Creditor committees have been characterized as the “watchdogs” of the bankruptcy reorganization process of large companies. Not only do creditor committees have broad statutory powers to oversee the debtor and its management, but they also play a key role in preventing abuses by professionals and other participants in the often complex corporate bankruptcy process. Furthermore, recent research has provided evidence of abusive fee practices in large corporate bankruptcy cases which point to failures in the oversight mechanisms of the process. This dissertation examines the role of creditor committees in the bankruptcy process and in selected outcomes of this process, with a focus on fees paid to bankruptcy professionals. Based on a unique data set comprised of 1,037 bankruptcy cases over the period 1999-2008, the research first examines committee characteristics along three separate dimensions of analysis: individual characteristics of members serving on committees; changes of committee composition over the life of the committees; and social characteristics of committee interlocks. The Calpine bankruptcy case is used throughout this dissertation to illustrate the research. This research finds a dense network of interlocks that dominates large cases, with financial industry members being significantly more likely to serve on multiple committees than non-financial industry members. Analysis of the data shows that over 50% of creditor committees are never amended and there are no systematic recompositions of the remaining committees. A test of small-world topology in the member creditor committee network fails to show a strong small-world structure in the member social network once it is corrected for imposed network topology. This dissertation then employs econometric models to evaluate whether creditor committee variables help explain professional fees in large bankruptcy cases. It finds a statistically significant and positive relationship between the social centrality measure of the creditor committee case and the professional fees paid. This finding points to potential conflicts of interest among the repeat creditor committee players and their constituents. The research fails to find a significant relationship between the presence of financial firms in creditors’ committees and professional fees paid in the case. The dissertation concludes with policy recommendations and suggestions for further research. / text

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1974.

Thesis (M.H.A.)--University of Michigan, 1974.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram analisar as informações contidas nas apólices de dano à pessoa em processos de sinistros de seguradoras, e propor melhorias para o atendimento de traumatizados portadores desse tipo de produto. Foram descritas as informações sobre o perfil do segurado - sexo, faixa etária e ocupação -; características do trauma - como local e etiologia do dano -; características da lesão e dos tratamentos reabilitadores; adequação dos tratamentos propostos, dos honorários e da documentação. Foram elencadas as falhas detectadas nas apólices cuja documentação apresentava-se insuficiente. O estudo abrangeu 151 processos, dos quais 132 constituiam-se em Avisos de Acidente (iniciais) e 19 em Avisos de Continuidade. Quanto aos tipos de seguros, 124 eram de Seguro Escolar, 07 de Afastamento Profissional e 01 de DPVAT. Nos processos, 84 (63,64%) segurados eram do sexo masculino e 48 (36,36%) do sexo feminino; a faixa etária predominante foi a compreendida entre 6 e 10 anos, com 42 (31,82%) casos; o local de maior ocorrência foi a área escolar (57 = 43,18%). Na etiologia do dano constatou-se que 59 (44,70%) acidentes aconteceram durante locomoções, 34 (25,76%) em atividades lúdicas, 18 (13,64%) em práticas esportivas e 16 (12,12%) em ambiente doméstico, nos três últimos dos quais as quedas ocorreram com maior freqüência. Os dados de lesões referem-se tão somente aos Avisos de Acidentes, nos quais predominaram as fraturas coronárias simples, com 94 ocorrências, e 21 acidentes geraram lesões associadas de tecidos duros e tecidos moles. Da mesma forma, os tratamentos reabilitadores só contemplam os Avisos de Acidentes, nos quais prevaleceu a dentística (112). Na análise da adequação de tratamentos propostos, dos 151 processos, 133 estavam adequados e 18 inadequados. Quanto aos honorários profissionais, 89 apresentaram valores satisfatórios e 55, valores acima dos usuais. Os 7 processos restantes eram de Afastamento Profissional, nos quais não são avaliados os custos de tratamento e sim o tempo de restabelecimento. Em relação à adequação da documentação, 74 estavam adequados e 77 não completaram a documentação requisitada. Dentre os inadequados, a principal falha foi a ausência de radiografias iniciais e/ou finais. / This dissertation aims at analyzing the data on accident claims in personal injury policies from insurance companies and at proposing improvements on the treatment of injured people who hold this kind of product. The study describes information related to the insured profile (gender, age and occupation), to the trauma (such as the place and etiology of damage), the lesion and rehabilitation treatment characteristics, as well as whether proposed treatments were adequate for the fees charged and for the documentary evidence submitted. Errors identified in policies with insufficient documentation were also listed. The study encompassed 151 claims, 132 of which were Notification of Accidents (Initial Claims) and 19 were Notification about the Eligibility for Continuity of Care. As for the kinds of insurance, 124 related to School Accident Insurances, while 07, to Professional Leave, and only 01 related to Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Insurance. In those claims, 84 (63,64%) insured