IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
`HOUSTON DIVISION
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`IN RE:
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`Professional Fee Matters Concerning the
`Jackson Walker Law Firm
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`CASE NO: 4:23-CV-4787
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`ORDER
`FOR NON-EVIDENTIARY
`ELECTRONIC SCHEDULING CONFERENCE
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`On Wednesday, December 31, 2025 this Court issued an order stating that it would set
`evidentiary hearings on the ten (10) pending “Motion[s] For Order Approving Compromise And
`Settlement Pursuant To Bankruptcy Rule 9019” 1 (“Settlement Motions”) but only if the United
`States District Court was in agreement with this Court’s assessment.2
`On Monday, January 5, 2026 , Honorable Chief United States District Judge Alia Moses
`issued her order retaining the Settlement Motions which remain abated. But Chief Judge Moses
`referred two related issues to the instant Court for an evidentiary hearing and a report and further
`recommendations to the United States District Court. The two issues are: (i) whether the Settlement
`Motions should be approved before adjudicating the merits of the U.S. Trustee's Vacatur Motions;
`or (ii) whether an alternative exists that would best serve the interests of the affected parties while
`preserving the merits of the Vacatur Motions.3 Accordingly, the Court finds it appropriate to hold
`this Scheduling Conference to schedule dates in which all Settlement Motions will be heard. It is
`therefore:
`ORDERED: that
`1. On Wednesday, January 14, 2026 , at 2:00 p.m. (Central Standard Time) , a non-
`evidentiary scheduling conference will be conducted before the United States Bankruptcy
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`1 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 109.
`2 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 139.
`3 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 140.
`United States District Court
`Southern District of Texas
`ENTERED
`January 05, 2026
`Nathan Ochsner, Clerk
`Case 4:23-cv-04787 Document 141 Filed on 01/05/26 in TXSD Page 1 of 4
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`Court, Houston Division. For persons wishing to appear in person, the hearing will be
`conducted from the United States Courthouse, Bob Casey Federal Building, Courtroom #401,
`515 Rusk, Houston, T X 77002. The purpose of the scheduling conference is for the Court to
`set evidentiary hearing dates as it pertains to the following Settlement Motions:
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`i. 20-20184 & 25 -2002 – Old Copper Co. Inc.: “Motion for Order Approving
`Compromise and Settlement Pursuant to the Bankruptcy Rule 9019” filed o n
`September 11, 2025, by Old Copper Company Inc. F/K/A J. C. Penney Company Inc.
`and Copper Sub Corporation, Inc. F/K/A J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., As Wind
`Down Debtors In J. C. Penney Direct Marketing Services LLC, by and through its Plan
`Administrators.4
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`ii. 20-32564 – Stage Stores, Inc: “Motion for Order Approving Compromise and
`Settlement Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019” filed on November 10, 2025 by Steven
`Balasiano, solely in his capacity as Plan Administrator for each of the wind -down
`debtors in the jointly administered cases of Stage Stores, Inc.5
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`iii. 20-35740 & 21 -30427 – Seadrill: “Motion for Order Approving Compromise and
`Settlement Pursuant to Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 9019” filed on July 25,
`2025, by Seadrill Partners, LLC reorganized debtors and the Seadrill Limited
`Reorganized Debtors.6
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`iv. 21-30936 – Brilliant Energy, LLC: “Motion For Order Approving Compromise And
`Settlement Pursuant To Bankruptcy Rule 9019 ” filed on May 13, 2025, by Randy W.
`Williams, Chapter 7 trustee for Brilliant Energy, LLC.7
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`v. 21-90002 – Basic Energy Liquidation Trust: “Motion for Order Approving
`Compromise and Settlement Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019” filed on April 4, 2025
`by David Dunn, Liquidation Trustee for the Basic Energy Liquidation Trust.8
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`vi. 21-90054 – Strike Liquidating Trust: “Motion for Entry of Order Approving
`Compromise of Controversy under Bankruptcy Procedure 9019” filed on September
`24, 2025 by Patrick Bartels, as Trustee for the Strike Liquidating Trust.9
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`vii. 22-50009 – 4E Brands Northamerica, LLC: “Motion for Order Approving
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`4 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 96.
`5 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 108.
`6 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 90.
`7 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 57.
`8 Bankr. 21-90002, ECF No. 1884.
`9 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 98.
