Bankruptcy court ruling goes against retired Heinz chief O’Reilly
A U.S. bankruptcy judge in Pittsburgh has denied a motion by retired H.J. Heinz chairman and CEO Sir Anthony O’Reilly to have his bankruptcy case in the Bahamas recognized in U.S. courts.
The ruling is a blow to the former billionaire’s efforts to block his former personal nurse, Sabina Vidunas, from restarting her civil case that alleges he reneged on a promise to give her tens of millions of dollars worth of stock as compensation after he hired her in 1995.
Her lawsuit, filed in federal court in Pittsburgh in 2013, has been on hold pending developments in the bankruptcy case. Ms. Vidunas filed a motion in October seeking to reopen her case.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jeffery A. Deller left open the door for Mr. O’Reilly’s attorneys to refile their motion to have his bankruptcy case recognized, but on less favorable grounds. Those grounds would make it harder for Mr. O’Reilly to keep Ms. Vidunas’ case from moving forward.
Neither Mr. O’Reilly’s nor Ms. Vidunas’ attorneys returned emails Monday seeking comment.
Once Ireland’s richest businessman and America’s highest-paid CEO, Mr. O’Reilly filed for bankruptcy in 2015 after accumulating massive debts through failed investments in publishing and Ireland’s Waterford Wedgwood luxury goods group.
Court records indicate that Mr. O’Reilly, 82, who lives in France, is in poor health and unable to travel.