The Honorable Peter J. Walsh

Unitek Global Services, Inc. (“Unitek” or the “Debtor”) filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on November 3, 2014 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware.

On September 13th, the Liquidating Trustee (the “Trustee”) in the Graceway Pharmaceuticals (“Graceway”) bankruptcy filed preference complaints against approximately 25 different defendants. The Trustee is seeking to avoid and recover what he contends are avoidable preferences under section 547 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. 

Introduction

On June 23, 2011, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that has sent waves through bankruptcy courts across the nation. Stern v. Marshall, 131 S.Ct. 2594 (2011), is the latest opinion in a long running dispute between the estate of Vickie Lynn Marshall, better known as Anna Nicole Smith, and the estate of her late husband’s son, Pierce Marshall.

Summary

In a 23 page decision signed July 15, 2011, Judge Walsh of the Delaware Bankruptcy Court denied a motion to allow a plaintiff to file an amended complaint, holding that the amended complaint was too deficient to survive a motion to dismiss and therefore would not be allowed. Judge Walsh’s opinion is available here (the “Opinion”).

Background