`Case 4:23-cv-04787 Document 141 Filed on 01/05/26 in TXSD Page 2 of 4
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`Compromise and Settlement Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019” filed on April 7, 2025
`by David Dunn, Plan Agent and sole manager, sole director, sole officer and sole
`representative of 4E Brands Northamerica LLC.10
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`viii. 22-90018 – Sungard AS New Holdings, LLC: “Motion for Order Approving
`Compromise and Settlement Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019” filed on July 29, 2025,
`by Sungard AS New Holdings, LLC, the wind-down debtor, by and through Drivetrain
`LLC, the Plan Administrator.11
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`ix. 23-90055 – Auto Plus Auto Sales LLC: “Motion for Entry of Order Approving
`Compromise of Controversy under Bankruptcy Rule 9019” filed o n September 24,
`2025, by Patrick Bartels, as Plan Agent for the Wind -Down Debtor In re Auto Plus
`Auto Sales LLC (formerly In re IEH Auto Parts Holding, LLC, et al.).12
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`x. 22-90032 – GWG Holdings: “Motion for Entry Approving Compromise and
`Settlement Pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 9019” filed on October 3, 2025 by Michael I.
`Goldberg, in his capacity as the Trustee of the GWG Litigation.13
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`2. Agenda: No later than Monday, January 12, 2026 Jackson Walker, LLP, the United States
`Trustee and primary counsel for the settling bankruptcy estates must, in good faith, meet and
`confer and file a Joint Notice of Proposed Agenda with the Clerk of Court specifying (i) the
`preferred order of the matters to be heard and; (ii) provide an estimation of the time required
`for an evidentiary hearing for each Settlement Motion.
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`3. Electronic Appearances: Pursuant to Bankruptcy General Order 2021 -05 and Bankruptcy
`Local Rule 9017 -1, parties may either appear electronically or in person unless otherwise
`ordered by this Court. To participate electronically, parties must follow the instructions set
`forth on Judge Rodriguez’s web page located at: https://www.txs.uscourts.gov/content/united-
`states-bankruptcy-judge-eduardo-v-rodriguez. Parties are additionally instructed to: (i) call in
`utilizing the dial-in-number for hearings before Judge Rodriguez at 832-917-1510, conference
`room number 999276 and (ii) log on to GoToMeeting for video appearances and witness
`testimony, utilizing conference code: judgerodriguez. Parties MUST HAVE TWO
`SEPARATE DEVICES to appear by video and telephonically. One device will be used to
`log on to GoToMeeting and the other will be used to call the telephonic conference line.
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`4. Public Hearing: Any member of the public, including media, are permitted to attend in person
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`10 Bankr. 22-50009, ECF No. 715.
`11 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 91.
`12 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 97.
`13 Case No. 4:23-CV-4787, ECF No. 100.
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`or electronically and observe this hearing pursuant to Bankruptcy Local Rule 9017 -1(a)(6)14
`however, those in attendance either in person or electronically will be bound by this Order.
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`5. Audio and Video Recording is Strictly Prohibited: Pursuant to District Local Rule 83.7,
`made applicable to this proceeding by Bankruptcy Local Rule 1001-1(b), no photo-or electro-
`mechanical means of recordation or transmission of court proceedings is permitted. Failure to
`adhere to this rule may result in additional orders of this Court including confiscation of such
`device by the Court, an order to show cause for civil contempt, potential sanctions, and/or a
`referral to the United States District Court’s C hief Judge to consider criminal contempt
`pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §§ 401; 402.
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`6. Notice: No later than Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Old Copper Company Inc. F/K/A J. C.
`Penney Company Inc. and Copper Sub Corporation, Inc. F/K/A J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc.,
`as Wind Down Debtors In J. C. Penney Direct Marketing Services LLC ; Steven Balasiano,
`solely in his capacity as Plan Administrator for each of the wind -down debtors in the jointly
`administered cases of Stage Stores, Inc .; Seadrill Partners, LLC reorganized debtors and the
`Seadrill Limited Reorganized Debtors ; Randy W. Williams, Chapter 7 trustee for Brilliant
`Energy, LLC; David Dunn, as Liquidation Trustee for the Basic Energy Liquidation Trust ;
`Patrick Bartels, as Trustee for the Strike Liquidating Trust ; David Dunn, as Plan Agent and
`sole manager, sole director, sole officer and sole representative of 4E Brands Northamerica
`LLC; Sungard AS New Holdings, LLC, the wind -down debtor, by and through Drivetrain
`LLC, the Plan Administrator; Patrick Bartels, as Plan Agent for the Wind-Down Debtor In re
`Auto Plus Auto Sales LLC; and Michael I. Goldberg, in his capacity as the Trustee of the GWG
`Litigation must serve a copy of this Order on Jackson Walker, LLP, the United States Trustee,
`and all parties entitled to notice of the hearing and file a certificate of service with the Clerk of
`Court.
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` SIGNED January 5, 2026
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`________________________________
`Eduardo V. Rodriguez
`Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge
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`14 Bankruptcy Local Rule 9017 -1(a)(6) (“The Court may allow remote participation for individual hearings or trials.
`In hearings and trials for which the Court authorizes remote participation, the Court’s audio and video connections
`may be utilized only by . . . (6) other persons as specifically authorized by the Court.”).
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