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Attorneys For The Christian Brothers' Institute, Et Al. Debtors and Debtors-in-Possession
Attorneys For The Christian Brothers' Institute, Et Al. Debtors and Debtors-in-Possession
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TARTER KRINSKY & DROGIN LLP Attorneys for The Christian Brothers Institute, et al. Debtors and Debtors-in-Possession 1350 Broadway, 11th Floor New York, New York 10018 (212) 216-8000 Scott S. Markowitz, Esq. Marilyn Simon, Esq. UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ------------------------------------------------------------------- x In re: : : THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS INSTITUTE, et al. : : Debtors. : ------------------------------------------------------------------- x
DEBTORS MOTION FOR AN ORDER ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR PAYMENT OF INTERIM COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES TO PROFESSIONALS TO: THE HONORABLE ROBERT D. DRAIN UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY JUDGE The Christian Brothers Institute (CBI) 1 and The Christian Brothers of Ireland, Inc. (CBOI), 2 the above-captioned debtors and debtors-in-possession (together, the Debtors), by their counsel, Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP, respectfully represent as follows: PRELIMINARY STATEMENT 1. By this Motion, the Debtors request entry of an order establishing an orderly, regular
process for (i) interim approval and payment of compensation and reimbursement of expenses for attorneys and other professionals authorized to be retained by this Court pursuant to sections 327, 328 or 1103 of the Bankruptcy Code, each of whom will be required to file applications for allowance of compensation and reimbursement of expenses pursuant to sections 330 and 331 of the
The last four digits of CBIs employer identification number are 0153 and its mailing address is 21 Pryer Terrace, New Rochelle, New York 10804. 2 The last four digits of CBOIs employer identification number are 0603 and its mailing address is 10001 S. Pulaski, Room 106, Chicago, IL 60655-3356.
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Bankruptcy Code and (ii) reimbursement pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code of reasonable out-ofpocket expenses (excluding attorneys fees) incurred by members of any statutory committee appointed in these Cases (defined below). JURISDICTION, VENUE AND STATUTORY BASES FOR RELIEF 2. This Court has jurisdiction over this Motion under 28 U.S.C. 157 and 1334, and
the order of reference, dated July 10, 1984 (Ward, C.J.), This matter is a core proceeding within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. 157(b)(2). Venue of this proceeding and this Motion in this District is proper under 28 U.S.C. 1408 and 1409. The statutory bases for relief are 105(a), 330 and 331 of the Bankruptcy Code and General Order M-412 of this Court, amending General Order M-388. BACKGROUND 3. On April 28, 2011 (the Petition Date), each of the Debtors commenced their
Chapter 11 cases (together, the Cases) by filing a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of Title 11, United States Code (the Code). Pursuant to 1107(a) and 1108 of the Code, the Debtors continue to operate as debtors-in-possession. No trustee has been appointed. 4. On May 11, 2011, the United States Trustee appointed an Official Committee of
Unsecured Creditors (the Committee). The Committee has retained Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP as its counsel. 5. CBI is a domestic not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation organized under 102(a)(5)
of the New York Not-for-Profit Corporation Law. CBI was formed in 1903 pursuant to Section 57 of the then existing New York Membership Law. The Not-for-Profit Corporation Law replaced the Membership Law effective September 1, 1970. The purpose for which CBI was, and continues to be, formed was to establish, conduct and support Catholic elementary and secondary schools principally throughout New York State. As a not-for-profit corporation, the assets, and/or income are not distributable to, and do not inure to, the benefit of its directors or
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officers. CBI depends upon grants and donations to fund a portion of its operating expenses. 6. CBOI is a domestic not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation organized under the Not-
for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of Illinois. The purpose for which CBOI was, and continues to be, formed was to establish, conduct and support Catholic elementary and secondary schools principally throughout the State of Illinois, as well as other spiritual and temporal affairs of the former Brother Rice Province of the Congregation of Christian Brothers. As a not-forprofit corporation, the assets, and/or income are not distributable to, and do not inure to, the benefit of its members or officers. CBOI also depends upon grants and donations to fund a portion of its operating expenses. RELIEF REQUESTED 7. By Order dated May 18, 2011 (ECF No. 19), the Debtors obtained court approval
to retain Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP as their general bankruptcy counsel. By Order dated July 8, 2011 (ECF No. 45), the Debtors obtained court approval to retain Gordon Tilden Thomas & Cordell LLP as their special litigation counsel. 3 By Order dated July 14, 2011 (ECF No. 48), The Committee obtained court approval to retain Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones LLP as its counsel. The Debtors and the Committee may submit additional retention applications in the future. 8. Pursuant to Bankruptcy Code 330 and 331, all professionals authorized to be
retained by this Court (each a "Professional" and, collectively, the "Professionals") are entitled to submit applications for interim compensation and reimbursement of expenses between 120 and 150 days. Similarly, the members of the Committee will entitled to submit applications for
The Debtors also obtained an Order to retain Newmark & Company Real Estate, Inc. d/b/a Newmark Knight Frank (Newmark) as CBIs exclusive real estate broker with respect to the marketing and sale of real property located at 74 W. 124th Street, New York, NY 10027 (the Property). Because Newmark is to be compensated on a commission basis with respect to its sale of the Property, the Compensation Procedures are not intended to apply to Newmark.
