Assessing Operations for a Chapter 11

A high-profile Hollywood motion picture studio filed its second Chapter 11 plan of reorganization in an effort to succeed.

The company’s second plan of reorganization was unsuccessful primarily due to poor box office results, competition from streaming services, and a loss of creative talent / reduced infrastructure.

The reduced infrastructure included fewer personnel that impacted day-to-day operations and accounting functions, which gave rise to segregation of duties issues.

Given the lack of accounting controls and purported questionable behavior, the liquidating trustee suspected the debtor’s principal skimmed money from the company’s operating accounts. The liquidating trustee requested a forensic investigation be performed and engaged Brandlin & Associates, a national forensic accounting firm, for help. The liquidating trustee had limited funds to perform a complete forensic investigation.

In a collaborative effort, Brandlin & Associates (“B&A”) engaged Valid8 to assist in identifying purported illicit activities to satisfy creditor claims.

Within 1 week, the law firm had proof of wrongdoing in addition to previously undisclosed accounts which made the decision to pursue a more comprehensive investigation a simple one.