Labor/Employment

Distress & Labor in the Courtroom: Pensions and CBA Rejections

Jeffrey N. Pomerantz, Moderator ABI Vice President-Education Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP; Los Angeles Resolved: Curbing pension rights in a chapter 9 case is constitutional. Con: Babette A. Ceccotti Cohen, Weiss & Simon LLP; New York Resolved: Committee member fees are not payable as part of a Chapter 11 plan. Pro: Nan Roberts Eitel Executive Office for U.S. Trustees; Washington, D.C. Con: Dennis F. Dunne Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP; New York Resolved: A chapter 13 debtor may employ § 363 to effect a free-and-clear short sale of his/her principal residence notwithstanding § 1322(b)(2) and the secured creditor’s objection. Pro: Hon. Eugene R. Wedoff U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ill.); Chicago Con: Hon. Mary Grace Diehl U.S. Bankruptcy Court (N.D. Ga.); Atlanta

Hemorrhaging Hospitals: Labor Issues in the Healthcare Insolvency E.R.

Hemorrhaging Hospitals: Labor Issues in the Healthcare Insolvency E.R.

Labor & Employment/Financial Advisors & Investment Banking/Legislation Committees: This panel will address public pension law, including their financial magnitude, and will focus on a number of timely current issues ranging from constitutional matters to state authorization, § 903 and 904 concerns, and relevant legislation. The panelists will draw upon their recent experiences, particularly from municipal bankruptcy cases, to highlight key themes and provide relevant insights.

Judicial Debate RESOLVED: Bankruptcy Code section 307 and the corresponding Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure should be amended to permit the Court to limit the role of the United States Trustee in corporate chapter 11 cases for cause upon motion of an Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors appointed in the case. Mitchell Ryan 203605, Moderator Rust Omni; Orange, Calif. Pro: Hon. Peter W. Bowie 184974 U.S. Bankruptcy Court (S.D. Cal.); San Diego Con: Hon. August B. Landis 108698 U.S. Bankruptcy Court (D. Nev.); Las Vegas Business Debate Resolved: Municipalities should not be permitted to modify pension benefits in chapter 9. Mitchell Ryan 203605,Moderator Rust Omni; Orange, Calif. Pro: Sharon L. Levine 104784 Lowenstein Sandler LLP; Roseland, N.J. Con: James H.M. Sprayregen 100999 Kirkland & Ellis LLP; Chicago Consumer Debate Resolved: Trustees should not be permitted to sell property where there is no equity for the estate. Mitchell Ryan 203605, Moderator Rust Omni; Orange, Calif. Pro: C.R. "Chip" Bowles, Jr. 103012 Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP; Louisville, Ky. Con: Ford Elsaesser 105080 Elsaesser Jarzabek Anderson Elliott & Macdonald, Chtd.; Sandpoint, Idaho

Find out the latest happenings in all of the Southern Districts. What can impact your practice? What should?

The panel will discuss employment and benefits issues that frequently arise in chapter 11 cases, including employment contracts, retention and incentive plans, the WARN Act, and the impact of filings on employee benefit plans.

Extension of controlled group liability to fund investors (Sun Capital), foreign affiliates; U.K. pension claims asserted against U.S. debtors (Nortel, Reader’s Digest); allocation of liability among controlled groups; pre-petition vs. post-petition benefits and claim accrual (including withdrawal liability); standards for termination; multi-employer plan withdrawal liability/“last man standing”; Kodak