{"id":"court_ctb_778_0","court":"CTB","case_no":"22-50073","doc_number":778,"sub_number":0,"doc_type":"ORDER","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>:<br>Chapter 11                   |  |\n| HO WAN KWOK,                                                | :<br>:<br>Case No. 22-50073 (JAM)<br>: |  |\n| Debtor.1                                                    | :<br>:                                 |  |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | x                                      |  |\n\n## **MOTION, PURSUANT TO BANKRUPTCY RULE 9006(c)(1), TO EXPEDITE HEARING ON MOTION OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE FOR ENTRY OF ORDER (A) PROVIDING THAT CONTROL OF ANY ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE, WORK PRODUCT PROTECTION, AND OTHER PRIVILEGES RELATED TO RULE 2004 SUBPOENAED DOCUMENTS PASSED TO TRUSTEE UPON APPOINTMENT, (B) DIRECTING THAT DEBTOR AND OTHER EXAMINEES NOT WITHHOLD DOCUMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF SUCH PRIVILEGES, AND (C) GRANTING RELATED RELIEF**\n\nChapter 11 Trustee Luc A. Despins (the \"Trustee\"), by and through his undersigned counsel, pursuant to Rule 9006(c)(1) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (the \"Bankruptcy Rules\"), hereby moves (the \"Motion to Expedite\") this Court for an order scheduling an expedited hearing to consider and determine the *Motion of Chapter 11 Trustee for Entry of Order (A) Providing That Control of Any Attorney-Client Privilege, Work Product Protection, and Other Privileges Related to Rule 2004 Subpoenaed Documents Passed to Trustee Upon Appointment, (B) Directing That Debtor and Other Examinees Not Withhold Documents on Account of Such Privileges, and (C) Granting Related Relief* (the \"Privileges Motion\"). In support of his Motion to Expedite, the Trustee respectfully states as follows:\n\n<sup>1</sup> Although the Debtor's legal name is Ho Wan Kwok, he is also known as Guo Wengui, Miles Guo, and Miles Kwok, as well as numerous other aliases. The last four digits of the Debtor's taxpayer identification number are 9595.\n\n#### **JURISDICTION, VENUE, AND STATUTORY BASIS**\n\n1. The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (the \"Court\") has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 and 1334 and the *Standing Order of Reference* from the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut (as amended). The Privileges Motion, including this Motion to Expedite with respect thereto, is a core proceeding within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 157(b).\n\n2. Venue in this District is proper pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 and 1409.\n\n3. The basis for the relief sought by this Motion to Expedite is Bankruptcy Rule 9006(c)(1).\n\n#### **BACKGROUND**\n\n4. On February 15, 2022 (the \"Petition Date\"), the Debtor filed with the Court a voluntary petition for relief under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.\n\n5. On June 15, 2022, the Court entered a memorandum of decision and order [ECF No. 465] (the \"Trustee Order\") directing the United States Trustee to appoint a chapter 11 trustee in the Chapter 11 Case.\n\n6. On July 8, 2022, the Court entered an order granting the appointment of Luc A. Despins as the Trustee in the Chapter 11 Case (ECF No. 523) (the \"Appointment Order\").