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Governmental Entities Representation in Bankruptcy and Bankruptcy Related Matters

County of Los Angeles

Baldwin Builders owed the County of Los Angeles millions of dollars in ordinary real property taxes and Mello-Roos special taxes. Under a reorganization plan, Baldwin's trustee had proposed to pay those taxes over a period of years. On behalf of Los Angeles County, SulmeyerKupetz obtained a bankruptcy court determination stating that taxes, interest and penalties were entitled to treatment as secured claims and as first priority administrative expenses. Baldwin's bankruptcy trustee was therefore compelled to amend the plan so that the delinquent tax obligations were paid as soon as the plan went into effect.

City of Los Angeles

SulmeyerKupetz was hired to prosecute in the Bankruptcy Court the claims of the City of Los Angeles for paramedic services provided to the debtor in possession MedPartners Provider Network, Inc. As a result of SulmeyerKupetz work, the City of Los Angeles expects to be paid in full.

Select California Counties and the City of San Francisco in the Pacific Gas and Electric ("PG&E") Bankruptcy

A coalition of California counties through the informal Bankruptcy Committee of California Association of County Counsels retained SulmeyerKupetz to represent the more than 25 counties in the PG&E bankruptcy proceedings. SulmeyerKupetz was also retained by the City of San Francisco and the Sonoma County Water Agency in the same proceedings. As a first order of business, SulmeyerKupetz successfully opposed PG&E's motion for authority to pay real property taxes only to those counties who waived penalties. The Bankruptcy Court ordered PG&E to pay the undisputed principal amount of the real property taxes and further ordered PG&E to negotiate a compromise of any disputed penalty issues. After court-ordered negotiations, PG&E paid penalties, costs and attorney's fees associated with the non-payment of real property taxes. SulmeyerKupetz continues representation of select counties with claims against PG&E.

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