Legal News

Another Court Hearing Set Over Phila. Family Courthouse

By Brian Harris

By Amaris Elliott-Engel
Of the Legal Staff

A hearing has been scheduled next week in front of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Eric Frank for the judge to consider whether the private developer who mortgaged the air and surface rights to the proposed Philadelphia family courthouse site can get more time to file a bankruptcy reorganization plan.

A trial is set to start in a related case after Thanksgiving weekend unless the parties settle first.

According to Northwest 15th Street Associates' motion, Northwest has 120 days to file a plan of reorganization after petitioning for bankruptcy. But Northwest is asking the judge to postpone the deadline for the reorganization plan until after the court decides whether the courthouse-site real estate should be held by Northwest or the Philadelphia Parking Authority. Northwest mortgaged the real estate from the parking authority.

The Legal previously reported that the First Judicial District, Northwest and the parking authority are in negotiations to work out a new deal for building the courthouse since the first deal began to unravel in the wake of the revelation that Northwest's principal, Donald W. Pulver, had struck a development fee-sharing deal with the court's former tenant representative, Jeffrey B. Rotwitt.

The hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Oct 20.

Full post as published by The Legal Intelligencer Blog on October 13, 2010 (boomark / email).