The court confirmed Burkhalter Rigging's amended Chapter 11 liquidation plan for Burkhalter Rigging, Burkhalter Transport and Burkhalter Specialized Transport, moving the case from sale administration into liquidating-trust administration. The order found the plan consensual after impaired Classes 2 (Metro) and 5 (general unsecured claims) accepted, while objections by Westchester Fire, ACE American and related insurers were resolved. It also approved the Metro settlement resolving Metro's asserted $32 million claim and lien dispute, appointed John Baumgartner as initial liquidation trustee, and vested cash, causes of action and other remaining estate assets in the trust on the effective date. source filing

The confirmed plan caps a case filed January 31, 2019 by a family-owned engineered heavy-lift, rigging and transport business with about 91 employees, operations tied to Columbus, Mississippi, Rosharon, Texas, Mobile and San Francisco, and petition-date debt of about $19.5 million secured plus $7.6 million unsecured. CFO Michael Tinsley attributed the filing to oil-and-gas market deterioration, new competition, PNC-driven borrowing constraints, and a Trustmark account freeze after a garnishment; the case was organized around preserving operations long enough to monetize assets. On May 30, the court approved a free-and-clear sale of substantially all assets to Barnhart Crane and Rigging Co. under a May 28 APA, leaving proceeds, claims reconciliation and litigation recoveries for the confirmed trust. source filing source filing source filing