\n\n7. On July 28, 2022, the Trustee filed three related motions: (i) Motion of Chapter 11 Trustee for Entry of Order under Bankruptcy Rule 2004 and Local Rule 2004-1 Authorizing Examination of Ho Wan Kwok and Production of Documents (ECF No. 636) (the \"Debtor 2004 Motion\"); (ii) the Omnibus Motion of Chapter 11 Trustee for Entry of Order under Bankruptcy Rule 2004 and Local Rule 2004-1 Authorizing Discovery with Respect to Various Legal and Financial Advisors to the Debtor (ECF No. 637) (the \"Professionals 2004 Motion\"); and (iii) the\n\nOmnibus Motion of Chapter 11 Trustee for Entry of Order under Bankruptcy Rule 2004 and Local Rule 2004-1 Authorizing Discovery with Respect to Various Entities and Individuals Affiliated with the Debtor (ECF No. 638) (the \"Third-Party Motion\" and together with the Debtor 2004 Motion and the Professionals 2004 Motion, the \"Rule 2004 Motions,\" attaching the \"Rule 2004 Subpoenas\").\n\n8. On August 2, 2022, counsel for the Trustee and counsel for the Debtor met and conferred via teleconference regarding the limited issues concerning the Rule 2004 Motions (the \"August 2 Meet and Confer\"). During the meet and confer, counsel for the Debtor suggested that, despite the proposed subpoenas attached to the Rule 2004 motions being limited to topics core to the Trustee's rights and obligations, including identification and investigation of the estate's assets, financial condition and administration, absent a ruling from the Court, counsel believed it was likely the Debtor would seek to withhold potentially responsive documents on the grounds that the Debtor, and not the Trustee, controlled the relevant privilege. Counsel for the Trustee made clear that it could not see a basis for the Debtor to claim that control of the attorney-client privilege as to the requested information had not passed to the Trustee, and asked that to the extent the Debtor was aware of any such documents, or basis for the Debtor to assert such a privilege, that it identify those issues to the Trustee immediately, so as to avoid any delay. For the Debtor's part, his counsel suggested that the Court should provide guidance on privilege issues in advance of future disagreements over privilege.\n\n9. On August 5, 2022, the Debtor filed a Limited Objection to the Rule 2004 Motions (ECF No. 703) (\"Debtor's Limited Objection\"), noting the Debtor's position that control over the attorney-client privilege in connection with the Rule 2004 motion was legally ambiguous, and a \"a question for another day.\" *See* Debtor's Limited Objection at 2 (citing\n\nDebtor 2004 Motion at 15-16; Professionals 2004 Motion at 19-20). In support of the Debtor's Limited Objection, the Debtor's counsel, Aaron Romney of Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C., submitted a Declaration in Support of the Debtor's Limited Objection (ECF No. 732) (the \"Romney Declaration\"), reflecting the Debtor's position that the issue of control of the attorney-client privilege be submitted \"to the Court in an omnibus fashion on a reasonable timetable.\" (Romney Declaration at 4).\n\n10. On August 10, 2022, the Trustee filed a Reply in Support of the Rule 2004 Motions (ECF. No. 724) (\"Trustee's Reply\"), reiterating that the Trustee's ownership of the Debtor's privileges is a critical issue that the Court should resolve as soon as possible. (*See* ECF No. 724 at 4 n.2). The Trustee's Reply indicated an intent to bring this issue before the Court in the near future. (*Id.*).