Thielmann v. MF Global Holdings Ltd. (In re MF Global Holdings Ltd.)

481 B.R. 268, 38 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1140, 2012 Bankr. LEXIS 4975, 57 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 38
United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. New York·Decided October 23, 2012·No. Bankruptcy Nos. 11-15059 (MG), 11-15058 (MG), 11-02790 (MG) SIPA; Adversary No. 11-02880 (MG)·Published·Cited by 9 cases

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER (I) GRANTING THE SIPA TRUSTEE’S MOTION TO DISMISS WITH PREJUDICE, AND (II) GRANTING THE CHAPTER 11 TRUSTEE’S MOTION TO DISMISS WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND WITH LEAVE TO AMEND

MARTIN GLENN, Bankruptcy Judge.

Pending before the Court are the motions of James W. Giddens (the “SIPA Trustee”) as trustee for the liquidation of MF Global Inc. (“MFGI”), and Louis J. Freeh, as Chapter 11 Trustee (the “Chapter 11 Trustee,” and together with the SIPA Trustee, the “Trustees” or “Defendants”) for MF Global Holdings Ltd. (“MFGH”), MF Global Finance USA, Inc. (“MFGF”), and MF Global Holdings USA, Inc. (“Holdings USA,” and together with MFGH and MFGF, “Debtors”), to dismiss the amended class action complaint (the “Amended Complaint,” ECF Doc. #4) filed by Todd Thielmann, Pierre-Yvan Desparois, Natalia Sivova, Sandy Glover-Bowles and Arton Sina, individually and on behalf of all other similarly situated former employees (the “Plaintiffs”). The Amended Complaint alleges claims against defendants under the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“WARN Act”), 29 U.S.C. § 2101, et seq., and the New York Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (“NY WARN Act”), N.Y. Lab. Law § 860, et seq., seeking damages for all former employees of the Defendants whose employment was terminated with less advance notice than is required under these statutes.

The SIPA Trustee and the Chapter 11 Trustee submitted separate memoranda of law in support of their motions, (the “SIPA Trustee Motion,” ECF Doc. # 4; the “Chapter 11 Trustee Motion,” ECF Doc. #44.) Plaintiffs objected to the motions (the “Plaintiffs’ SIPA Objection,” ECF Doc. # 47; the “Plaintiffs’ Chapter 11 Objection,” ECF Doc. # 48), and the Trustees submitted reply briefs (the “SIPA Trustee Reply,” ECF Doc. # 50; the “Chapter 11 Trustee Reply,” ECF Doc. # 52). The Court heard argument on the motions on September 12, 2012, but requested counsel to provide the Court with additional information identifying which of the Defendants employed each of the Plaintiffs. Further [272]*272information was submitted by letters to the Court on September 14, 2012 (ECF Doc. # # 59, 60), at which point the Court took the motions under submission.

As explained below, the most significant issue in resolving the motions is whether each defendant is an “employer” within the meaning of the two WARN Acts, and therefore subject to the Acts’ advance notice requirements. The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) and federal courts addressing WARN Act claims have recognized a “liquidating fiduciary” principle, excepting from the protection of the WARN Act employee layoffs by liquidating fiduciaries. The Defendants argue that MFGI and the Debtors are being liquidated and, therefore, the WARN Act claims should be dismissed as a matter of law. Plaintiffs dispute this conclusion, arguing, first, that the Court should not recognize the “liquidating fiduciary” principle at all, and, second, even if the principle is recognized, it cannot be applied on a motion to dismiss.

The Court concludes, at least at this stage of the case, that the differences between the SIPA and chapter 11 cases lead to different results. The Court finds that the “liquidating fiduciary” principle applies as a matter of law to the SIPA Trustee’s motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint against MFGI — therefore, the SIPA Trustee’s motion to dismiss is granted with prejudice. With respect to the Chapter 11 Trustee’s motion to dismiss, however, the Court concludes that while the Amended Complaint is deficient in some respects, it cannot be dismissed with prejudice based on the “liquidating fiduciary” principle— therefore, the Chapter 11 Trustee’s motion to dismiss is granted without prejudice and with leave to amend.1

I. BACKGROUND

A. The SIPA Case

On October 31, 2011, the Honorable Paul A. Engelmeyer of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York entered an order (the “MFGI Liquidation Order”) commencing the liquidation of MFGI pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Investor Protection Act (“SIPA”), 15 U.S.C. § 78aaa, et seq., in the case captioned Securities Investor Protection Corp. v. MF Global Inc., Case No. 11-Civ-7750 (PAE). The MFGI Liquidation Order appointed James W. Giddens as SIPA Trustee “for the liquidation of the business” pursuant to SIPA section 78eee(b)(3) and removed the case to this Court as required under SIPA section 78eee(b)(4).2 MFGI Liquidation Order ¶¶ I, II, IX.

[273]*273The SIPA Trustee is statutorily required to liquidate the business of MFGI. SIPA section 78fff(a) states that:

The purposes of a liquidation proceeding under this chapter shall be—
(1) As promptly as possible after the appointment of a trustee in such liquidation proceeding, and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter—
(A) to deliver customer name securities to or on behalf of the customers of the debtor entitled thereto as provided in section 78fff — 2(c)(2) of this title; and
(B) to distribute customer property and (in advance thereof or concurrently therewith) otherwise satisfy net equity claims of customers to the extent provided in this section;
(2) to sell or transfer offices and other productive units of the business of the debtor;
(3) to enforce rights of subrogation as provided in this chapter; and
(4) to liquidate the business of the debtor.

15 U.S.C. § 78fff(a) (emphasis added).

The SIPA Trustee has engaged in the wind-down of MFGI’s affairs by effectuating various bulk transfers of commodity customer property to other futures commission merchants in order to assist with the prompt satisfaction of customer claims, and by establishing a claims process by which former customers and creditors of MFGI can submit claims for cash and other property. (See ECF Doc. # # 14, 316, 423, 717.) The Plaintiffs’ employment was terminated on November 11, 2011.3 See SIPA Trustee Motion ¶ 7.

B. The Chapter 11 Case

On the same day the SIPA proceeding was removed to the bankruptcy court, MFGH and MFGF filed voluntary chapter 11 petitions for relief.4 The only purpose of [274]*274the SIPA proceeding is liquidation; conversely, the chapter 11 cases were filed at least initially with the hope of reorganization, according to counsel for the debtors-in-possession.

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Thielmann v. MF Global Holdings Ltd. (In re MF Global Holdings Ltd.), 481 B.R. 268, 38 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1140, 2012 Bankr. LEXIS 4975, 57 Bankr. Ct. Dec. (CRR) 38 (N.Y. 2012).

481 B.R. 268 (Thielmann v. MF Global Holdings Ltd. (In re MF Global Holdings Ltd.)) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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