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reimbursement of expenses incurred. 9. The Debtors request that this Court issue an order directing that procedures be
established to compensate and reimburse Professionals an interim basis similar to those established in other Chapter 11 cases in this District. Such an order would permit the Court and all other parties to monitor the professional fees incurred and reimbursement of expenses disbursed in the Cases more effectively and would similarly allow the Debtors to better manage their cash flow. 10. Specifically, the Debtors propose that, except as otherwise provided in any order of
the Court authorizing the retention of a particular Professional, the Professionals be permitted to seek interim payment of compensation for services rendered and reimbursement of expenses disbursed in accordance with the following proposed procedures (the "Compensation Procedures"): (a) On or before the twentieth (20th) day of each month following the month for which compensation is sought, each Professional seeking compensation under this Order shall serve a monthly statement (Monthly Fee Statement), by hand or overnight delivery on (i) Brother Kevin Griffith, the officer designated by the Debtors to be responsible for such matters; (ii) counsel to the Debtors; (iii) counsel to the Committee; (iv) the United States Trustee, 33 Whitehall Street, 21st Floor, New York, New York 10004 (Attn: Paul Schwartzberg, Esq.); and (v) any other entities designated by the Court to receive Monthly Fee Statements; On or before the twentieth (20th) day of each month following the month for which compensation is sought, each Professional seeking compensation under this Order shall file a Monthly Fee Statement with the Court; however, a courtesy copy need not be delivered to the Judges chambers. The Monthly Fee Order does not alter the fee application requirements outlined in 330 and 331 of the Code. Professionals are still required to serve and file interim and final applications for approval of fees and expenses in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Code, the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and the Local Rules for the United States Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York; Each Monthly Fee Statement must contain a list of the individuals and their respective titles (e.g., attorney, accountant, or paralegal) who provided services during the statement period, their respective billing 4
(b)
(c)
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rates, the aggregate hours spent by each individual, a reasonably detailed breakdown of the disbursements incurred (no Professional should seek reimbursement of an expense which would otherwise not be allowed pursuant to the Courts Administrative Orders dated June 24, 1991 and April 21, 1995 or the United States Trustee Guidelines for Reviewing Applications for Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses Filed under 11 U.S.C. 330 dated January 30, 1996), and contemporaneously maintained time entries for each individual in increments of tenths (1/10) of an hour; (d) If any party in interest has an objection to the compensation or reimbursement sought in a particular Monthly Fee Statement, such party shall, by no later than the thirty-fifth (35th) day following the month for which compensation is sought, file with the Court and serve upon the Professional whose Monthly Fee Statement is objected to, and the other persons designated to receive statements in paragraph (a), a written Notice Of Objection To Fee Statement, setting forth the nature of the objection and the amount of fees or expenses at issue; At the expiration of the thirty-five (35) day period, the Debtors shall promptly pay eighty percent (80%) of the fees and one hundred percent (100%) of the expenses identified in each Monthly Fee Statement to which no objection has been served in accordance with paragraph (d); If a Notice Of Objection To Fee Statement is filed, the Debtors shall withhold payment of that portion of the Monthly Fee Statement to which the objection is directed and promptly pay the remainder of the fees and disbursements in the percentages set forth in paragraph (e) unless the Professional whose statement is objected to seeks an order from the Court, upon notice and a hearing, directing payment to be made; If the parties to an objection are able to resolve their dispute following the filing of a Notice Of Objection To Fee Statement and if the party whose Monthly Fee Statement was objected to files (a) a statement indicating that the objection is withdrawn and describing in detail the terms of the resolution, then the Debtors shall promptly pay, in accordance with paragraph (e), that portion of the Monthly Fee Statement which is no longer subject to an objection; All objections that are not resolved by the parties or Court order, shall be preserved and presented to the Court at the next interim or final fee application hearing to be heard by the Court (see paragraph (j), below); The service of an objection in accordance with paragraph (d) shall not prejudice the objecting partys right to object to any fee application made to the Court in accordance with the Code on any ground, whether raised in the objection or not. Furthermore, the decision by any party not to object to a Monthly Fee Statement shall not be a waiver of any kind or prejudice 5
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
