On November 5, the Hawaii-based company, Big Island Carbon LLC, filed the necessary paperwork in order to seek Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. The company, which manufactures carbon from macadamia nut shells grown in Hawaii, has already laid off several employees, including the CEO of the company.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court documents show that the COO and the Controller of Big Island Carbon LLC were also let go amidst the bankruptcy filing. The papers indicate that the Big Island Carbon project grew to be too expensive, and the funds and grants that were coming in were not enough to fuel the plant’s production. The plant is near completion, and needs approximately $5 million more to be considered finished.

A bankruptcy trustee that will be assigned to the Chapter 7 bankruptcy case of Big Island Carbon LLC will more than likely search for a buyer that is interested in the assets of the biomass plant. The buyer may also choose to finish the production of the plant in order to begin operations.

If you are considering filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy for your small business, please contact the Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers of Hong Law, PLC by calling 319-632-1400 today.

Arkansas’ head football coach John L. Smith, who filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in September, could be facing more legal problems after a creditor has called Smith’s finances into question. The coach listed $40 million in debt when he filed for bankruptcy protection, with approximately $600,000 owed to the suspicious creditor, RL BB Acquisition.

Under federal law, all money made after an individual files for bankruptcy is kept by the individual, while all money made before the filing is divided among creditors. According to USA Today, Smith arranged to have most of his $850,000 salary backloaded until after the football season was over, which would allow him to keep this money since he would have technically earned it after filing.

RL BB Acquisitions has asked the bankruptcy court for an extension on the case so it can challenge Smith’s financial exemptions. With the exemptions, the coach able to report that he made only $19,800 a month in gross monthly income instead of more than $70,000. Smith’s financial problems stem from real estate deals that backfired when the market crashed.

If you are struggling with your personal finances and are considering filing for bankruptcy, an experienced bankruptcy attorney can inform you of your legal options. To learn if Chapter 7 bankruptcy is right for you, contact the legal team at Hong Law, PLC at 319-632-1400.