\n\n11. On August 12, 2022, the Court held a hearing with respect to the Rule 2004 Motions and directed the Trustee to file revised proposed orders with respect to the Rule 2004 Motions. (*See* ECF No. 742). At the hearing, counsel for the Trustee made clear that, because it appeared that the Debtor continued to intend to assert a privilege over responsive documents called for under the proposed Rule 2004 subpoenas on the grounds that control of the privilege was ambiguous, the Trustee intended to seek a ruling from the Court on these issues. (Hr'g Tr. at 15:12-15). Counsel from Brown Rudnick rose to agree that, as prior counsel to the Debtor, such a ruling would be extremely helpful. (Hr'g Tr. at 20:19-21).\n\n12. On August 16, 2022, the Court granted the Rule 2004 Motions, authorizing the service of the Rule 2004 Subpoenas. (Order Granting Chapter 11 Trustee's Application for Rule 2004 Discovery with Respect to Various Legal and Financial Advisors to the Debtor (ECF No. 756), Order Granting Chapter 11 Trustee's Application for Rule 2004 Examination of Ho Wan\n\nKwok (ECF No. 757), and Order Granting Chapter 11 Trustee's Application for Rule 2004 Discovery with Respect to Various Entities and Individuals Affiliated with Debtor (ECF No. 756) (the three orders collectively, the \"Rule 2004 Orders\")). Pursuant to the Rule 2004 Orders, parties must either produce documents, or produce to the Trustee a privilege log (to the extent a party does not produce any documents requested in the Subpoena on the basis of some privilege), within 30 days of the service of the Subpoena.\n\n13. On August 22, 2022, the Trustee filed the Privileges Motion, which seeks entry of an order (a) confirming that the Trustee owns and controls the attorney-client privilege, work product protection, and any other privileges on issues related to the Debtor's assets and financial affairs and the administration of his estate, (b) directing that the Debtor or any other Discovery Recipients, not withhold documents from the Trustee on account of any such privileges in responding to the Rule 2004 Subpoenas,<sup>2</sup> or attempt to assert any such privileges that are properly controlled by the Trustee, and (c) granting related relief, all as more fully set forth in the Privileges Motion.\n\n#### **RELIEF REQUESTED**\n\n14. Bankruptcy Rule 9006(c)(1) provides that the Court may reduce the notice period when requested by motion upon cause shown. Cause exists to consider and determine the Privileges Motion upon an expedited basis. The Trustee respectfully requests that the Court (i) schedule a hearing with respect to the Privileges Motion to be held on August 30, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. or as soon as possible thereafter as the Court may be available, and (ii) order that the deadline to object to the Privileges Motion be August 28, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. The Court has already set August 30, 2022 as the expedited hearing on the *Debtor's Motion For Stay Pending*\n\n<sup>2</sup> Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Privileges Motion.\n\n*Appeal of Order, Pursuant to Bankruptcy Code Sections 363, 521 541, 1108, and 105, (A) Confirming That Chapter 11 Trustee Holds All of Debtor's Economic Rights in Debtor-Controlled Entities, (B) Authorizing Chapter 11 Trustee to Act in Any Foreign Country on Behalf of the Estate, and (C) Granting Related Relief* (Doc. No 761, the \"Stay Motion\").