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that partys right to object to any fee application subsequently made to the Court in accordance with the Code; (j) Approximately every 120 days, but no more than every 150 days, each of the Professionals shall serve and file with the Court an application for interim or final Court approval and allowance, pursuant to sections 330 and 331 of the Bankruptcy Code (as the case may be), of the compensation and reimbursement of expenses requested; Any Professional who fails to file an application seeking approval of compensation and expenses previously paid under this Order when due shall (1) be ineligible to receive further monthly payments of fees or expenses as provided herein until further order of the Court, and (2) may be required to disgorge any fees paid since retention or the last fee application, whichever is later; The pendency of an application or a Court order that payment of compensation or reimbursement of expenses was improper as to a particular statement shall not disqualify a Professional from the future payment of compensation or reimbursement of expenses as set forth above, unless otherwise ordered by the Court; Neither the payment of, nor the failure to pay, in whole or in part, monthly compensation and reimbursement as provided herein shall have any effect on this Courts interim or final allowance of compensation and reimbursement of expenses of any Professionals; Counsel for each official committee may, in accordance with the foregoing procedure for monthly compensation and reimbursement of Professionals, collect and submit statements of expenses, with supporting vouchers, from members of the committee he or she represents; provided, however, that such committee counsel ensures that these reimbursement requests comply with this Courts Administrative Orders dated June 24, 1991 and April 21, 1995.
(k)
(l)
(m)
(n)
11.
The Debtors will include all payments made to Professionals in accordance with the
Compensation Procedures in their monthly operating reports, identifying the amount paid to each Professional. LEGAL BASIS FOR REQUESTED RELIEF 12. Bankruptcy Code 331 provides, in relevant part, as follows: A trustee, an examiner, a debtor's attorney, or any professional person employed under section 327 or 1103 of [title 11] may apply to the court not more than once every 120 days after an
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order for relief in a case under [title 11], or more often if the court permits, for such compensation for services rendered before the date of such an application or reimbursement for expenses incurred before such date as is provided under section 330 of [title 11] . . . 13. The Debtors seek approval of procedures that are in accordance with the standing
General Order M-412, dated December 21, 2010, amending General Order M-388 of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, dated November 25, 2009, establishing procedures for monthly compensation and reimbursement of expenses of professionals. 14. The Compensation Procedures requested herein would reduce the burden imposed
on the Court, enable key parties-in-interest to monitor more closely Professional compensation and reimbursement requests in these Cases, and alleviate undue financial burdens on the Professionals. The proposed Compensation Procedures comply with the Local Rules and applicable standing orders of this Court, and this Court has ample authority under Bankruptcy Code 105(a) and 331 to grant the requested relief. 15. Indeed, similar procedures for compensating and reimbursing court-approved
professionals have been established in this District and routinely approved by this Court. See, e.g., In re Ziff Davis Media Inc., Case No. 08-10768 (BRL) (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2008); In re Quebecor World (USA) Inc., (JMP) (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2008); In re Anvil Knitwear, Inc., Case No. 06.12345 (ALG) (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2006). In re Calpine Corp., Case No. 05-60200 (BRL) (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2006); In re Delphi Corp., Case No. 05-44481 (RDD) (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2005); In re Solutia Inc., Case No. 03-17949 (PCB) (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2003); In re Galey & Lord, Inc., Case No. 02-40445 (ALG) (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2002). 16. The Debtors estates are not administratively insolvent or expected to be
administratively insolvent. The Professionals will not seek payments under the Compensation Procedures proposed herein should it appear the Debtors cash flow will not permit payment.
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17.
Accordingly, the for the reasons set forth above, the Debtors respectfully submit
that the relief requested herein is in their best interest and the best interests of their estates, creditors, and other interested parties. NOTICE 18. Notice of this Motion has been sent by first class mail to (a) the U.S. Trustee (b)
Country Bank, by its counsel, and (c) the Committee, by its counsel. In light of the nature of the relief requested, the Debtors respectfully submit that no further notice is required. NO PRIOR APPLICATION 19. Court. WHEREFORE, the Debtors respectfully request that the Court enter an order granting the relief requested herein and such other and further relief as the Court deems just and proper. Dated: New York, New York July 14, 2011 TARTER KRINSKY & DROGIN LLP Attorneys for The Christian Brothers Institute, et al. No previous request for the relief sought herein has been made to this or to any other
By:
/s/ Scott S. Markowitz Scott S. Markowitz Marilyn Simon 1350 Broadway, 11th Floor New York, New York 10018 (212) 216-8000
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