Clients often raise questions concerning the enforceability of arbitration clauses in bankruptcy proceedings. While this topic has been hotly debated for many years, a recent Ninth Circuit opinion, In re Thorpe Insulation Co., 671 F.3d 1011 (9th Cir. 2012), reminds us that arbitration clauses are not sacrosanct and can be struck down by the court.

For several decades, Thorpe distributed and installed asbestos containing products. After many thousands of claims for asbestos-related injuries and deaths were brought against it, Thorpe entered into an agreement (the Agreement) with one of its insurers, Continental Insurance Company (Continental), relating to those claims. Thorpe and Continental agreed to arbitrate disputes regarding the Agreement. A few years later, daunted by the many claims against it, Thorpe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with the goal of confirming a plan of reorganization pursuant to section 524(g) of the Bankruptcy Code, which provides a unique mechanism for consolidating a debtor’s asbestos-related assets and liabilities into a single trust for the benefit of present and future asbestos claimants. In preparation for the bankruptcy filing, some insurers of Thorpe agreed to assign certain rights against other insurers, including Continental, to Thorpe and the trust to be established under § 524(g), an assignment which Continental believed breached the Agreement. Continental filed a proof of claim in the case, and Thorpe objected to it. Continental then moved to compel arbitration.