\n\n#### **BASIS FOR RELIEF**\n\n15. The information requested for the Trustee's Rule 2004 investigation is critical to the Trustee's investigation of the estate's actual assets and financial condition. As detailed in the Privileges Motion, this is particularly true with regard to any privileged documents the Debtor, or his former counsel, have related to the numerous shell companies, trusts and other legal entities associated with the Debtor, whose purpose seems likely to be obfuscation of the Debtor's estate's interest in assets, and whose existence is predicated on legal advice. Absent prompt access to this essential privileged information, not only will the Trustee's efforts to expediently investigate the Debtor's assets be frustrated, but with each passing day, the potential complexity associated with recovery of the estate's assets only grows.\n\n16. Among the documents the Trustee seeks are documents related to ongoing litigation that Debtor has commenced against other parties, which litigations are now assets of the estate. Many, if not all, of the non-public documents currently held by the Debtor or his counsel related to those litigations are likely to be subject to claims of privilege. Given that the Trustee is now responsible for the prosecution and defense of these litigations, the Trustee has an urgent need for access to these documents, including case files and work product of outside counsel, to fulfill his obligations.\n\n17. Counsel for the Debtor and Brown Rudnick, the Debtor's former bankruptcy counsel, have already indicated that a prompt decision from the Court clarifying the Trustee's\n\ncontrol of the privilege with regard to the requested Rule 2004 subpoenaed documents will be invaluable for the recipients of the Rule 2004 subpoenas, so as to avoid any potential improper invocations of a privilege that is no longer controlled by the Debtor.\n\n18. Given the Trustee's and Debtor's unified view on the importance of a clear and expedient ruling regarding the Trustee's control of the applicable privileges, and the fact that the Debtor and Trustee have already been discussing this issue for weeks, there is no prejudice to the Debtor, or any counsel who he may intend to instruct regarding treatment of privileged information, by expediting consideration of the Privileges Motion.\n\n19. The Trustee believes the hearing on the Privileges Motion should be set for August 30, 2022, which is the date the Court recently set for the hearing on the Stay Motion in response to the Debtor's request to expedite that motion. As will be explained in the Debtor's response to the Stay Motion, the Privileges Motion and the Stay Motion involve overlapping issues in that both motions relate to the transfer of control of applicable privileges and protections from the Debtor to the Trustee upon the Trustee's appointment. The Trustee therefore believes it would be inefficient for the Court to hear these motions separately. 3\n\n20. Finally, the Trustee requests that the Court direct that notice of the Privileges Motion and the Court's order granting this Motion to Expedite and scheduling a hearing, be served on all parties-in-interest appearing in the Chapter 11 Case qualified to receive electronic notice via the Court's CM/ECF service, as well as the Debtor, the Committee, and the United States Trustee.