Lightsway Litigation Services, LLC v. Yung (In re Tropicana Entertainment, LLC)

520 B.R. 455, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4854, 60 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 102
CourtUnited States Bankruptcy Court, D. Delaware
DecidedNovember 25, 2014
DocketCase No. 08-10856 (KJC) Jointly Administered Adversary No. 10-50289 (KJC)
StatusPublished
Cited by22 cases

This text of 520 B.R. 455 (Lightsway Litigation Services, LLC v. Yung (In re Tropicana Entertainment, LLC)) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Bankruptcy Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lightsway Litigation Services, LLC v. Yung (In re Tropicana Entertainment, LLC), 520 B.R. 455, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4854, 60 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 102 (Del. 2014).

Opinion

Chapter 11

MEMORANDUM

BY: KEVIN J. CAREY, UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE

BACKGROUND

On May 5, 2008, Tropicana Entertainment, LLC (“Tropicana”) and several re[461]*461lated entities (the “Debtors”) filed voluntary chapter 11 bankruptcy petitions in this Court. The Debtors were affiliated hotels and casinos located in Nevada, Mississippi, New Jersey, Indiana and Louisiana. On May 6, 2008, an ad hoc consortium of senior subordinated noteholders filed an emergency motion for appointment of chapter 11 trustee to replace William J. Yung, III (‘Yung”), who was the director, chief executive, and 100% owner of all equity securities of Tropicana Casino and Resorts, Inc., the Debtors’ ultimate parent company2 (the “Chapter 11 Trustee Motion”) (Main Case D.I. 37). The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors filed a limited joinder to the Chapter 11 Trustee Motion (Main Case D.I. 289). On July 2, 2008, the Court entered an Order approving the parties’ resolution of the Chapter 11 Trustee Motion which, inter alia, provided for Yung’s resignation from the board of Debtor Tropicana Entertainment Holdings, LLC, and its direct and indirect Debtor subsidiaries, and all other Debtors (Main Case D.I. 485).

In March -2009, Wimar Tahoe Corporation 3 (‘Wimar”) and Columbia Sussex Corporation (“Columbia”), two entities that are controlled' by Yung, filed motions for allowance and immediate payment of administrative expense claims against the Debtors (Main Case D.I.’s 1782, 1784). Objections to Wimar’s and Columbia’s administrative expense claims were filed by The Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors (the “Creditors Committee”) (Main Case D.I. 1924) and the Steering Committee of Senior Secured Lenders (Main Case D.I. 1939).4

On May 5, 2009, the Court entered Orders (Main Case D.I.’s 2001, 2002) confirming the First Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Tropicana Entertainment, LLC and Certain of its Debtor Affiliates Under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the “OpCo Plan”) and the First Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization of Tropicana Las Vegas Holdings, LLC and Certain of its Debtor Affiliates Under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the “LandCo Plan” and, together with the OpCo Plan, the “Plans”). The Plans created a Litigation Trust to pursue certain “Insider Causes of Action” for the benefit of certain classes of unsecured creditors.5 Lights-[462]*462way Litigation Services, LLC was appointed as the trustee of the Litigation Trust (the “Trustee”).

On February 17, 2010, the Trustee filed a complaint against Yung, Wimar, Columbia and others asserting claims for breach of fiduciary obligations, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of fair dealing, and equitable subordination. The defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint and, after a hearing, the Court entered an Order denying the motions to dismiss, but directing the Trustee to file an amended complaint. (Adv. D.I. 37.) On February 9, 2011, the Trustee filed the First Amended Complaint (the “Amended Complaint”) (Adv. D.I. 44) against Yung, Wimar and Columbia (the “Defendants”). The Amended Complaint asserts five claims: (i) breach of fiduciary obligations; (ii) aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary obligations; (iii) breach of contract; (iv) breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; and (v) equitable subordination.

The Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint (the “Motion to Dismiss”) (Adv. D.I. 59). The matter was fully briefed and oral argument was held. For the reasons stated herein, the Motion to Dismiss will be granted in part and denied in part.

JURISDICTION

The Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to 28 U.S.C. §§ 1334 & 157(a). Bankruptcy judges are permitted to hear, determine and enter appropriate orders and judgments on core proceedings arising under title 11 or arising in a case under title 11. 28 U.S.C. § 157(b)(1). A claim will “arise under” title 11 if “the Bankruptcy Code creates the cause of action or provides the substantive right invoked.” Stoe v. Flaherty, 436 F.3d 209, 217 (3d Cir.2006). quoting Halper v. Halper, 164 F.3d 830, 836-37 n.7 (3d Cir.1999). The equitable subordination claim in the Amended Complaint is a core proceeding that “arises under” the Bankruptcy Code, specifically § 510(c).

The remaining claims for breach of fiduciary obligations, aiding and abetting a breach of fiduciary obligations, breach of contract, and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing are typically non-core proceedings that do not arise in or arise under title 11. However, Wimar and Columbia filed administrative and priority claims against the Debtor’s estate. The Debtors and other creditors have objected to the allowance of those claims. The Trastee asserts that determination of the claims asserted in this adversary proceeding are necessary to a determination on the allowance of Defendants’ claims. Therefore, the issues may be considered core pursuant to § 157(b)(2)(B). See Stern v. Marshall, 564 U.S.-, 131 S.Ct. 2594, 2617, 180 L.Ed.2d 475 (2011) discussing and quoting Langenkamp v. Culp, 498 U.S. 42, 44-45, 111 S.Ct. 330, 112 L.Ed.2d 343 (1990) (“[The Langenkamp Court explained] that a preferential transfer claim can be heard in bankruptcy when the allegedly favored creditor has filed a claim, because then ‘the ensuing preference action by the trustee becomefs] integral to the restructuring of the debtor-creditor relationship.’ ... If, in contrast, the creditor has not filed a proof of claim, the trustee’s preference action does not ‘become[] part of the claims-allowance process’ subject to resolution by the bankruptcy court.”)

The claims fall within the confines of post-confirmation related-to jurisdiction. In Binder v. Price Waterhouse & Co., LLP (In re Resorts Int'l, Inc.), 372 F.3d 154, 168-69 (3d Cir.2004), the Third Circuit noted:

[T]he jurisdiction of the non-Article III bankruptcy courts is limited after confir[463]*463mation of a plan. But where there is a close nexus to the bankruptcy plan or proceeding, as when a matter affects the interpretation, implementation, consummation, execution, or administration of a confirmed plan or incorporated litigation trust agreement, retention of post-confirmation bankruptcy court jurisdiction is normally appropriate.

The Trustee was granted authority to pursue the Debtors’ claims in this adversary proceeding through a litigation trust agreement established under the Plans. Further, the parties have consented to this Court’s entering a final order on non-core matters. (Main D.I. 3596 at 35-36.) 28 U.S.C. § 157

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Halperin v. Richards
E.D. Wisconsin, 2024
Cutillo v. Cutillo
E.D. Pennsylvania, 2022
United States v. Energy Solutions, Inc.
265 F. Supp. 3d 415 (D. Delaware, 2017)
In Re Premo
116 B.R. 515 (E.D. Michigan, 1990)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
520 B.R. 455, 2014 Bankr. LEXIS 4854, 60 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 102, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lightsway-litigation-services-llc-v-yung-in-re-tropicana-entertainment-deb-2014.