The U.S. Justice Department has voiced objections concerning billing requests from Elizabeth Freeman, a bankruptcy attorney with professional ties to Carl Icahn’s business, IEH Auto Parts Holding LLC. The department’s bankruptcy watchdog has asked the court to dismiss all bill-related requests from Freeman, following her failure to disclose a clandestine relationship with a judge involved in mediating the case.
The requests by Freeman amounted to nearly $258,000, which were made for fee and expense compensation connected to her work on the IEH Auto Parts Holding LLC case. Both disclosure, ethical, and fiduciary obligations were violated by the attorney, according to the U.S. Trustee’s office, leading to the proposition that her billing requests be rejected outright.
The objection was lodged by the trustee’s office on Monday and was directed to Judge Christopher Lopez of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District. This latest development has raised serious concerns over Freeman’s conduct, as well as the potential impact of undisclosed personal relationships within the court system.
Further reading: Bloomberg Law Report