\n\n<sup>3</sup> The Trustee would be amenable to having the Privileges Motion heard on a slightly more extended timetable for example, with hearing taking place the week of September 5, 2022—if the hearing on the Stay Motion were also adjourned to that date, with objection deadlines for both motions adjourned commensurately to the week of August 29, 2022. To this end, the Trustee notes that he proposed to the Debtor a solution that would have resolved the need for the Debtor's motion to expedite the Stay Motion, but he did not receive a response to that proposal prior to the Court scheduling the hearing on the Stay Motion for August 30.\n\nWHEREFORE, the Trustee requests that the Court issue an Order, substantially in the\n\nform attached hereto, setting a hearing on the Privileges Motion on August 30, 2022, at 1:00\n\np.m., ordering notice of such hearing as set forth in the attached Order, and ordering such other\n\nand further relief as is just and proper.\n\nDated: August 22, 2022 LUC A. DESPINS, New Haven, Connecticut CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE\n\nBy: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey*\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*and*\n\nNicholas A. Bassett *(pro hac vice* pending) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n*and*\n\nAvram E. Luft *(pro hac vice* pending) Douglass Barron (*pro hac vice* pending) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*\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<br>(JAM) |\n|                                                             | : |                            |\n| Debtor.                                                     | : |                            |\n|                                                             | : |                            |\n| ----------------------------------------------------------- | x |                            |\n\n#### **ORDER SCHEDULING EXPEDITED HEARING**\n\nThe Court having considered the motion (the \"Motion to Expedite\")<sup>1</sup> seeking an expedited hearing on the *Motion of Chapter 11 Trustee for Entry of Order (A) Providing That Control of Any Attorney-Client Privilege, Work Product Protection, and Other Privileges Related to Rule 2004 Subpoenaed Documents Passed to Trustee Upon Appointment, (B) Directing That Debtor and Other Examinees Not Withhold Documents On Account of Such Privileges, and (C) Granting Related Relief* [ECF No. \\_\\_\\_] (the \"Privileges Motion\"); and good cause appearing, it is hereby\n\n**ORDERED,** that a hearing on the Privileges Motion shall be held on **August 30, 2022, at 1:00 p.m.** at the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Connecticut, Bridgeport Division, 915 Lafayette Boulevard, Room 123, Bridgeport, CT 06604 (the \"Hearing\"); and it is further\n\n**ORDERED,** that the deadline to object to the Privileges Motion shall be **August 28, 2022 at 1:00 p.m.**; and it is further\n\n**ORDERED,** that a copy of this Order, along with the Privileges Motion and any\n\n<sup>1</sup> Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined in this Order have the meanings set forth in the Motion to Expedite.\n\nattachments thereto, shall be served upon all parties to the above-captioned chapter 11 case qualified to receive electronic notice via the Court's CM/ECF service, as well as the Debtor, the Committee, and the United States Trustee, on or before August \\_\\_, 2022, and the Trustee shall file a certificate of service in advance of the Hearing.