2nd bankruptcy hearing canceled after no-show by Pittsburgh regatta promoter
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The owner of a Ross company blamed for last year’s Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta cancellation and his attorney failed to show for a bankruptcy hearing Monday in federal court, prompting the hearing to be canceled.
Rosemary C. Crawford, court-appointed bankruptcy trustee for LionHeart Event Group LLC, said she would file a “rule to show cause,” which means LionHeart President Derek Weber and his attorney will have to appear before Judge Gregory L. Taddonio and explain why they missed a second straight hearing.
Brian C. Thompson, LionHeart’s attorney, said he had to appear for a court-ordered mediation and could not attend the bankrupcy hearing.
“… It would not have been appropriate for me to have another attorney to appear who would be less familiar with the case,” he said.
Weber, 44, in September filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection following the regatta cancellation. Filings in the case indicate LionHeart, which promoted the regatta for years, has just $2,265 in total assets and owes a total of $744,526.
Chapter 7 provides for the sale of a debtor’s nonexempt property and the distribution of the proceeds to creditors.
Monday’s hearing, known as a “341 meeting,” was scheduled to permit creditors to question Weber under oath.
Thompson last week cited an “unavoidable conflict” in seeking a postponement, but Taddonio denied the request noting that Weber failed to show for the December hearing, according to court documents. Weber was out of town at that time, Thompson said in December.
“More than 30 days later, counsel alleges to have an unavoidable conflict, but it is unclear when the conflict arose,” Taddonio wrote in a court order. “In addition, the motion fails to explain why another attorney in counsel’s office cannot provide representation during the 341 meeting scheduled for January 13, 2020. Absent this information, the Court finds no basis to grant the requested continuance.”
The only creditors in attendance Monday were attorneys for Starfire Corp. of Carrolltown, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Garrison Hughes advertising. They declined comment.
Starfire claims it is owed $126,451 for fireworks in 2018 and 2019. Garrison Hughes filed a claim for $7,500 in sponsorship money. DCNR, owner of Point State Park, claims LionHeart owes $3,524 in event fees.
Weber, in an unrelated incident, is facing a drunken driving charge filed by Ross police. Pittsburgh officials have said city police are investigating his involvement with the regatta.