Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Bankruptcy StrategistFeaturesBankruptcyLitigation

Sixth Circuit: Section 363 Sale Not 'Free and Clear' of Creditor's Claims

By Francis J. Lawall and Kenneth A. Listwak
September 01, 2021

The preferred method of acquiring distressed assets from an owner facing significant liabilities is often through a sale under Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. In fact, many practitioners today view Chapter 11 as more of a vehicle to convey assets rather than reorganizing around them. Buyers generally assume that the multi-page "free and clear" order, which typically follows the sale hearing, will insulate them from any of the seller's current (and often) future liabilities. However, that is not always the case.

In a recent U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit opinion, the court ruled that a Section 363 sale was not "free and clear" of a creditor's claims related to coal reserves sold by the debtor. The creditor, who held natural gas rights of record which ran with the land, received only publication notice of the proposed sale. Because the creditor was "known," the publication notice utilized failed to satisfy due process, thus leaving the creditor free to pursue claims against the buyer, notwithstanding the Section 363 sale order.

This premium content is locked for The Bankruptcy Strategist subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

A Lawyer's System for Active Reading Image

Active reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.