{"id":"court_ctb_499_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":499,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","filed_date":null,"title":"UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION In re","summary_zh":null,"summary_en":null,"body_en":"# UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION\n\nIn re\n\nChapter 11\n\nHO WAN KWOK a/k/a WENGUI GUO a/k/a MILES GUO,\n\nCase No. 22-50073 (JAM)\n\nDebtor.\n\n# APPLICATION FOR ORDER APPROVING APPOINTMENT OF A CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\nWilliam K. Harrington, the United States Trustee for Region 2 (the \"United States Trustee\"), through his undersigned counsel, hereby applies to this Court, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1104 and Rule 2007.1 of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, for an Order approving the appointment of Joe D. Whitley as Chapter 11 trustee in the captioned case. In support of the Application, the United States Trustee respectfully represents the following:\n\n#### I. STATEMENT OF FACTS\n\n1. as numerous other aliases (\"Debtor\"), filed a voluntary chapter 11 petition on February 15, 2022. ECF 1.\n\n2. LLP as his chapter 11 counsel. ECF 293.\n\n3. On March 19, 2022, the United States Trustee filed a Motion for an Order Directing the Appointment of an Examiner, or, In the Alternative, Motion for an Order Directing the Appointment of a Chapter 11 Trustee (\"UST Chapter 11 Trustee Motion\"). ECF 102.\n\nl\n\n4. On April 6, 2022, creditor Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. (\"PAX\") filed a Motion to Dismiss or, In The Alternative, Partial Joinder to the United States Trustee's Motion for an Order Directing the Appointment of a Chapter 11 Trustee (\"PAX Dismissal/Trustee Joinder Motion\"). ECF 183.\n\n5. On March 21, 2022, the United States Trustee appointed an Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (\"Committee\") in this case. ECF 108. The Committee employed Pullman & Comley, LLC as its counsel. ECF 298.\n\n6. On May 25, 2022, the Court conducted a hearing on the UST Chapter 11 Trustee Motion and PAX Dismissal/Trustee Joinder Motion. Counsel for the following participated in the hearing: the Debtor, the United States Trustee, the Committee, and creditors PAX, Rui Ma, Weican Meng and Zheng Wu.\n\n7. On June 15, 2022, the Court entered a memorandum of decision and order (the \"Trustee Order\") directing the United States Trustee to appoint a chapter 11 trustee (the \"Chapter 11 Trustee\"). ECF 465.\n\n8. Pursuant to 11 U.S.C.§ 1104(d), the United States Trustee has consulted the following parties-in-interest regarding the selection of the Chapter 11 Trustee: (i) counsel to the Committee, (ii) counsel to PAX, (iii) counsel to creditors Rui Ma, Weican Meng and Zheng Wu, and (iv) counsel to the Debtor.\n\n9. Pursuant to the Trustee Order, and after consultation with the parties-in-interest, the United States Trustee selected Joe D. Whitley as the Chapter 11 Trustee.\n\n10. To the best of the United States Trustee's knowledge, Joe D. Whitley's connections with the Debtor, creditors, any other parties-in-interest, their respective attorneys\n\n2\n\nand accountants, the United States Trustee, and persons employed in the Office of the United States Trustee are set forth on the Verified Statement of Joe D. Whitley which is annexed hereto.\n\n11. The United States Trustee, therefore, requests that the Court enter an order approving the appointment of Joe D. Whitley as Chapter 11 trustee in this case. A form of proposed order is attached hereto.\n\nWHEREFORE, the United States Trustee respectfully requests that the Court enter an order approving the appointment of Joe D. Whitley as Chapter 11 Trustee pursuant to 11 U.S.C. \\$1104(d), and grant such other relief as the Court may deem just and proper.\n\nDated: June 30, 2022 New Haven, Connecticut Respectfully submitted,\n\nWILLIAM K. HARRINGTON UNITED STATES TRUSTEE FOR REGION 2\n\nBy: /s/ Holley L. Claiborn Holley L. Claiborn Trial Attorney Office of the United States Trustee Giaimo Federal Building, Room 302 150 Court Street, New Haven, CT 06510 Holley.L.Claiborn@usdoj.gov Federal Bar No .: ct17216 (Connecticut) (203) 773-2210\n\n3\n\n# IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT\n\n| In Re:       |                                                     |\n|--------------|-----------------------------------------------------|\n| HO WAN KWOK, | 0<br>0<br>: Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)<br>: Chapter 11 |\n| Debtor.      |                                                     |\n\n# VERIFIED STATEMENT OF TRUSTED PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY RULE 2007.1\n\nJoe D. Whitley, proposed Chapter 11 Trustee (\"Trustee\"), declares as follows:\n\n1. Jam a partner with the law firm of Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP.\n\n2. The Office of the United States Trustee has appointed me as the trustee in this Chapter 11 case, subject to Court approval.