The unique purpose and role of a special committee in Delaware corporate law has been exhaustively examined by courts. But far less explored are the questions of whether a special committee of the board of directors of a corporation is a separate entity from the corporation itself for purposes of privilege or other matters, and whether the debtor may access privileged special committee materials during or following bankruptcy.
Because a trustee suing to recover a fraudulent transfer is acting in the interest of creditors, not the debtor, the in pari delicto defense does not apply, says Bankruptcy Judge Scott Clarkson.