In Re: Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. et al

Filing 8

Recommendation that Bankruptcy Appeal be withrawn from mandatory mediation. Signed by Judge Mary Pat Thynge on 5/14/14. (cak)

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE
IN RE: Overseas Shipholding Group Inc. et al.
_____________________________________________________________________
Asbestos Claimants,

:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-103-GMS
:
Overseas Shipholding Group Inc.,
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
: AP No. 13-112
Appellee.
:
_____________________________________________________________________
Asbestos Claimants,
:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-104-GMS
:
Overseas Shipholding Group Inc.,
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
: AP No. 13-113
Appellee.
:
_____________________________________________________________________
Asbestos Claimants,
:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-106-GMS
:
Overseas Shipholding Group Inc.,
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
: AP No. 13-114
Appellee.
:
_____________________________________________________________________
Asbestos Claimants,
:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-107-GMS
:
Overseas Shipholding Group Inc.,
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
: AP No. 13-115
Appellee.
:

Asbestos Claimants,

:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-480-GMS
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc., et al., : AP No. 14-9
:
Appellees.
:
_____________________________________________________________________
Asbestos Claimants,
:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-481-GMS
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc., et al., : AP No. 14-10
:
Appellees.
:
_____________________________________________________________________
Asbestos Claimants,
:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-482-GMS
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc., et al., : AP No. 14-11
:
Appellees.
:
_____________________________________________________________________
Asbestos Claimants,
:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-483-GMS
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc., et al., : AP No. 14-12
:
Appellees.
:
Asbestos Claimants,
:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-484-GMS
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc., et al., : AP No. 14-13

:
Appellees.
:
_____________________________________________________________________
Asbestos Claimants,

:
:
Appellants,
:
:
v.
: C. A. No. 14-604
: Bankruptcy Case No. 12-20000
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc., et al., : AP No. 14-14
:
Appellees.
:
_____________________________________________________________________

RECOMMENDATION
At Wilmington this 14th day of May, 2014.
WHEREAS, pursuant to paragraph 2(a) of the Procedures to Govern
Mediation of Appeals from the United States Bankruptcy Court for this District dated
September 11, 2012, the court conducted an initial review, which included information
from counsel, to determine the appropriateness of mediation in these matters;
WHEREAS, as a result of the above screening process, the court referred
the 14-103-GMS, 14-104-GMS, 14-106-GMS and 14-107-GMS matters to the
Honorable Christopher J. Burke for further discussion and possible mediation. Prior to
the April 21, 2014 teleconference with Judge Burke, the parties held settlement
discussions and despite their good faith efforts, settlement could not be reach. As a
result, the parties advised Judge Burke that mediation would not be beneficial and on
his further review, he found mediation at this stage would not be a productive exercise,
a worthwhile use of judicial resources nor warrant the expense of the process.
During the screening process of the 14-103-GMS, 14-104-GMS, 14-106-GMS

and 14-107-GMS matters concerning the Debtor’s Eleventh through Fourteenth
Omnibus Claims Objections, additional appeals between these parties were filed in the
14-480-GMS through 14-484-GMS cases arising from the Debtor’s Sixteenth through
Nineteenth and Twenty-First Omnibus Objections. In addition, on April 28, 2014,
Appellants filed a Notice of Appeal of the Bankruptcy Court’s Order sustaining the
Debtor’s Twenty-Fifth Omnibus Objection. Appellants claim all the aforementioned
appeals involve the same issues and will seek consolidation of all appeals. Appellees
reserve all rights to oppose any request for consolidation.
Although the parties have agreed on a briefing schedule of 30 days for the
opening brief, 30 days following the opening brief for the answering brief and thereafter
14 days for the reply brief, they do not agree when the briefing scheduled should begin,
that is, after the date of the confirmation of this Recommendation or after resolution of
the motion to consolidate.
THEREFORE, IT IS RECOMMENDED that, pursuant to paragraph 2(a)
Procedures to Govern Mediation of Appeals from the United States Bankruptcy Court
for this District and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), the above-captioned matters be withdrawn from
the mandatory referral for mediation and proceed through the appellate process of this
Court. The parties advised they have no objections to this Recommendation pursuant
to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B), FED. R. CIV. P. 72(a) and D. DEL. LR 72.1.
Local counsel are obligated to inform out-of-state counsel of this Order.

/s/ Mary Pat Thynge
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE