Bayou Steel BD Holdings, L.L.C. – Preference Defense Lawyer

On March 2, 2021, George L. Miller, as Chapter 7 Trustee for the bankruptcy estates of Bayou Steel BD Holdings, L.L.C., began filing complaints seeking to avoid and recover from the individual defendants, or from any other person or entity for whose benefit the transfers were made, all preferential transfers of property made for or on account of an antecedent debt made to or for the benefit of the Defendant by the Debtor during the ninety-day period prior to the filing of the Debtor’s bankruptcy petitions.

Approximately 38 such complaints have been filed so far.

The Debtors are: Bayou Steel BD Holdings, L.L.C., BD Bayou Steel Investment, LLC, and BD LaPlace, LLC.

The bankruptcy case and these adversary actions are before the Honorable Karen B. Owens.

Procedural History:

On October 1, 2019, each of the Debtors filed a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The Debtors’ cases are jointly administered for administrative purposes only. On February 25, 2020 these cases were converted to Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. George L. Miller was appointed as trustee on the same date.

Common Defenses in Preference Actions

The United States Bankruptcy Code provides many affirmative defenses to preference actions, contained within Section 547(c). For example, the most common defenses that may be available to a Defendant under Section 547(c) may include:

• the transfer was a contemporaneous exchange for new value given to the debtor (i.e., the debtor received something of value in exchange for the transfer); 11 U.S.C. §547(c)(1);
• after such transfer, Defendant gave new value to or for the benefit of the debtor (i.e., the Defendant extended additional credit to the Debtor after receiving the transfer) 11 U.S.C. §547(c)(4); or
• the transfer was in payment of a debt incurred by the debtor in the ordinary course of business or financial affairs of the debtor and the recipient (i.e., Defendant made the transfer under ordinary business terms). 11 U.S.C. §547(c)(2).

For more information, see our pages on Preference Defense Litigation: http://www.tobialaw.com/practice-areas/delaware-preference-defense-lawyer/ and Fraudulent Transfer Defense Litigation: https://www.tobialaw.com/practice-areas/delaware-preference-defense-lawyer/defense-of-fraudulent-transfer-actions/

If you conducted business with Bayou Steel or any of the debtors, and especially if a complaint has been filed against you or your business, even if not served yet, email us at info@tobialaw.com or call the firm’s Wilmington offices directly at (302) 655-5303 to schedule an initial consultation. We can discuss the situation and share with you our initial observations at no charge.