U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Burton R. Lifland Dies

www.wsj.com – U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Burton R. Lifland, who was overseeing the continuing wind-down of assets related to the Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Bernard Madoff, has died, writes Stephanie Gleason and Joseph Checkler.

Judge Lifland died Sunday, according to Vito Genna, clerk of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan.

The former chief of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York oversaw such cases as video retailer Blockbuster Inc., power company Calpine Corp. (CPN) and auto suppliers Dana Corp. and Delphi Corp.

Before a LightSquared Inc. hearing at which Dish Network Corp. Chairman Charles Ergen is expected to testify, Judge Shelley C. Chapman announced the news to a courtroom full of lawyers. Calling him a “beloved colleague,” she said Judge Lifland was riding his bike as recently as two or three weeks ago. Judge Chapman then left the courtroom and said she would begin her Monday hearing.

Judge Lifland graduated from Syracuse University in 1951 and received his law degree from Fordham University in 1954.

Prior to taking the bench in 1980, he practiced law with three law firms: Lifland, Marcus & Angel, Levy, Levy & Ruback and Finley, Kumble, Wagner, Heine, Underberg & Casey. He also previously held the role of chief judge of the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Second Circuit.