Opinion
Anna Shiran, DENTONS U.S. LLP, San Francisco, CA, Philip A. O'Connell Jr., DENTONS U.S. LLP, Boston, MA, Robert B. Millner (Pro Hac Vice), DENTONS U.S. LLP, Chicago, IL, Attorneys for ONEBEACON INSURANCE COMPANY.
ORDER JOINT STIPULATION REGARDING WAIVER OF EQUITABLE MOOTNESS AS TO APPEAL AND REVIEW OF MODIFIED CONFIRMATION ORDER
RICHARD SEEBORG, District Judge.
The insurers identified in the signature block below (collectively, the "Insurers"), the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, (the "Committee"), debtor and debtor-in-possession Plant Insulation Company ("Plant") and the court-appointed representative of future asbestos claimants (the "Futures Representative") (collectively, the Committee, Plant, and the Futures Representative being referred to as the "Plan Proponents") (all of the above collectively referred to below as the "Parties"), by and through their respective undersigned counsel, hereby stipulate to the following:
1. The Insurers have advised the Plan Proponents that they would seek a stay of the implementation of this Court's August 18, 2014 rulings in this case (the Order Affirming Confirmation of Revised Plan of Reorganization (Dkt. No. 77) and Order Denying Appeal From Confirmation of Revised Plan of Reorganization (Dkt. No. 76)) and the Bankruptcy Court rulings that were the subject of those August 18, 2014 rulings (the "Confirmation Order") pending an appeal of the Confirmation Order by the Insurers (the "Appeal") based on the Insurers' concern that if they do not seek and obtain a stay the appeal may be dismissed as moot, including on the doctrine commonly known as equitable mootness. The Plan Proponents have responded that they would oppose such a stay. As an alternative to proceeding with a motion for a stay, and in lieu of such motion, the parties have reached the stipulation set forth herein.
2. The Plan Proponents are willing to stipulate that they will not file a motion to dismiss the Appeal based on mootness of any kind, as long as the Insurers agree to join in requesting that the Ninth Circuit expedite the hearing of the Appeal and in seeking a briefing schedule in the Ninth Circuit that is concluded as quickly as the schedule set for the Insurers' prior appeal to the Ninth Circuit. The parties are willing to so stipulate.
3. The Plan Proponents agree that they will not seek to dismiss the Appeal or raise equitable mootness as a ground for disposition of the Appeal. Mootness, including the doctrine of equitable mootness, is waived as an issue in the Appeal. The Insurers agree that they will not seek to stay implementation of the Plan or delay the occurrence of the Modified Effective Date. The Insurers and the Plan Proponents shall request that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals expedite the Appeal and the briefing schedule.
4. The Plan Proponents shall not contend that the failure to seek or obtain a stay of the Confirmation Order is a basis for any finding adverse to the Insurers.
IT IS SO STIPULATED.
IT IS SO ORDERED.