\n\n3. Upon information and belief and based upon a review of Debtor's schedules of his creditors, the mailing matrix in the above-captioned case, the docket and what is publically available on the Court's website in the above-captioned case and made available to me at this time, I do not hold or represent any interest adverse to this bankruptcy estate or to any party in interest in this case.\n\n4. I believe that I am a \"disinterested person\" in connection with this case as that term is defined at 11 U.S.C. § 101(14).\n\n5. I have no connections with the Debtor, creditors, or with any other parties in interest, their respective attorneys and accountants, the United States Trustee, the Court, the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors and its members and persons employed in the Office of the United States Trustee except that Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP has represented parties in bankruptcy cases which have taken positions which were adverse to positions taken by the United States Trustee's Office in courts in the United States.\n\nI, Joe D. Whitley, Chapter 11 Trustee, declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.\n\nDated: June 29, 2022\n\nD. Whitley\n\nChapter 11 Trustee\n\n# UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION\n\nIn re\n\nChapter 11\n\nHO WAN KWOK a/k/a WENGUI GUO a/k/a MILES GUO,\n\nCase No. 22-50073 (JAM)\n\nDebtor.\n\n#### ORDER APPROVING APPOINTMENT OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\nUpon the Application for an Order Approving the United States Trustee's Appointment of Chapter 11 Trustee (\"Application\") pursuant to the Court's Order dated June 15, 2022 (ECF 465) directing the United States Trustee to appoint a Chapter 11 Trustee in the above captioned individual case of Ho Wan Kwok a/k/a Wengui Guo a/k/a Miles Guo (the \"Debtor\"), ' and the United States Trustee having selected Joe D. Whitley for appointment and Joe D. Whitley having accepted appointment to serve as Chapter 11 trustee in the Debtor's case, it is hereby\n\nORDERED that, pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 1104(d), the appointment of Joe D. Whitley as Chapter 11 trustee in the Debtor's case is hereby approved; and it is further\n\nORDERED that, within seven (7) days after his appointment, Joe D. Whitley shall obtain a bond in favor of the United States in the initial amount of \\$25,000.00, subject to further increase or decrease as needed, conditioned on the faithful performance of his official duties pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 322(a).\n\n4\n\n<sup>1</sup> The Debtor also uses other aliases.\n\n# UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION\n\nIn re\n\nChapter 11\n\nCase No. 22-50073 (JAM)\n\nHO WAN KWOK a/k/a WENGUI GUO a/k/a MILES GUO,\n\nDebtor.\n\n# CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE\n\nThe undersigned certifies that on the 30th day of June, 2022, the following documents were served on all appearing parties via the court's electronic filing system as listed in section 2 below.\n\n# 1. Documents Served\n\n- a. Application for Order Approving Appointment of Chapter 11 Trustee\n- b. Proposed order on same\n- c. Verified Statement of Joe D. Whitley\n\n# 2. Service on Joe D. Whitley via email: Joe D. Whitley at joe.whitley@wbd-us.com\n\n# 3. Parties Served Via ECF\n\nLaura Aronsson on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. laronsson @omm.com\n\nKenneth Aulet on behalf of Debtor Ho Wan Kwok kaulet@brownrudnick.com\n\nWilliam Baldiga on behalf of Debtor Ho Wan Kwok wbaldiga@brownrudnick.com\n\nWilliam R. Baldiga on behalf of Debtor Ho Wan Kwok wbaldiga@brownrudnick.com\n\nPatrick M. Birney on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. pbirney (arc.com, ctrivigno arc.com\n\nPatrick M. Birney on behalf of Defendant Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. pbirney@rc.com, ctrivigno@rc.com\n\nPatrick M. Birney on behalf of Plaintiff Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. pbirney(arc.com, ctrivigno(arc.com\n\nCarollynn H.G. Callari on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Rui Ma ccallari @callaripartners.com\n\nCarollynn H.G. Callari on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Weican Meng ccallari a callaripartners.com\n\nCarollynn H.G. Callari on behalf of Creditor Zheng Wu ccallari@callaripartners.com\n\nJohn L. Cesaroni on behalf of Interested Party Mei Guo jcesaroni a zeislaw.com\n\nHolley L. Claiborn on behalf of U.S. Trustee U. S. Trustee holley.1.claiborn@usdoj.gov\n\nDavid S. Forsh on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Rui Ma dforsh a callaripartners.com\n\nDavid S. Forsh on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Weican Meng dforsh @callaripartners.com\n\nDavid S. Forsh on behalf of Creditor Zheng Wu dforsh @callaripartners.com\n\nPeter Friedman on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. pfriedman a omm.com\n\nPeter Friedman on behalf of Defendant Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. pfriedman@omm.com\n\nPeter Friedman on behalf of Plaintiff Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. pfriedman@omm.com\n\nIrve J. Goldman on behalf of Creditor Committee Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors igoldman a pullcom.com, rmccoy@pullcom.com\n\nMia N. Gonzalez on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. mgonzalez@omm.com\n\nDavid V. Harbach, II on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P.