\n\n# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**\n\n| -----------------------------------------------------------<br>x |                                           |  |  |  |\n|------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|--|--|--|\n| In re:                                                           | :<br>:<br>Chapter 11                      |  |  |  |\n| HO WAN KWOK,                                                     | :<br>:<br>Case No. 22-50073<br>(JAM)<br>: |  |  |  |\n| Debtor.                                                          | :<br>:                                    |  |  |  |\n| -----------------------------------------------------------      | x                                         |  |  |  |\n\n### **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**\n\nThe undersigned hereby certifies that on August 22, 2022, the foregoing Motion and\n\nProposed Order was electronically filed. Notice of this filing was sent by e-mail to all parties to\n\nthe above-captioned chapter 11 case by operation of the Court's electronic filing (\"CM/ECF\")\n\nsystem or by mail to anyone unable to accept electronic filing as indicated on the Notice of\n\nElectronic Filing.<sup>1</sup> Parties may access this filing through the Court's CM/ECF system.\n\nDated: August 22, 2022 New Haven, Connecticut\n\n> By: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey* Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) James C. Graham (ct06064) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 [dskalka@npmlaw.com](mailto:dskalka@npmlaw.com) jgraham@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n<sup>1</sup> To the extent that the foregoing was filed outside regular business hours, service by mail on recipients unable or not qualified to accept electronic notice was made on the next business day.\n\n*and*\n\nNicholas A. Bassett *(pro hac vice* pending) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n*and*\n\nAvram E. Luft *(pro hac vice* pending) Douglass Barron (*pro hac vice* pending) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*","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----------------------------------------------------------- x\n\n案由：\n第11章\nHo Wan Kwok（郭文贵），\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n\n债务人。1\n\n----------------------------------------------------------- x\n根据《破产规则》第9006(c)(1)条，就第11章受托人提请作出以下裁定的动议申请加快听证程序的动议：(A) 规定针对依据第2004条发出传票索取的文件的律师-委托人保密特权、工作成果保护及其他特权的控制权，在受托人获任命时即已移交受托人；(B) 命令债务人及其他受质询人不得基于该等特权扣留文件；以及 (C) 给予相关救济\n\n第11章受托人Luc A. Despins（卢克·A·德斯宾斯）（以下简称“受托人”），通过其下述签名律师，依据《联邦破产程序规则》（以下简称“《破产规则》”）第9006(c)(1)条，特此向本法院提出动议（以下简称“《加快审理动议》”），请求法院发布命令安排加快听证，以审理并裁定《第11章受托人提请作出以下裁定的动议：(A) 规定针对依据第2004条发出传票索取的文件的律师-委托人保密特权、工作成果保护及其他特权的控制权，在受托人获任命时即已移交受托人；(B) 命令债务人及其他受质询人不得基于该等特权扣留文件；以及 (C) 给予相关救济》（以下简称“《特权动议》”）。作为对其《加快审理动议》的支持，受托人谨陈述如下：\n\n1 尽管该债务人的法定姓名为Ho Wan Kwok（郭文贵），但其亦被称为Guo Wengui、Miles Guo和Miles Kwok，以及诸多其他化名。债务人的纳税人识别号后四位为9595。\n管辖权、审理地及法定依据\n\n1. 根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 157 和 1334 以及United States District Court for the District of Connecticut（美国康涅狄格区联邦地区法院）的《案件移转常规命令》（经修订），本法院对本事项拥有管辖权。《特权动议》（包括与其相关的本《加快审理动议》）属于 28 U.S.C. § 157(b) 所指的核心诉讼程序。\n\n2. 根据 28 U.S.C. §§ 1408 和 1409，本司法区的审理地是适当的。\n\n3. 本《加快审理动议》所寻求救济的依据为《破产规则》第9006(c)(1)条。\n背景\n\n4. 2022年2月15日（以下简称“申请日”），债务人依据《破产法典》第11章向本法院提交了自愿救济申请。\n\n5. 2022年6月15日，本法院作出一项决定备忘录及裁定 [ECF No. 465]（以下简称“《受托人裁定》”），指示美国联邦破产受托人（United States Trustee）在本第11章案件中任命一名第11章受托人。\n\n6. 2022年7月8日，本法院作出裁定，批准任命Luc A. Despins为本第11章案件的受托人（ECF No. 523）（以下简称“《任命裁定》”）。\n\n7. 