Guo Wengui / Miles Guo — bankruptcy case · TRANSCRIPT · ECF #3921

# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**

| ----------------------------------------------------------- | x | | |-------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------| | In re: | :<br>: | Chapter 11 | | HO WAN KWOK,<br>et al., | :<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) | | Debtors.1 | :<br>:<br>: | Jointly Administered | | ----------------------------------------------------------- | x | |

# **REQUEST OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE FOR STATUS CONFERENCE REGARDING JANUARY 15, 2025 HEARINGS**

Luc A. Despins, in his capacity as the chapter 11 trustee (the "Trustee") appointed in the chapter 11 case of Ho Wan Kwok (the "Individual Debtor"), hereby requests (this "Request") that the Court schedule a remote status conference in in the above-captioned chapter 11 case (the "Chapter 11 Case") and in the Other Adversary Proceedings² prior to the January 15, 2025 hearings (as more specifically described below, the "Hearings"). In support of this Request, the Trustee respectfully states the following.

¹ 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).

² The Other Adversary Proceedings are: *Despins v. Arri Americas Inc.* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05031); *Despins v. McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05194); *Despins v. FFP (BVI) Limited* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05056); *Despins v. Mitchell* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05110); *Despins v. V.X. Cerda & Associates P.A.* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05134); *Despins v. The Francis Firm PLLC* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05168); *Despins v. Berkeley Rowe Limited* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05186); *Despins v. Weddle Law PLLC* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05188); *Despins v. Lawall & Mitchell, LLC*, et al. (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05199); *Despins v. G4S Security Systems (Hong Kong) Ltd.* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05204); *Despins v. ACASS Canada LTD.* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05226); *Despins v. Apple Inc.*, et al. (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05060); *Despins v. Meta Platforms Inc.* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05117); *Despins v. Liberty Jet Management Corp.* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05135); *Despins v. Harcus Parker Limited* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05163); *Despins v. Zeisler & Zeisler, P.C.* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05208); and *Despins v. Miller* (Adv. Proc. No. 24-05219).

On November 27, 2024, the Court scheduled a hearing for January 15, 2025 at 10 a.m. to consider motions to dismiss or for judgment on the pleadings (the "Joint Defendants' Motions") filed by 38 defendants (the "Joint Defendants") based on the *Joint Defendants' Omnibus Memorandum in Support of Motion to Dismiss or for Judgment on the Pleadings* [Docket No. 3713] (the "Joint Brief"). At the same date and time, the Court has also scheduled hearings on motions to dismiss or for judgment on the pleadings (the "Other Motions") filed in the 17 Other Adversary Proceedings.

To efficiently and effectively prepare for and participate in the Hearings, the Trustee respectfully requests a brief status conference to the discuss the format of the Hearings. Among other things, the Trustee wishes to inquire whether the Court intends to hear argument on the Other Motions solely as to issues that overlap with those presented in the Joint Brief, or whether the Court wishes to hear argument on each of the Other Motions in full. The Trustee would also like to discuss logistics for the Hearings, such as the sequencing of motions, time allocations, and the number of attorneys presenting argument, to ensure that the Hearings run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. The Trustee respectfully requests that this status conference be held via the Court's Zoom.gov platform to minimize expense.

The Trustee has filed this Request in the Chapter 11 Case and in each of the Other Adversary Proceedings, and the Trustee has caused this Request to be served on all of the Joint Defendants as well as all defendants that are party to the Other Motions.

*[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY BLANK.]*

Dated: December 20, 2024 LUC A. DESPINS, New Haven, Connecticut CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE

By: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey*

Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com

*and*

Nicholas A. Bassett *(pro hac vice*) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 2050 M Street NW Washington, D.C., 20036 (202) 551-1902 nicholasbassett@paulhastings.com

*and*

Douglass Barron (*pro hac vice*) PAUL HASTINGS LLP 200 Park Avenue New York, New York 10166 (212) 318-6690 douglassbarron@paulhastings.com

*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*

# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**

| -----------------------------------------------------------<br>x | | | | | |------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|-------------------------|--|--| | In re: | :<br>: | Chapter 11 | | | | HO WAN KWOK<br>et al., | :<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) | | | | Debtors. | :<br>: | Jointly Administered | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------- | :<br>x | | | |

