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`CIVIL DIVISION – ASBESTOS
`No. GD 23-013392
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`NOTICE OF SUGGESTION OF
`PENDENCY OF
`BANKRUPTCY AND
`AUTOMATIC STAY OF
`PROCEEDINGS
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`Filed on behalf of Charles B.
`Chrystal Company, Inc.
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`Counsel of Record:
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`Susan M. Valinis, Esq.
`Pa. I.D. #86685
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`Leah A. Lewis, Esq.
`Pa. I.D. #311566
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`Reilly McDevitt & Henrich, P.C.
`Suite 410
`One South Penn Square
`Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
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`(215) 972-5200
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`IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
`OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY,
`PENNSYLVANIA
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`EDWARD L. WELCH, JR.,
`INDIVIDUALLY AND AS
`ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF
`KATHLEEN MARIE WLECH,
`DECEASED
` Plaintiff,
`vs.
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`CHARLES B. CHRYSTAL COMPANY,
`INC., ET AL.
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` Defendants
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`IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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`CIVIL DIVISION –
`ASBESTOS
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`No. GD 23-013392
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`EDWARD L. WELCH, JR.,
`INDIVIDUALLY AND AS
`ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF
`KATHLEEN MARIE WLECH, DECEASED
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` Plaintiffs,
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`v.
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`CHARLES B. CHRYSTAL COMPANY,
`INC., ET AL.,
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` Defendants.
`________________________________________________________________________
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`PLEASE BE ADVISED that, on May 21, 2024, Charles B. Chrystal Co Inc. (the “Debtor”)
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`commenced a bankruptcy case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut (the
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`“Bankruptcy Court”) by filing a voluntary petition for relief under Chapter 7 of the United States
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`Bankruptcy Code. The Debtor’s Chapter 7 case is now pending in the Bankruptcy Court as Case No. 24-
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`30455.
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`PLEASE BE FURTHER ADVISED that pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 362 of the Bankruptcy Code,
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`as of the commencement of the Chapter 7, the above-captioned action has been automatically stayed as
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`against the Debtor. Section 362 of the Bankruptcy Code provides, in part, that the filing of a petition to
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`commence a Chapter 7 case operates as a stay of (i) the commencement or continuation of a judicial,
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`administrative or other action or proceeding against the Debtor that was or could have been commenced
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`before the filing of Chapter 7 action and/or (ii) any act recover on any claim that arose before the
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`commencement of the Chapter 7 action and/or (iii ) any action to collect, assess or recover any claim against
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`the Debtor that arose before the commencement of the Chapter 7 action. See, 11 U.S.C. § 362(a)(1)-(3).1
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`PLEASE BE FURTHER ADVISED that any action taken against the Debtor without obtaining
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`from the Bankruptcy Court relief from the automatic stay is void ab initio2 and may result in a finding of
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`contempt for violation of the automatic stay.3 The Debtor reserves and retains all rights to seek relief in the
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`Bankruptcy Court from any judgment, order, or ruling entered in violation of the automatic stay.
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`PLEASE BE FURTHER ADVISED that additional information regarding the status of the
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`Chapter 7 action may be obtained by (i) reviewing the docket in the Chapter 7 case, available electronically
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`at http://www.ecf.ctb.uscourts.gov (PACER log-in and password required) or (ii) contacting Debtor’s
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`counsel George C. Tzepos, Law Offices of George C. Tzepos, 444 Middlebury Road, Middlebury CT
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`REILLY, MCDEVITT &
`HENRICH, P.C.,
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`06762.
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`By: _/s/ Susan M. Valinis________
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`Susan M. Valinis, Esquire
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`Pa. I.D. #86685
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`Leah A. Lewis, Esquire
`Pa. I.D. #311566
`REILLY MCDEVITT &
`HENRICH, P.C.
`One South Penn Square
`Suite 410
`Philadelphia, PA 19107
`Attorneys for Defendant,
`Charles B. Chrystal
`Company, Inc.
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`Date: May 22, 2024
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`1 Nothing herein shall constitute a waiver of the Debtor’s rights to assert any claims, counterclaims, defenses, rights
`of setoff or recoupment, or any other claims against any party to the above-captioned case.
`2 See, e.g., Eastern Refractories Co. v. Forty Eight Insulations, 157 F.3d 169 (2d Cir. 1998)
`3 See, 11 U.S.C. §362(k) (“[A]n individual injured by any willful violation of a stay provided by this section shall
`recover actual damages, including costs and attorney’s fees, and, in appropriate circumstances, may recover punitive
`damages.”)
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`CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
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`The undersigned hereby certifies that a true and correct copy of the foregoing Suggestion
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`of Bankruptcy has been served this date, via first class U.S. mail, postage pre-paid, upon counsel
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`listed below. Notice of the filing has been served this date on all other known counsel of record by
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`e-mail.
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`Cori J. Kapusta, Esq.
`Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP
`445 Fort Pitt Blvd., Suite 500
`Pittsburgh, PA 15219
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`Date: May 22, 2024
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`REILLY, MCDEVITT &
`HENRICH, P.C.,
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`By: _/s/ Susan M. Valinis________
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`Susan M. Valinis, Esquire
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`Pa. I.D. #86685
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`Leah A. Lewis, Esquire
`Pa. I.D. #311566
`REILLY MCDEVITT &
`HENRICH, P.C.
`One South Penn Square
`Suite 410
`Philadelphia, PA 19107
`Attorneys for Defendant,
`Charles B. Chrystal
`Company, Inc.
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