were male, whereas 48 (36,36%) were female; the main age group ranged from 6 to 10 years old, totalizing 42 cases (or 31,82%). Schools were the place where the greatest number of accidents (57 = 44,53%) occurred. In the etiology of damage, it was observed that 59 accidents (44,70%) occurred during locomotion movement, 34 cases (25,76%) in playing, 18 (13,64%) during the practice of sports and 16 (12,12%) at home. In the last three types, fall accidents occurred more frequently. As for the kind of lesion, the simple fracture crown prevailed in 94 cases, whereas in 21 accidents, it were hard and soft associated lesions. In the rehabilitation treatments, dentistry prevailed in 112 proceedings. As for the suitability of proposed treatments, out of 151 claims, 133 were adequate whereas 18 were not. As far as fees for professional services were concerned, 89 were considered satisfactory, while 55 were considered overcharged. The last 7 claims were related to Professional Leave, and so what is assessed is the time to recovery and not the treatment costs. In relation to documentary evidence, 74 claims submitted proper documents, while 77 did not. The latter main error was that initial and /or final radiographic documentation was not sent to the insurance companies.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram analisar as informações contidas nas apólices de dano à pessoa em processos de sinistros de seguradoras, e propor melhorias para o atendimento de traumatizados portadores desse tipo de produto. Foram descritas as informações sobre o perfil do segurado - sexo, faixa etária e ocupação -; características do trauma - como local e etiologia do dano -; características da lesão e dos tratamentos reabilitadores; adequação dos tratamentos propostos, dos honorários e da documentação. Foram elencadas as falhas detectadas nas apólices cuja documentação apresentava-se insuficiente. O estudo abrangeu 151 processos, dos quais 132 constituiam-se em Avisos de Acidente (iniciais) e 19 em Avisos de Continuidade. Quanto aos tipos de seguros, 124 eram de Seguro Escolar, 07 de Afastamento Profissional e 01 de DPVAT. Nos processos, 84 (63,64%) segurados eram do sexo masculino e 48 (36,36%) do sexo feminino; a faixa etária predominante foi a compreendida entre 6 e 10 anos, com 42 (31,82%) casos; o local de maior ocorrência foi a área escolar (57 = 43,18%). Na etiologia do dano constatou-se que 59 (44,70%) acidentes aconteceram durante locomoções, 34 (25,76%) em atividades lúdicas, 18 (13,64%) em práticas esportivas e 16 (12,12%) em ambiente doméstico, nos três últimos dos quais as quedas ocorreram com maior freqüência. Os dados de lesões referem-se tão somente aos Avisos de Acidentes, nos quais predominaram as fraturas coronárias simples, com 94 ocorrências, e 21 acidentes geraram lesões associadas de tecidos duros e tecidos moles. Da mesma forma, os tratamentos reabilitadores só contemplam os Avisos de Acidentes, nos quais prevaleceu a dentística (112). Na análise da adequação de tratamentos propostos, dos 151 processos, 133 estavam adequados e 18 inadequados. Quanto aos honorários profissionais, 89 apresentaram valores satisfatórios e 55, valores acima dos usuais. Os 7 processos restantes eram de Afastamento Profissional, nos quais não são avaliados os custos de tratamento e sim o tempo de restabelecimento. Em relação à adequação da documentação, 74 estavam adequados e 77 não completaram a documentação requisitada. Dentre os inadequados, a principal falha foi a ausência de radiografias iniciais e/ou finais. / This dissertation aims at analyzing the data on accident claims in personal injury policies from insurance companies and at proposing improvements on the treatment of injured people who hold this kind of product. The study describes information related to the insured profile (gender, age and occupation), to the trauma (such as the place and etiology of damage), the lesion and rehabilitation treatment characteristics, as well as whether proposed treatments were adequate for the fees charged and for the documentary evidence submitted. Errors identified in policies with insufficient documentation were also listed. The study encompassed 151 claims, 132 of which were Notification of Accidents (Initial Claims) and 19 were Notification about the Eligibility for Continuity of Care. As for the kinds of insurance, 124 related to School Accident Insurances, while 07, to Professional Leave, and only 01 related to Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Insurance. In those claims, 84 (63,64%) insured were male, whereas 48 (36,36%) were female; the main age group ranged from 6 to 10 years old, totalizing 42 cases (or 31,82%). Schools were the place where the greatest number of accidents (57 = 44,53%) occurred. In the etiology of damage, it was observed that 59 accidents (44,70%) occurred during locomotion movement, 34 cases (25,76%) in playing, 18 (13,64%) during the practice of sports and 16 (12,12%) at home. In the last three types, fall accidents occurred more frequently. As for the kind of lesion, the simple fracture crown prevailed in 94 cases, whereas in 21 accidents, it were hard and soft associated lesions. In the rehabilitation treatments, dentistry prevailed in 112 proceedings. As for the suitability of proposed treatments, out of 151 claims, 133 were adequate whereas 18 were not. As far as fees for professional services were concerned, 89 were considered satisfactory, while 55 were considered overcharged. The last 7 claims were related to Professional Leave, and so what is assessed is the time to recovery and not the treatment costs. In relation to documentary evidence, 74 claims submitted proper documents, while 77 did not. The latter main error was that initial and /or final radiographic documentation was not sent to the insurance companies.