### **[PROPOSED] ORDER GRANTING REQUEST OF CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE FOR STATUS CONFERENCE REGARDING JANUARY 15, 2025 HEARINGS**

Upon the request (the "Request") of Luc A. Despins, as Chapter 11 Trustee (the "Trustee") appointed in the Chapter 11 Case of Ho Wan Kwok, for the Court to schedule a status conference in the Chapter 11 Case and the Other Adversary Proceedings¹ for the purpose described in the Request, it is hereby:

**ORDERED:** A status conference (the "Status Conference") will be held at \_\_\_\_\_ \_.m. on

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_, 202\_, to discuss the format of the Hearings on the Joint Defendants' Motions and the Other Motions; and it is further

**ORDERED:** that the Status Conference shall be held on a remote basis via the Court's Zoom.gov platform, and parties wishing to attend the hearing may obtain login instructions to connect to the ZoomGov remote conference by sending an email to the Clerk's office via the following court email address: CalendarConnect\_BPT@ctb.uscourts.gov; and it is further

**ORDERED:** that the Trustee shall cause this Order to be served by email on counsel for all of the Joint Defendants and for all defendants that are party to the Other Motions within two business days and the Trustee shall file a certificate of service in advance of the Status Conference.

¹ Capitalized terms not expressly defined herein adopt the definitions ascribed to them in the Request.

# **UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT BRIDGEPORT DIVISION**

| -----------------------------------------------------------<br>x | | | | |------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------|--| | In re: | :<br>: | Chapter 11 | | | HO WAN KWOK<br>et al., | :<br>:<br>: | Case No. 22-50073 (JAM) | | | Debtors. | :<br>: | Jointly Administered | | | ----------------------------------------------------------- | x | | |

### **CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE**

The undersigned hereby certifies that on the date hereof, the foregoing Request was electronically filed using the Court's case management/electronic case files system ("CM/ECF") in the Chapter 11 Case and each of the Other Adversary Proceedings. Notice of this filing will be sent automatically via e-mail by operation of CM/ECF to all appearing parties in the Chapter 11 Case and the Other Adversary Proceedings eligible to receive electronic notice.

In addition, on the date hereof, the undersigned has caused this Request to be served by manual email on counsel for all of the Joint Defendants and on counsel for all defendants that are party to the Other Motions as set forth on the attached **Exhibit A**.

Dated: December 20, 2024 New Haven, Connecticut

By: */s/ Patrick R. Linsey*

Patrick R. Linsey (ct29437) NEUBERT, PEPE & MONTEITH, P.C. 195 Church Street, 13th Floor New Haven, Connecticut 06510 (203) 781-2847 plinsey@npmlaw.com

*Counsel for the Chapter 11 Trustee*

### **EXHIBIT A**

| | Ohtzar Shlomo Solomon Treasure LLC | |----------|------------------------------------| | Counsel: | Jeffrey Hellman | | | jeff@jeffhellmanlaw.com |

Jason Miller

- Counsel: Jeffrey Hellman jeff@jeffhellmanlaw.com - Anthem HealthChoice Assurance, Inc. Counsel: Eric S. Goldstein egoldstein@goodwin.com

Anthem Health Plans, Inc.

- Counsel: Eric S. Goldstein egoldstein@goodwin.com - Sedgwick Realty Corp. - Counsel: Eric S. Goldstein egoldstein@goodwin.com

Direct Persuasion LLC

Counsel: Eric S. Goldstein egoldstein@goodwin.com

- Putnam's Landscaping LLC - Counsel: Scott M. Charmoy scottcharmoy@charmoy.com - Arri Americas Inc.

Counsel: Michael T. Conway mconway@lpgmalaw.com

Federal Express Corporation

Counsel: Eric S. Goldstein egoldstein@goodwin.com

and

Michael A. Siedband Michael.siedband@fedex.com

Morvillo Abramowitz Grand Iason & Anello Counsel: Rowena A. Moffett rmoffett@bswlaw.com

### DJD Creative, LLC

Counsel: Louis J. Martocchio III lou@mo-lawfirm.com

and

Bret L. Strong Zachary W. Doninger bstrong@thestrongfirm.com zdoninger@thestrongfirm.com

#### Cloudflare, Inc.

Counsel: Ross G. Fingold rfingold@lawssf.com

and

Sabrina L. Streusand strausand@slollp.com

#### Cirrus Design Corporation

Counsel: Richard J. Bernard richard.bernard@faegredrinker.com

and

Josh Peterson Josh.peterson@faegredrinker.com

and

Jaclyn C. Marasco Jaclyn.marasco@faegredrinker.com

Indium Software, Inc.

