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A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated v. Anna Piccinin, and Nancy Campbell, Kathryn Conrad, Jeanette Dicharry, Vernon Dicharry, Luisa Mosa, Stella J. Camp, John H. Camp, Helen Barnett, Michael Barnett, and Edna Lindsey Ruminiski, Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, Intervenor/appellee. In Re A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated, Debtor. A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated v. Committee Representatives of Dalkon Shield Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, Intervenor/appellee. In Re A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated, Debtor. A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated v. Kathryn Conrad, Luisa and Jack Mosa, in Re A.H. Robins Company, Inc., Debtor. A.H. Robins Company, Inc. v. Anna Piccinin Case Brief
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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis
tl;dr: In a mass tort bankruptcy, the court affirmed an injunction stopping lawsuits against the debtor’s officers and insurer. It held the insurance policy was estate property and that centralizing all tort claims for trial in the bankruptcy court was permissible, provided individual claimants receive notice and a hearing.
Legal Significance: Established that a debtor’s liability insurance policy is property of the bankruptcy estate under § 541, allowing courts under § 362(a)(3) to stay actions against non-debtor co-defendants (like insurers) that would deplete policy proceeds, a foundational principle in mass tort bankruptcies.
A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated v. Anna Piccinin, and Nancy Campbell, Kathryn Conrad, Jeanette Dicharry, Vernon Dicharry, Luisa Mosa, Stella J. Camp, John H. Camp, Helen Barnett, Michael Barnett, and Edna Lindsey Ruminiski, Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, Intervenor/appellee. In Re A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated, Debtor. A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated v. Committee Representatives of Dalkon Shield Aetna Casualty and Surety Company, Intervenor/appellee. In Re A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated, Debtor. A.H. Robins Company, Incorporated v. Kathryn Conrad, Luisa and Jack Mosa, in Re A.H. Robins Company, Inc., Debtor. A.H. Robins Company, Inc. v. Anna Piccinin Law School Study Guide
Use this case brief structure for your own legal analysis. Focus on the IRAC methodology to excel in law school exams and cold calls.
Case Facts & Court Holding
Key Facts & Case Background
A.H. Robins Company, manufacturer of the Dalkon Shield IUD, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after being overwhelmed by thousands of product liability lawsuits. Many suits also named co-defendants, including Robins’ corporate officers, directors, and its liability insurer, Aetna. The plaintiffs sought to sever their claims and proceed against these non-debtor co-defendants. Robins argued that such actions would deplete its insurance coverage—a key asset for any reorganization plan—and that its officers were entitled to indemnification, which would create further claims against the estate. The district court, overseeing the bankruptcy, issued a preliminary injunction staying all actions against Robins and its co-defendants. It also issued an order centralizing venue for all Dalkon Shield tort claims in the Eastern District of Virginia, where the bankruptcy was filed, providing notice only to the official claimants’ committee. The claimants appealed both the injunction and the venue order.
Court Holding & Legal Precedent
Issue: Can a bankruptcy court enjoin personal injury lawsuits against a debtor’s non-debtor co-defendants, such as its officers and insurer, and centralize the venue for all such tort claims in the district where the bankruptcy case is pending?
Yes. The Fourth Circuit affirmed the injunction, holding that it was justified Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehen
IRAC Legal Analysis
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Legal Issue
Can a bankruptcy court enjoin personal injury lawsuits against a debtor’s non-debtor co-defendants, such as its officers and insurer, and centralize the venue for all such tort claims in the district where the bankruptcy case is pending?
Conclusion
This landmark decision solidified the bankruptcy court's power to control mass tort Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut a
Legal Rule
A bankruptcy court may enjoin proceedings against non-debtors under 11 U.S.C. § Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum do
Legal Analysis
The court's analysis established a powerful framework for managing mass tort litigation Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui o
Flash-to-Full Case Opinions
Flash Summary
- A bankruptcy stay can extend to non-debtor co-defendants in “unusual situations,”