Roger P. Poorman
Associate
Phone |
(814) 536-0735 |
Fax |
(814) 539-1423 |
Roger P. Poorman is an associate in Spence Custer’s bankruptcy, bankruptcy trustee, and civil litigation departments. Roger’s bankruptcy practice includes representation of both debtors and creditors in a wide range of cases, from individual consumer liquidation matters to complex commercial reorganizations. Roger’s civil litigation practice includes representation of both plaintiffs and defendants in primarily commercial matters.
Representative Matters:
- Successfully recovered “stub rent” and other lease obligations as administrative priority claims in some of the largest retail tenant bankruptcy cases on the East Coast, including:
- Stone Barn Manhattan, LLC (f/k/a Steve & Barry’s Manhattan, LLC)
- KB Toys, Inc.
- Linens ‘n Things
- B. Moss Clothing Company, Ltd.
- Blockbuster, Inc.
- Trade Secret, Inc.
- The Penn Traffic Company
- Obtained Chapter 11 Plan Confirmation on behalf of landlord that allowed landlord to retain all assets while simultaneously reducing landlord’s secured debts by over 50% and unsecured debts by approximately 95%.
- Recovered approximately $200,000.00 on behalf of local hospital’s bankruptcy estate as a preferential transfer from hospital’s former management company.
- Serving as counsel to the Chapter 7 Trustee, Roger successfully pursued, negotiated and obtained a favorable settlement of an avoidance action against “insider” creditors and a competing bond company. Case involved dispute over “insider” status and whether transferred funds constituted property of the estate.
- In another Trustee matter, Roger negotiated a settlement of over 87% of the face value of a claim for a debtor’s pre-petition preferential transfer of tens of thousands of dollars worth of automobiles and diamonds to a non-insider third party.
- Obtained special exception to local ordinance requiring payment of a licensing fee by out-of-town business on behalf of Philadelphia-area book business.
- Obtained favorable arbitration award on behalf of job placement agency that recruited and placed accounting professionals in a Pittsburgh-area businesses when businesses failed to pay the agreed-upon compensation to job placement agency, and successfully defended job placement agency against company’s counterclaim for alleged failure to return retainer.
Reported Cases:
- In re Stone Barn Manhattan LLC, 398 B.R. 359 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2008)
- In re Bosack, 454 B.R. 625 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. 2011)
- In re Free, 2012 WL 640756 (Bankr. W.D. Pa. 2012)
Experience:
- 2006-2007: Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA (law clerk)
- 2007-2008: Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl, LLC, Pittsburgh, PA (associate)
- 2008 to present: Spence, Custer, Saylor, Wolfe & Rose, L.L.C., Johnstown, PA (associate)
Legal Education:
- J.D., Duquesne University School of Law, Class of 2007 (cum laude)
Undergraduate Education:
- B.A., Lebanon Valley College, Class of 2004 (cum laude)
Professional Admissions:
- Allegheny County Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Blair County Bar Association
- Cambria County Bar Association
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Court Admissions:
- All Courts, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
Professional Affiliations:
- Zone 8 Representative, Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division (2010-present)
Interest and Activities:
Roger is a native of Ephrata, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and now resides in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Roger was elected captain of his college football team and received the John Zola Memorial Award for outstanding leadership during his senior year. In his free time, Roger enjoys watching and playing sports and outdoor activities.