n\nPursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1746, I declare under penalty of perjury that the above statements are true and correct.\n\nDated: March 7, 2025, at New Haven, Connecticut\n\n*/s Douglas S. Skalka* Douglas S. Skalka\n\n## **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| ______________________________________x             |   |                         |\n|-----------------------------------------------------|---|-------------------------|\n|                                                     | : |                         |\n| In re:                                              | : | CHAPTER 11              |\n|                                                     | : |                         |\n| HO WAN KWOK,                                        | : | CASE NO. 22-50073 (JAM) |\n|                                                     | : |                         |\n| Debtors.<br>______________________________________x | : | Jointly Administered    |\n|                                                     |   |                         |\n\n## **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**\n\nThe undersigned hereby certifies that on the date hereof the foregoing was filed electronically. Notice of this filing was sent by e-mail to all parties appearing an eligible to accept electronic service by operation of the Court's electronic filing system. Parties may access this filing through the Court's system.\n\nDated: March 7, 2025 LUC A. DESPINS,\n\nNew Haven, Connecticut CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\nBy: */s/ Douglas S. Skalka* Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 821-2000 dskalka@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.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部）\n\nx\n\n事项：\n第 11 章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）等\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。\n合并审理\n----------------------------------------------------------- x\nDOUGLAS S. SKALKA 关于担任 LUC A. DESPINS（第 11 章受托人）、GENEVER HOLDINGS CORPORATION 以及 GENEVER HOLDINGS LLC 代理律师之 NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 律师事务所的补充声明\n\n我，Douglas S. Skalka，经依法宣誓，作证并声明如下：\n\n1. 我是 Neubert, Pepe & Monteith, P.C.（“NPM”）律师事务所的主任律师，该所主要营业地址位于 195 Church Street, New Haven, CT 06510。NPM 在上述标题所示的第 11 章案件（下称“第 11 章案件”）中获聘担任在 Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵，下称“个人债务人”）的第 11 章案件中获任命的第 11 章受托人 Luc A. Despins（下称“受托人”）的康涅狄格州及利益冲突特别法律顾问，并担任债务人 Genever Holdings Corporation 和 Genever Holdings LLC（统称“Genever 债务人”，并与个人债务人统称“债务人”）的共同法律顾问。\n\n2. 我代表 NPM 就与利害关系方或在其他方面卷入本第 11 章案件的个人及实体的关联情况作出本补充声明（下称“本声明”）。本声明是对 NPM 此前在这些第 11 章案件中就此主题提交的先前声明的补充。\n\n3. 自受托人获任命以来，受托人已依据《联邦破产诉讼程序规则》（Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure）第 2004 条提出了二十二（22）份申请，请求法院作出命令（下称“第 2004 条命令”），以从受托人认为掌握有关个人债务人财务状况相关信息的个人和实体处获取文件和信息。法院批准这些申请的第 2004 条命令已授权受托人从数百名个人和实体（包括银行及其他金融机构，统称“证据开示当事方”）处获取证据开示。\n\n4. 受托人还针对各种个人和实体提起了三百多起对抗性程序（相关当事方统称“对抗性程序被告”）。\n\n5. NPM 维护着一个计算机数据库（下称“数据库”），其中载有（其中包括）NPM 所有现有客户和前客户的姓名/名称，以及就任何受聘事务而言的相对方和关联方的姓名/名称。我已安排将所有证据开示当事方和对抗性程序被告的姓名/名称提交给数据库进行核对。\n\n6. NPM 对其数据库的审查已发现与某些证据开示当事方的以下关联：\n\na. 在 2020 年和 2021 年，即个人债务人于 2022 年 2 月 15 日提出破产申请（下称“申请日”）之前，NPM 曾在一起事务中代理 City National Bank（城市国家银行），NPM 就该事务于 2021 年 3 月 17 日获得了总额为 $9,755.02 的律师费及费用报销。\n\nb. 在申请日之前，NPM 曾在一宗止赎和破产事务中代理 First Republic Bank（第一共和银行）。