Counsel: Benjamin D. Feder Eric R. Wilson

bfeder@kelleydrye.com ewilson@kelleydrye.com

and

Richard J. Reding rreding@askllp.com and

Edward E. Neiger eneiger@askllp.com

Target Enterprises, LLC

Counsel: John F. Carberry Kara A. Zarchin jcarberry@cl-law.com kzarchin@cl-law.com

Jamestown Associates, LLC Counsel: John F. Carberry Kara A. Zarchin jcarberry@cl-law.com kzarchin@cl-law.com

Mark Gundersen

Counsel: David J. Kozlowski dkozlowski@morrisoncohen.com

and

Jeffrey Rhodes jrhodes@tlclawfirm.com

Miller Motorcars Inc.

Counsel: Eric Seltzer ehs@gtlslaw.com

3 Columbus Circle, LLC

Counsel: Robert E. Kaelin ekaelin@murthalaw.com

and

Matthew A. Pesce mpesce@murthalaw.com

Phillips Nizer LLP

Counsel: Robert E. Kaelin ekaelin@murthalaw.com

and

Matthew A. Pesce

### mpesce@murthalaw.com

#### ModSquad, Inc.

Counsel: Robert E. Kaelin ekaelin@murthalaw.com

and

Matthew A. Pesce mpesce@murthalaw.com

270 W. 39th St. Co., LLC Counsel: Robert N. Sensale rns@bvmlaw.com

Agora Lab, Inc.

Counsel: Lindsay C. Stone Benjamin Gilbert lstone@sheppardmullin.com bogilbert@sheppardmullin.com

and

Alan H. Martin amartin@sheppardmullin.com

Clayman Rosenberg Kirschner & Linder LLP Counsel: Matthew D. Valauri Matthew.valauri@wilsonelser.com

McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC Counsel: Bonnie C. Mangan Bonnie.mangan@manganlaw.com

and

Sari B. Placona splacona@msbnk.com

# B&H Foto & Electronics Corp. Counsel: Tracy Ellis Williams tewilliams@goodwin.com

and

Scott M. Kessler

Scott.kessler@akerman.com

On the Spot Home Improvement, Inc. Counsel: Eric S. Goldstein egoldstein@goodwin.com

and

Justin S. Baumgartner jbaumgartner@becker.legal

GroCyber, LLC

Counsel: Nicholas P. Vegliante nvegliante@cbshealaw.com

Nardello & Co., LLC

Counsel: Henry P. Baer, Jr. Eilis Meagher hbaer@fdh.com emeagher@fdh.com

Teris-Phoenix, LLC

Counsel: Henry P. Baer, Jr. Eilis Meagher hbaer@fdh.com emeagher@fdh.com

and

Andrea M. Chase achase@spencerfane.com

Marcum LLP

Counsel: Henry P. Baer, Jr. hbaer@fdh.com

and

Steven G. Mintz Barry M. Kazan mintz@mintzandgold.com kazan@mintzandgold.com

Fox News Network, LLC Counsel: Henry P. Baer, Jr. hbaer@fdh.com

and

Steven G. Mintz Barry M. Kazan mintz@mintzandgold.com kazan@mintzandgold.com

# Conservative Campaign Technology LLC Counsel: Ilan Markus imarkus@barclaydamon.com

#### Zeta Global Corp.

Counsel: John J. Clarke, Jr. John.clarke@us.dlapiper.com

and

C. Kevin Kobbe Kevin.kobbe@us.dlapiper.com

Flat Rate Movers, Ltd.

Counsel: James J. Costello, Jr. jjcostellojr@norris-law.com

American Express

Counsel: Ronald I. Chorches ronchorcheslaw@sbcglobal.net

and

Darryl S. Laddin Frank N. White Darryl.laddin@agg.com Frank.white@agg.com

Amazon Web Services, Inc.

Counsel: Lindsay Sampson Bishop Lindsay.bishop@klgates.com

and

Brian T. Peterson Ruby A. Nagamine Brian.peterson@klgates.com Ruby.nagamine@klgates.com