2022年7月28日，受托人提交了三项相关动议：(i) 《第11章受托人提请根据〈破产规则〉第2004条及〈本地规则〉第2004-1条作出授权对Ho Wan Kwok进行质询及出示文件的裁定的动议》（ECF No. 636）（以下简称“《债务人2004动议》”）；(ii) 《第11章受托人提请根据〈破产规则〉第2004条及〈本地规则〉第2004-1条作出授权对债务人的各项法律和财务顾问进行证据开示的综合动议》（ECF No. 637）（以下简称“《专业人员2004动议》”）；以及 (iii)\n\n《第11章受托人提请根据〈破产规则〉第2004条及〈本地规则〉第2004-1条作出授权对与债务人关联的各项实体及个人进行证据开示的综合动议》（ECF No. 638）（以下简称“《第三方动议》”，与《债务人2004动议》及《专业人员2004动议》统称为“《第2004条动议》”，并附有“《第2004条传票》”）。\n\n8. 2022年8月2日，受托人律师与债务人律师就涉及《第2004条动议》的有限问题通过电话会议进行了磋商（以下简称“8月2日磋商”）。在磋商过程中，债务人律师提出，尽管附于第2004条动议之后的拟发出传票仅限于受托人权利与义务的核心主题（包括对破产财产的资产、财务状况及管理的查明与调查），但若无本法院的裁定，该律师认为债务人很可能会基于相关特权由债务人而非受托人控制为由，试图扣留可能符合要求的文件。受托人律师明确表示，其认为债务人声称对所请求信息的律师-委托人特权控制权未移交受托人的主张缺乏依据，并要求在债务人知悉任何此类文件或债务人主张此类特权的依据的范围内，应立即向受托人说明这些问题，以避免任何拖延。就债务人而言，其律师建议法院应在未来就特权发生分歧之前，就特权问题提供指引。\n\n9. 2022年8月5日，债务人提交了《对第2004条动议的有限异议》（ECF No. 703）（以下简称“《债务人有限异议》”），指出债务人的立场是，与第2004条动议相关的律师-委托人特权控制权在法律上存在模糊性，属于“留待日后再决的问题”。参见《债务人有限异议》第2页（援引\n\n《债务人2004动议》第15-16页；《专业人员2004动议》第19-20页）。为支持《债务人的有限异议》，债务人律师、来自Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C.律师事务所的Aaron Romney（亚伦·罗姆尼）提交了《支持债务人有限异议的声明》（ECF No. 732）（以下简称“《罗姆尼声明》”），反映了债务人的立场，即律师-委托人特权的控制权问题应“在合理的时间表内以综合方式提交给法院”。（《罗姆尼声明》第4页）。\n\n10. 2022年8月10日，受托人提交了《支持第2004条动议的答辩书》（ECF. No. 724）（以下简称“《受托人答辩书》”），重申受托人对债务人特权的所有权是法院应尽快解决的关键问题。（参见 ECF No. 724 第4页脚注2）。《受托人答辩书》表明了拟在近期将此问题提交法院审理的意图。（同上）。\n\n11. 2022年8月12日，法院就《第2004条动议》举行了听证会，并指示受托人就《第2004条动议》提交修改后的拟议裁定。（参见 ECF No. 742）。在听证会上，受托人律师明确表示，鉴于债务人似乎仍打算以特权控制权存在模糊性为由，对拟议第2004条传票所要求的符合条件的文件主张特权，受托人打算就这些问题寻求法院的裁定。（听证记录第15:12-15行）。来自Brown Rudnick律师事务所的律师发言表示同意，作为债务人的前任律师，此类裁定将非常有帮助。（听证记录第20:19-21行）。\n\n12. 2022年8月16日，法院批准了《第2004条动议》，授权送达《第2004条传票》。（《准予第11章受托人就债务人的各项法律和财务顾问进行第2004条证据开示之申请的裁定》（ECF No. 756）、《准予第11章受托人对Ho Wan\n\nKwok进行第2004条质询之申请的裁定》（ECF No. 757），以及《准予第11章受托人就与债务人关联的各项实体及个人进行第2004条证据开示之申请的裁定》（ECF No. 756）（三项裁定统称为“《第2004条裁定》”））。根据《第2004条裁定》，各方当事人必须在传票送达后30天内出示文件，或（如果当事方基于某种特权不出示传票中请求的任何文件）向受托人出具特权清单。\n\n13. 2022年8月22日，受托人提交了《特权动议》，请求作出命令以：(a) 确认受托人拥有并控制与债务人的资产和财务事务以及对其破产财产的管理相关问题上的律师-委托人特权、工作成果保护以及任何其他特权；(b) 命令债务人或任何其他证据开示接收人，在回应《第2004条传票》时，2不得基于任何此类特权向受托人扣留文件，亦不得试图主张任何依法由受托人控制的此类特权；以及 (c) 给予相关救济，所有这些均如《特权动议》中所详述。\n请求的救济\n\n14. 《破产规则》第9006(c)(1)条规定，经动议申请并在说明理由后，法院可缩短通知期限。加快审理和裁定《特权动议》具有充分理由。受托人谨请求法院：(i) 安排于2022年8月30日下午1:00或其后法院可行的尽早时间就《特权动议》举行听证会，并且 (ii) 命令就《特权动议》提出异议的截止日期为2022年8月28日下午1:00。法院已将2022年8月30日定为就债务人的以下动议举行加快听证会的日期：债务人的《在上诉期间中止执行裁定的动议，该裁定依据〈破产法典〉第363、521、541、1108和105条，(A) 确认第11章受托人享有债务人在受债务人控制的实体中的全部经济权利，(B) 授权第11章受托人代表破产财产在任何外国行事，以及 (C) 给予相关救济》\n\n2 本文未予定义的首字母大写术语具有《特权动议》中赋予它们的含义。\n\n（文件号761，以下简称“《中止动议》”）。\n救济的依据\n\n15. 受托人依据第2004条进行调查所请求的信息，对于受托人调查破产财产的实际资产和财务状况至关重要。正如《特权动议》中所详述，对于债务人或其前任律师所持有的、与众多与债务人关联的空壳公司、信托及其他法律实体相关的任何受特权保护的文件而言，情况尤其如此；这些实体的目的似乎很可能是为了混淆债务人破产财产在资产中的权益，且其存在是以法律咨询为基础的。若无法及时获取这些关键的特权信息，受托人迅速调查债务人资产的努力不仅会受挫，而且随着时间的推移，追回破产财产资产所面临的潜在复杂性只会与日俱增。\n\n16. 在受托人索取的文件中，包含与债务人对其他当事方提起的正在进行的诉讼相关的档卷，这些诉讼目前属于破产财产的资产。债务人或其律师目前持有的与这些诉讼相关的非公开文件中，即使不是全部，也大多很可能受到特权主张的约束。鉴于受托人目前负责这些诉讼的起诉和应诉，受托人迫切需要获取这些文件（包括案件卷宗和外部律师的工作成果），以履行其职责。\n\n17. 债务人律师以及债务人的前破产律师Brown Rudnick律师事务所均已表示，法院若能尽快作出裁定，澄清受托人对依第2004条传票所索取文件的特权控制权，\n\n对于第2004条传票的接收人而言将极其宝贵，从而可以避免任何可能对不再由债务人控制的特权进行不当援引的情况。\n\n18. 鉴于Trustee（受托人）与Debtor（债务人）一致认为，就受托人对适用特权之控制权作出明确且及时的裁定具有重要性，且债务人与受托人就此问题已讨论数周之久，故加快审理Privileges Motion（特权动议）不会对债务人、或其可能意图就特权信息处理予以指示的任何律师造成任何损害。\n\n19. 受托人认为，特权动议的听证会应定于2022年8月30日举行，即法院最近响应债务人加快审理Stay Motion（中止动议）的请求而为该动议听证会确定的日期。正如债务人对中止动议的答复中所将阐明的，特权动议与中止动议涉及重叠的争议焦点，因两项动议均涉及在受托人获任命后，适用特权与保护的控制权从债务人向受托人的移交。因此，受托人认为法院分别听审上述动议将是低效的。3\n\n20. 最后，受托人请求法院指示：特权动议的通知以及法院准予本Motion to Expedite（加急动议）并排定听证会日期的裁定，应送达给在该Chapter 11 Case（第11章案件）中出庭且有资格通过法院CM/ECF服务接收电子通知的所有利害关系方，以及债务人、Committee（委员会）和United States Trustee（联邦受托人）。\n\n3 如果中止动议的听证会也延期至该日期，且两项动议的异议截止日期相应顺延至2022年8月29日当周，则受托人愿意接受按照稍有延长的日程安排听审特权动议——例如，在2022年9月5日当周举行听证会。