\n\ndharbach@omm.com\n\nJeffrey L Jonas on behalf of Debtor Ho Wan Kwok jjonas @ brownrudnick.com\n\nJonathan Kaplan on behalf of Creditor Committee Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors ikaplan@pullcom.com, prulewicz apullcom.com:rmccov @pullcom.com\n\nStephen M. Kindseth on behalf of Interested Party HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC skindseth @zeislaw.com, cjervey azeislaw.com\n\nStephen M. Kindseth on behalf of Interested Party Mei Guo skindseth@zeislaw.com, cjervey@zeislaw.com\n\nDylan Kletter on behalf of Debtor Ho Wan Kwok dkletter@brownrudnick.com, adeering@brownrudnick.com:upinelo@brownrudnick.com:bsilverberg@brownrudnick.com:rsta rk@brownrudnick.com\n\nKristin B. Mayhew on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Rui Ma kmayhew amdmc-law.com, kwarshauer@mdmc-law.com:bdangelo@mdmc-law.com\n\nKristin B. Mayhew on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Weican Meng kmayhew@mdmc-law.com, kwarshauer@mdmc-law.com;bdangelo@mdmc-law.com\n\nKristin B. Mayhew on behalf of Creditor Zheng Wu kmayhew amdmc-law.com, kwarshauer amdmc-law.com;bdangelo amdmc-law.com\n\nKristin B. Mayhew on behalf of Plaintiff Rui Ma kmayhew amdmc-law.com, kwarshauer@mdmc-law.com:bdangelo@mdmc-law.com\n\nKristin B. Mayhew on behalf of Plaintiff Weican Meng kmayhew @mdmc-law.com, kwarshauer@mdmc-law.com;bdangelo@mdmc-law.com\n\nKristin B. Mayhew on behalf of Plaintiff Zheng Wu kmayhew @mdmc-law.com, kwarshauer@mdmc-law.com;bdangelo@mdmc-law.com\n\nTimothy D. Miltenberger on behalf of Interested Party Golden Spring (New York) LTD Tmiltenberger cocoshealaw.com, msullivan@cbshealaw.com:dtempera@cbshealaw.com\n\nSara Pahlavan on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. spahlavan@omm.com\n\nAaron Romney on behalf of Interested Party HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC aromney @zeislaw.com, swenthen azeislaw.com\n\nAaron Romney on behalf of Interested Party Mei Guo aromney azeislaw.com, swenthen a zeislaw.com\n\nAaron Romney on behalf of Plaintiff HK International Funds Investments (USA) Limited, LLC aromney azeislaw.com, swenthen azeislaw.com\n\nScott D. Rosen on behalf of Interested Party Golden Spring (New York) LTD srosen@cb-shea.com, msullivan@cbshealaw.com:dtempera@cbshealaw.com\n\nThomas J. Sansone on behalf of Creditor Chong Shen Raphanella tsansone@carmodylaw.com\n\nThomas J. Sansone on behalf of Creditor Rong Zhang tsansone acarmodylaw.com\n\nThomas J. Sansone on behalf of Creditor Xiaodan Wang tsansone@carmodylaw.com\n\nStuart M. Samoff on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. ssarnoff@omm.com, stuart-sarnoff-1059@ecf.pacerpro.com\n\nStuart M. Sarnoff on behalf of Defendant Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. ssarnoff @ omm.com, stuart-sarnoff-1059 @ecf.pacerpro.com\n\nStuart M. Samoff on behalf of Plaintiff Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. ssarnoff @omm.com, stuart-sarnoff-1059@ecf.pacerpro.com\n\nBennett Silverberg on behalf of Debtor Ho Wan Kwok bsilverberg abrownrudnick.com\n\nAnnecca H. Smith on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. asmith@rc.com\n\nAnnecca H. Smith on behalf of Plaintiff Pacific Alliance Asia Opportunity Fund L.P. asmith@rc.com\n\nU. S. Trustee USTPRegion02.NH.ECF@USDOJ.GOV\n\nJay Marshall Wolman on behalf of Creditor Logan Cheng imw arandazza.com, ecf-6898 @ecf.pacerpro.com\n\nJay Marshall Wolman on behalf of Plaintiff Logan Cheng imw @randazza.com, ecf-6898 @ecf.pacerpro.com\n\nPeter J. Zarella on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Rui Ma pzarella@mdmc-law.com\n\nPeter J. Zarella on behalf of 20 Largest Creditor Weican Meng pzarella@mdmc-law.com\n\nPeter J. Zarella on behalf of Creditor Zheng Wu pzarella@mdmc-law.com\n\nDated: June 30, 2022 New Haven, Connecticut Respectfully submitted,\n\n#### WILLIAM K. HARRINGTON UNITED STATES TRUSTEE FOR REGION 2\n\n/s/ Holley L. Claiborn By: Holley L. Claiborn Trial Attorney Office of the United States Trustee Giaimo Federal Building, Room 302 150 Court Street, New Haven, CT 06510 Holley.L.Claiborn@usdoj.gov Federal Bar No .: ct17216 (Connecticut) (203) 773-2210","body_zh":null,"key_entities":["Guo","Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Je","Miles Guo","CIPA"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":1,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":102,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":108,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":183,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":293,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":298,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":465,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":2012,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-07-07 08:25:31"}