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HEI Inc. filed for chapter 11 protection on Sunday after declining sales triggered a review of strategic options for its business, Dow Jones Daily Bankruptcy Review reported today. A developer and manufacturer of microelectronics, substrates, electromechanical hardware and embedded software for the medical, telecommunications, military, aerospace and industrial markets, the Minneapolis-based company estimated its debts and assets at between $10 million and $50 million. Court papers said that the company will be seeking expedited consideration of motions that will allow it to continue its business while in bankruptcy.

Tengion Inc.’s struggle to stay afloat ended today when the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based regenerative-medicine company filed for voluntary chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, the Winston-Salem Journal reported today. The company said in a regulatory filing that a bankruptcy trustee will be appointed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and will be in charge of liquidating the company’s assets — namely its research for kidney and bladder regeneration. Tengion cut back drastically on expenses over the past three years, including eliminating 30 of its 52 jobs in November 2011. It was not clear how many full-time employees remained. The company warned in its third-quarter earnings report Nov. 14 that it had just $5.7 million remaining in cash, and funding options appeared increasingly limited.

Binder & Binder, one of the largest social security disability firms in the U.S., filed yesterday for chapter 11 protection, Reuters reported today. The firm listed assets and liabilities of between $10 million and $50 million in its bankruptcy filing. Binder & Binder, founded by brothers Harry and Charles Binder in 1975, represents people seeking disability benefits from the government. U.S. Bank National Association and Capital One have agreed to provide debtor-in-possession financing of up to $26 million, the filings showed.

A Chicago company that produces boxed meals and snacks filed for chapter 11 protection last week, citing lack of growth and a dispute between the company's board and its former director, Crain’s Chicago Business reported yesterday. GoPicnic Brands, whose products are available at more than 15,000 retail locations worldwide, plans to continue operating during the case. The company filed for bankruptcy Dec. 3.

Womenswear retailer Deb Stores Holding LLC joined clothing chains including Loehmann’s Inc. and Coldwater Creek Inc. in filing for bankruptcy, saying a shortage of capital left it with “old, tired stores,” Bloomberg News reported yesterday. The Philadelphia-based operator of Deb Shops sought chapter 11 protection yesterday with plans to close some stores and sell inventory if it can’t find a buyer for the business. The company specializes in juniors “fast fashion” and offers moderately priced clothing, accessories and shoes for young women. As of Sept. 30, it had 295 locations, according to court filings. The company said that it has been working jointly with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners and Hilco Merchant Resources on an agreement to liquidate merchandise and that it will seek approval to designate the venture as the stalking-horse bidder in a court-supervised auction.

Seneca BioEnergy LLC filed for chapter 11 protection with debts totaling more than $1 million, including $9,400 owed to the town of Romulus, N.Y., $4,700 to the local school district and $47,000 owed to the IRS for payroll taxes, the Rochester, N.Y., Democrat & Chronicle reported today. The company has been awarded — though not actually received — substantial pots of public money in recent years, including $7 million from the state. However, the company said that receiving those public dollars revolves around finding outside investors as well — which Seneca BioEnergy is still trying to do. According to the company, it plans on operating during the bankruptcy while restructuring to pay its debts.

The nonprofit board that runs a 122-year-old amusement park in northwestern Pennsylvania will file for chapter 11 protection to prevent a sheriff's sale scheduled for today, the Associated Press reported yesterday. The decision yesterday by the park's trustees comes a day after Crawford County Judge Anthony Vardaro rejected a motion by the state attorney general's motion aimed at stopping the sale to recoup more than $927,000 in taxes owed to the county and other entities. The attorney general opposed the sale because the park is a tax-exempt charitable trust, among other issues. Conneaut Lake Park's trustees still hope a financial reorganization will allow them to redevelop, revitalize and expand the facilities.

The owner of a shopping center in Boynton Beach, Fla., filed for chapter 11 to halt a foreclosure lawsuit by a subsidiary of BBX Capital Corp. and then filed a lawsuit against its lender, the South Florida Business Journal reported today. BankAtlantic hit Grove Plaza D and owners Jack Lupo, Dale Goldstein, Brian Horowitz, Gary Axelrod and Michael Rauch with a foreclosure lawsuit in 2012. After the bank was sold, the loan was assigned to Florida Asset Resolution Group, owned by former bank parent company BBX Capital in Fort Lauderdale. The litigation concerns the 12,236-square-foot retail plaza on 1.2 acres. The interest-only mortgage was made for $2.7 million in 2008, but it has ballooned to over $5 million with the default interest rate.

Bulldog Reporter, an Oakland, Calif.-based company that provided training and services for public relations professionals, recently filed for bankruptcy protection in California with liabilities of less than $1 million and assets of $178,220, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. Under the Bulldog Reporter and PR University brands, the company produced media directories, a daily online newsletter, webinars, live conferences and awards programs. Facing a severe cash shortage in August, the company laid off virtually all of its staff and shut down operations, filings show. Despite bringing in nearly $950,000 in sales as of this August and $1.48 million in sales last year, the company hadn’t turned a profit since at least 2012, it said in court filings.

Hutcheson Medical Center’s board of directors voted Wednesday night to file for chapter 11 protection, the Chattanooga Times Free Press reported today. Hutcheson has been unable to repay $20 million it borrowed from Erlanger Health System and is facing a threat of foreclosure. In January, Erlanger filed a civil lawsuit against Hutcheson, who was supposed to pay back the $20.5 million loan by Dec. 1 of last year.