为此，受托人指出，其曾向债务人提出过一项本可免除债务人提出加急审理中止动议之必要性的解决方案，但在法院将中止动议的听证会排定于8月30日之前，其并未收到对该提议的答复。\n\n综上所述，受托人请求法院作出大体采用本动议附件形式的Order（裁定），定于2022年8月30日下午1:00就特权动议举行听证会，命令按照所附裁定中的规定送达该听证会通知，并命令给予公正且适当的其他及进一步救济。\n\n日期：2022年8月22日 LUC A. DESPINS（卢克·A·德斯平斯），康涅狄格州纽黑文 第11章受托人\n\n签署人：/s/ Patrick R. Linsey\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及\n\nNicholas A. Bassett (pro hac vice pending，申请特别出庭中) PAUL HASTINGS LLP（普衡律师事务所） 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n及\n\nAvram E. Luft (pro hac vice pending，申请特别出庭中) Douglass Barron (pro hac vice pending，申请特别出庭中) PAUL HASTINGS LLP（普衡律师事务所） 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n第11章受托人代理律师\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院）\n\n----------------------------------------------------------- x\n\n关于： : 第11章\n\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）， : 案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n\n债务人。 :\n\n----------------------------------------------------------- x\n排定加急听证会的裁定\n\n法院在审理了请求就《第11章受托人关于作出如下裁定的动议：(A) 规定与第2004条规则传票调取的文件相关的任何律师-委托人保密特权、工作成果保护及其他特权的控制权在任命时移交给受托人，(B) 指示债务人及其他被调查人不得以该等特权为由拒不提交文件，以及 (C) 给予相关救济》[ECF No. ___]（简称“特权动议”）进行加急听证的动议（简称“加急动议”）1 后；在查明正当理由成立的情况下，特此\n\n裁定：特权动议的听证会应于2022年8月30日下午1:00在United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Connecticut, Bridgeport Division, 915 Lafayette Boulevard, Room 123, Bridgeport, CT 06604（简称“听证会”）举行；并进一步\n\n裁定：对特权动议提出异议的截止时间为2022年8月28日下午1:00；并进一步\n\n裁定：本裁定副本连同特权动议及其任何\n\n1 本裁定中使用但未另行定义的首字母大写术语，具有加急动议中所规定的含义。\n\n附件，应于2022年8月__日或之前送达给上述标题项下第11章案件中有资格通过法院CM/ECF服务接收电子通知的所有当事人，以及债务人、委员会和联邦受托人，且受托人应在听证会之前提交送达证明。\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院）\n\nx\n\n关于： :\n:\n第11章\nHO WAN KWOK（郭文贵）， :\n:\n案号：22-50073 (JAM)\n\n债务人。 :\n\n----------------------------------------------------------- x\n送达证明\n\n下述签署人特此证明，于2022年8月22日，上述动议及拟议裁定已进行电子立案提交。本立案提交的通知已通过法院电子立案（“CM/ECF”）系统的运行，以电子邮件方式发送给上述标题项下第11章案件的所有当事人，或如电子立案通知1上所示，以邮寄方式发送给无法接受电子立案的任何人。各方当事人均可通过法院的CM/ECF系统查阅本次立案文件。\n\n日期：2022年8月22日 康涅狄格州纽黑文\n\n签署人：/s/ Patrick R. Linsey Douglas S. Skalka (ct00616) James C. Graham (ct06064) Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 dskalka@npmlaw.com jgraham@npmlaw.com plinsey@npmlaw.com\n\n1 若前述文件系在正常营业时间之外提交，则对无法或无资格接收电子通知的接收人的邮寄送达已于下一个营业日进行。\n\n及\n\nNicholas A. Bassett (pro hac vice pending，申请特别出庭中) PAUL HASTINGS LLP（普衡律师事务所） 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com\n\n及\n\nAvram E. Luft (pro hac vice pending，申请特别出庭中) Douglass Barron (pro hac vice pending，申请特别出庭中) PAUL HASTINGS LLP（普衡律师事务所） 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6079 aviluft@paulhastings.com\n\n第11章受托人代理律师","key_entities":["Je","Kwok","Ho Wan Kwok","Guo","Paul Hastings","Despins","Miles Guo"],"ecf_references":[{"doc_number":465,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":523,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":636,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":637,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":638,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":703,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":724,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":732,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":742,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":756,"court":"CTB"},{"doc_number":757,"court":"CTB"}],"word_count":2951,"status":"published","published_at":null,"created_at":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-23 13:34:24"}