News and Events
Firm’s client, Prime Healthcare Services, is new lender for Hawaii Medical Center
November 16, 2011
A new lender will provide financing to bankrupt Hawaii Medical Center to help the hospital operator survive. Prime Healthcare Services Los Angeles LLC will take over from the debtor’s former lender, MidCap Financial LLC, and provide a $15 million credit facility to the hospital operator, Lars Parkin of Scouler & Co., financial adviser to HMC, said. Click here to see the full article.
Article – Irvine law firm recognized for philanthropy
November 8, 2011
Irvine business law firm Shulman Bastian Friedman & Bui LLP will be honored with an award for Small Business Philanthropy by the Assn. of Fundraising Professionals on National Philanthropy Day. The national organization, which promotes fundraising efforts worldwide, will recognize the law firm along with seven other county recipients Nov. 15 at the Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove. “Our employees take a lot of pride in the fact that we got the award,” said Managing Partner Leonard Shulman. “They’re very much in support of the charities that we’re involved in and for me, personally, it’s very gratifying.” The law firm held a 5K Walk-A-Thon in Irvine on Sept. 11, benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and the Orange County Fire Authority Benevolent Assn., which raised $40,000 with over 1,000 participants. Click here to view this year winners. Read more on the dailypilot.com.
SHB Confirms Two Chapter 11 Plans
September 16, 2011
The last year has been particularly busy for Shulman Bastian Friedman & Bui LLP‘s Chapter 11 debtor practice group. Led by Jim Bastian, SHB has confirmed plans of reorganization in two Chapter 11 cases in the last 30 days.
In re Laguna Village Owners’ Association
Laguna Village Owners’ Association (“LVOA”) is a homeowners association of over 900 units in Laguna Hills, California. In the summer of 2010, LVOA suffered a judgment in favor of AV Builders with respect to a construction services contract dispute. AV Builders won a judgment in excess of $2.5 million and was in the process of enforcement actions when SHB was retained to attempt to broker a settlement. After AV Builders refused to settle and facing judgment collection remedies, including the appointment of a receiver, SHB filed a Chapter 11 for LVOA in October, 2010. Shortly thereafter, AV Builders and LVOA commenced negotiations and reached a settlement earlier this year. That settlement was ultimately rolled into a Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization whereby LVOA has an opportunity to pay a reduced amount to AV Builders over a five year period. The settlement and Chapter 11 Plan allowed LVOA’s homeowners to avoid an immediate special assessment of the full amount owed to AV Builders and instead gives homeowners the opportunity to pay a reduced amount over time, which was viewed as being especially critical in these difficult economic times. On September 9, 2011, the United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, the Honorable Robert Kwan presiding, entered an order confirming LVOA’s Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization.
In re Trade Union International, Inc. and In re Duck House, Inc.
In January 2011, affiliated companies Trade Union International, Inc. (“TUI”) and Duck House, Inc. (“DH”) were facing aggressive lien enforcement actions from their lender, Cathay Bank as agent bank for itself and China Trust Bank. Cathay Bank had filed an ex parte motion to appoint a receiver after commencing a lawsuit in state court. This action came after months of negotiations where a deal could not be reached. As a result, TUI and DH had no alternative but to seek Chapter 11 protection and retained SHB for that purpose.
TUI is a multi-million dollar wheel manufacturer and distributor with operations in China and Montclair, California. The related entity, DH, is a distributor of licensed beverageware and related merchandise which has license agreements with the NFL, MLB, NBA and various colleges. Rather than having the companies liquidated as sought by Cathay Bank, through the Chapter 11 process, DH and TUI have been able to remain in business, preserve dozens of jobs and now have a platform to grow the companies.
Cathay Bank had seized control of all of TUI’s and DH’s cash which effectively would have put DH and TUI out of business. Once SHB filed the Chapter 11 Petitions for these related companies, SHB was able to win use of cash collateral, defeat two separate efforts by Cathay Bank to appoint a trustee and assume license agreements with licensors including the NFL, MLB, NBA and various colleges. These early victories in the case paved the way towards a settlement negotiation and ultimate resolution with Cathay Bank, a new financing facility with a three-year maturity, favorable interest rate and other concessions which led the way to a consensual Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization.
On September 2, 2011, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, the Honorable Deborah Saltzman presiding, confirmed TUI’s and DH’s Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization. The Plan allows TUI and DH to remain in business.
9-11 KTLA Live Interview with Leonard Shulman
September 12, 2011
KTLA live interview Leonard Shulman during September 11th Charity 5K Walk Event. $40,000 was raised for the event.
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9/11 – 5k Charity Walk
June 11, 2011
The Firm, in partnership with event beneficiaries, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and the Orange County Fire Authority Benevolent Association, will host its 10th Annual 9/11 Fundraiser. This year’s 5K Walk-A-Thon will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2011, at the Irvine Spectrum (100 Spectrum Drive). The Event will begin at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast, followed by a 9/11 tribute ceremony at 9:11 a.m. The 5K will begin immediately thereafter. Various vendor booths will be at the event for all to enjoy as well as a silent action with great items available. Pancake breakfast tickets can be purchased for $5.00. Lunch options include the In-N-Out Burger cookout trailer and Hot Dog on a Stick truck for $10 a meal. Breakfast and lunch tickets can be purchased online or at the Event. All proceeds will benefit the two charities.
SHB Lands Representation of Chapter 7 Trustee in Case of OC Luxury Home Agent John McMonigle
April 26, 2011
Leonard Shulman was recently tapped as general counsel for John M Wolfe, the court-designated Trustee over the bankruptcy estate of John McMonigle. Mr. McMonigle filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy on April 15, 2011. His bankruptcy petition denotes over 200 creditors with estimated assets worth between 1mm to 10mm and estimated debts exceeding 50mm. More information will be available once Mr. McMonigle’s bankruptcy schedules are filed by April 29th.