The Civil Cases Get Put On Ice

Well, there was a very interesting development today in the Chisholm cases. The magistrate judge overseeing both the Bardfield and DeForest cases, taking notice of the bankruptcy filing of Chisholm Properties Circuit Events (OMW), ordered both cases stayed (ie, put on hold) for the duration of the bankruptcy case:



(Note that the magistrate here made the same error I did when I first read the Suggestion of Bankruptcy...it's actually a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, not a Chapter 11 as these Orders mistakenly indicate.)

The decision here as it pertains to CPCE comes as no surprise; as I explained earlier, the "automatic stay" in bankruptcy is supposed to do just that. What is a bit of a surprise here is the generous (to the defense) decision, "for reasons of fairness as well as judicial economy and efficiency," to the stay the entire case, even as to the defendants in both these cases who have NOT filed for bankruptcy: Johnny Chisholm personally, Bobby Warner personally, and Johnny Chisholm Global Events (aka OMW Paris).

The order does not seem to be entirely final, however, as the magistrate has provided the option that "[a]ny party who objects to a stay of the entire case should immediately so inform the court." So, if someone is unhappy about this (hint: it probably won't be any of the defendants), you can bet we'll hear about it very soon...