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Bankruptcy

J&J Talc Bankruptcy Judge: ‘Their Voices Must Be Heard’

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez told all sides in the Johnson & Johnson talc powder bankruptcy litigation Tuesday that he will “get a big pot of coffee” and spend the weekend in his office going through more than 11,500 disputed votes in order to get an accurate number of claimants supporting and opposing J&J’s $8.2 billion settlement plan. New Jersey-based J&J created a new Texas-headquartered subsidiary in September called Red River Talc and used a Texas law to transfer all its potential liabilities from tens of thousands of lawsuits filed against J&J by women who claim they have ovarian cancer because they used J&J’s talc powder. But there’s a dispute over 11,500 votes that were switched from voting against J&J’s forced bankruptcy plan to being in favor.

McDermott Advising Wellpath on SDTX Bankruptcy

A Nashville-based healthcare services company that focuses on treating incarcerated inmates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Houston Monday, claiming more than $1 billion in liabilities and an equal amount in assets. Wellpath Holdings and about 40 of its affiliated companies, which served about 3,000 in 2023 and reported revenues of $425 million, filed for bankruptcy in the Southern District of Texas. The case has been assigned to Judge Alfredo Perez.

A Texas Two-Step Showdown: J&J Talc Powder, $8B and Claims of Bankruptcy Fraud

Lawyers representing tens of thousands of women — including 465 from Dallas/Fort Worth and a total of 2,558 from Texas — will face off with each other and against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson in a Houston courtroom this week to determine the legitimacy of an $8.2 billion settlement agreement proposed by J&J to end all lawsuits brought by women who claim the company’s talc powder caused their ovarian cancer.

Trial lawyers representing thousands of the women claim the settlement is a farce and a fraudulent attempt by one of America’s most iconic and profitable corporations to use the federal bankruptcy system to force victims to accept their proposal and shield itself and its shareholders from billions of dollars more in potential liability. They and the U.S. Trustee want Judge Christopher Lopez to intervene.

Foley Advises TGI Friday’s in Bankruptcy Filing

TGI Friday’s Inc. and 23 of its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the Northern District of Texas over the weekend. In its bankruptcy petition, TGI Friday’s claims $100 million to $500 million in debts and the same range for assets. The Dallas-based company owns 39 actual bar-and-grill restaurants across the U.S. None of the TGI Friday’s franchised operations are part of the Chapter 11.

Jackson Walker Bankruptcy Fee Trial Pushed to April

During a roughly 80-minute hearing Tuesday, Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Eduardo V. Rodriguez set an April 21 trial date in the litigation that will determine whether the U.S. trustee can claw back millions in bankruptcy fees awarded to Jackson Walker in cases handled by former judge David Jones. The court has given the parties until Dec. 2 to file dispositive motions in the case.

Vertex Energy Bankruptcy Fees Hit $2,450 an Hour

The legal and financial advisors in the Vertex Energy bankruptcy and restructuring have filed their applications for official employment, and the numbers never cease to amaze. Kirkland, Bracewell, Alvarez & Marsal and Perella Weinberg Partners filed their fees to be approved by SDTX Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez.

Legal Fees Hitting $2K an Hour in J&J’s Talc Powder Bankruptcy

The Johnson & Johnson talc powder bankruptcy filing in Houston is less than a month old, but new documents filed Sunday in the case show that it is going to be highly profitable for the lawyers and law firms involved. Over the past three days, lawyers for Jones Day, Porter Hedges, King & Spalding, Skadden Arps, Shook Hardy & Bacon and McCarter & English have filed their official applications to represent Red River Talc, the J&J subsidiary. Jones Day’s Dallas office is the biggest financial beneficiary.

Secret Courthouse Romance, Ethics Investigations, Tens of Millions in Legal Fees: The SDTX Bankruptcy Scandal One Year Later

Houston Bankruptcy Judge David Jones’ voice was filled with emotion one year ago today in an interview with The Texas Lawbook. “I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know what is going to happen next. I just don’t know. I guess I have to resign.”

The Fifth Circuit had just published notice that it was investigating possible misconduct by Judge Jones over allegations that he had been involved in a multiyear secret romance with a former bankruptcy partner at Jackson Walker. The firm had been paid more than $20 million — fees often approved by Judge Jones — for its role in dozens of high-profile bankruptcies in which Jones served as judge or mediator. Jones officially resigned Oct. 15, 2023. The 365 days since have been pure chaos in the Houston bankruptcy courts, which is one of the three busiest courts in the nation for business bankruptcies.

“The whole thing is a mess, a complete fiasco,” said former UNT Dallas law dean Royal Furgeson. In a first-ever detailed timeline of the events of the past year and several years prior, The Lawbook documents a scandal about romance, secrecy, tens of millions of dollars in legal fees and ethical lapses that have engulfed the bankruptcy courts in Houston.

SDTX Bankruptcy Court Scandal Timeline

2011: David Jones leaves Houston law firm Porter Hedges after 19 years as a corporate bankruptcy lawyer to become a bankruptcy judge in the Southern District of Texas. Jones later hires

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