NPM 在 2013 年 3 月至 2014 年 2 月期间因其提供的服务获得了总额为 $3,941.00 的律师费及费用报销。\n\nc. 在 2015 年至 2023 年期间，NPM 曾就六（6）起独立事务代理 Bank of America（美国银行）。在 2015 年 12 月至 2021 年 7 月期间，NPM 就五（5）起事务收到了总额为 $36,486.32 的律师费及费用付款。NPM 于 2023 年 12 月就第六起事务收到了金额为 $5,572.50 的付款。\n\nd. 在 2017 年至 2022 年期间，NPM 曾就各种贷款交易代理 First County Bank。在申请日之前，NPM 就 20 笔此类交易收到了总额为 $94,238.00 的款项。在 2022 年 4 月至 12 月期间，NPM 就 7 笔此类交易收到了总额为 $25,988.00 的款项。\n\ne. 在 2007 年至 2012 年期间，NPM 曾在一宗诉讼事务和一宗商业贷款事务中代理 Comerica Bank（联信银行）。在此期间，NPM 就这些事务收到了总额为 $44,252.60 的款项。\n\nf. 在 2016 年和 2017 年，NPM 曾在一宗商业止赎程序中代理 Investors Bank。NPM 于 2017 年因其与该事务相关的服务获得了总额为 $4,537.18 的付款。\n\ng. 在 1997 年至 1999 年期间，NPM 曾就两笔商业贷款交易代理 Citizens Bank, N.A.（公民银行）。NPM 就这些事务收到了总额为 $16,386.58 的律师费及费用付款。\n\nh. NPM 目前在一宗自 2020 年起悬而未决的止赎事务中代理 The Bancorp, N.A.。NPM 就该事务已收到总额为 $152,423.01 的款项。Bancorp 已就 NPM 担任受托人律师之职责向 NPM 出具了利益冲突放弃书。1\n\n1 NPM 就 Bancorp 提供的服务仅限于准备和签发传票并从 Bancorp 获取材料提供，所有这些均是在合作且非对抗的态势下进行的。\n\ni. 自 2007 年以来，NPM 一直在各种商业贷款和商业诉讼事务中代理 TD Bank, N.A.（“TD”，道明银行）。在此期间，NPM 共代理了 TD 的 82 起独立事务。在申请日之前，NPM 从 TD 处收到的律师费及费用付款总额为 $629,617.90。自申请日以来，NPM 收到的律师费及费用付款总额为 $170,632.00。\n\n7. 据我所知，上述受聘事项均与债务人或这些第 11 章案件没有任何关系。\n\n8. 关于对抗性程序被告，NPM 披露以下关联：\n\na. AIG Property Casualty Company 是对抗性程序案号 23-05007（下称“AIG 诉讼”）中的对抗性程序被告。NPM 在康涅狄格州未决诉讼中代表 American International Group, Inc.（美国国际集团，简称 AIG）的关联方（包括 Lexington Insurance Company）进行抗辩（相关事务与本第 11 章案件或 AIG 诉讼无关）。NPM 在任何事务中均不代理 AIG Property Casualty Company，NPM 亦未在 AIG 诉讼中担任 Genever Holdings LLC 的法律顾问。\n\nb. Meta Platforms Inc. 是对抗性程序案号 24-05117（下称“Meta 诉讼”）中的对抗性程序被告。Patrick R. Linsey（向受托人和 Genever 债务人提供服务的 NPM 主任律师）的配偶受雇于 Meta Platforms Inc.（其职务与 Meta 诉讼或其标的事项无关）。\n\nc. John P. Morgan 是对抗性程序案号 24-05072（下称“Morgan 诉讼”）中的对抗性程序被告。从 2020 年 5 月 5 日至 2020 年 10 月 13 日，NPM 曾在向本法院提起的第 11 章程序，案号 17-50456（下称“Caritas 案”）中代理 Caritas Investment Limited Partnership（“Caritas”），并因其服务获得了金额为 $10,000 的款项。在 Caritas 案审理期间，John A. Morgan 是 Caritas 的有限合伙人，也是 Caritas 普通合伙人的成员。John A. Morgan 可能也被称为 John P. Morgan，即 Morgan 诉讼中的对抗性程序被告。NPM 从未担任过 John P. Morgan 或 John A. Morgan 的法律顾问。\n\n9. 基于前述内容以及 NPM 此前在这些第 11 章案件中提交的声明，就我根据目前可获得的信息所能确定的范围而言：(a) NPM 与债务人、其债权人、联邦破产受托人（U.S. Trustee）、受雇于联邦破产受托人办公室的任何人，或在第 11 章案件中具有实际或潜在利益的任何其他当事方或其各自的律师或会计师均无任何关联；且 (b) NPM 及其任何律师均 (i) 不是债务人或其关联方的债权人、权益证券持有人或内部人，(ii) 在各自申请日前两年内未曾担任债务人或其关联方的董事、高级职员或雇员，或 (iii) 未因与债务人的任何直接或间接关系、关联或在债务人中的权益，或因任何其他原因，而拥有与债务人破产财产或任何类别债权人或权益证券持有人的利益存在重大不利的任何利益。因此，我认为 NPM 属于《破产法典》（Bankruptcy Code）第 101(14) 条（经第 1107(b) 条修正）含义内的“无利害关系人”。\n\n根据 28 U.S.C. § 1746，我特此声明，在愿受伪证罪处罚的前提下，上述陈述真实无误。\n\n日期：2025 年 3 月 7 日，于康涅狄格州纽黑文\n\n/s Douglas S. Skalka Douglas S. Skalka\n\nUNITED 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部）\n\n事项：\n第 11 章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n债务人。\n合并审理\n\n送达证明\n\n签名人特此证明，于本文件注明日期，前述文件已通过电子方式提交。本份提交的通知已通过法院电子提交系统的运作，通过电子邮件发送给所有出庭并符合接受电子送达条件的当事方。各当事方可通过法院系统查阅本份文件。\n\n日期：2025 年 3 月 7 日\nLUC A. DESPINS，\n康涅狄格州纽黑文\n第 11 章受托人\n\n签署人：/s/ Douglas S. Skalka\nDouglas S. Skalka (ct00616)\nPatrick R. Linsey (ct29437)\nNEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C.\n195 Church Street, 13th Floor\nNew Haven, Connecticut 06510\n(203) 821-2000\ndskalka@npmlaw.com\nplinsey@npmlaw.com","key_entities":["Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Despins","CIPA","Je"],"ecf_references":[],"word_count":1568,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 12:57:59"}