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The Catholic Diocese of Stockton, Calif., announced yesterday that it will file on Wednesday for chapter 11 protection, the Modesto (Calif.) Bee reported today. The move affects only the diocesan budget and property and will not have an impact on the individually incorporated parishes or ministries, Bishop Stephen Blaire said. The creditors, mostly victims of sexual abuse by priests, are expected to challenge that statement. The Stockton Diocese becomes the tenth in the country and the second in the California to file for chapter 11 protection. In June 2013, Blaire said the diocesan reserve account, which has been used to pay such lawsuits, totaled about $10 million when he took over as bishop in 1999, but has been depleted to less than $1 million. On Monday, diocesan officials said its total assets are about $15 million, with $17 million in liabilities.

Evergreen International Airlines Inc., a provider of air freight and transport services, sought bankruptcy protection yesterday two weeks after creditors asked a court to force the company to pay off its debt, Bloomberg News reported yesterday. The bankruptcy petition cited as much as $100 million in assets and as much as $500 million in debt. Some creditors filed papers on Dec. 17 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Brooklyn, N.Y., seeking to force McMinnville, Ore.-based Evergreen to pay its bills, according to the Delaware petition. Also seeking chapter 7 protection were affiliates Supertanker Services Inc. and Evergreen Defense and Security Services Inc.

A New Jersey-based aluminum company has filed for chapter 11 protection, which has led to it removing an asbestos lawsuit filed against it in Kanawha County (W.Va.) Circuit Court to federal court, the West Virginia Record reported today. Consolidated Aluminum Corp., which ceased operations in 1994, declared bankruptcy on Dec. 15. The company still exists to manage litigation against it. According to its bankruptcy petition, the company has between 100-199 creditors but only between $500,001 and $1 million in assets. Its largest creditor is Lonza America, to which it owes more than $72 million for an intercompany loan.

Constar International Holdings LLC, a maker of plastic soda bottles, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the third time since 2008, citing a slowdown in business, and plans to sell its assets, Bloomberg News reported yesterday. The Trevose, Pa.-based company listed assets of as much as $100 million and debt as high as $500 million in court papers filed yesterday. Constar is seeking a speedy sale, with Amcor Rigid Plastics USA Inc. the lead bidder, at an undisclosed opening auction price, according to the filings.

Fox & Hound Restaurant Group filed for chapter 11 protection to sell its assets through a court process, as weakening profit and cash shortage hurt the sports bar and pub operator, Reuters reported yesterday. F&H Acquisition Corp, parent of Fox & Hound, listed out assets and liabilities in the range of $100 million to $500 million. The parent operates sports bars and casual family dining restaurants under the Fox & Hound and Champps brands. Besides Fox & Hound, 41 of F&H's affiliates also filed for bankruptcy protection. F&H also sought court approval for a DIP financing, which will provide it with a revolving credit facility of about $3.5 million on an interim basis and about $9.6 million on a final basis.

EnCap Investment LP’s Robert Zorich has the bankruptcy court’s approval to complete his $1.7 million purchase of a large chunk of Alma Rosa Winery’s vineyards, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. Although the winery is under new ownership, perhaps little about the pinot noir wines, made famous in the movie “Sideways,” will change. The deal plans for hall-of-fame winemaker Richard Sanford to continue producing wine on the property as an employee. The sale is still contingent on the approval of Sanford’s lender, Deutsche Bank National Trust, owed $2.6 million. The bank has filed a motion of no opposition, indicating it’s largely in favor of the deal.

Loehmann’s Holdings Inc., the New York-based seller of discounted designer goods operated by Whippoorwill Associates Inc., sought bankruptcy protection for a third time amid growing competition from discount chains, Bloomberg News reported today. Loehmann’s listed assets of as much as $100 million and debt of as much as $500 million in a chapter 11 petition filed bankruptcy court yesterday. Started by Frieda Loehmann in Brooklyn in 1921, the chain’s 40 stores in 11 states sell designer goods with discounts from 30 percent to 65 percent, according to the company’s website. Loehmann’s carries brands such as Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. U.S. retailers’ sales dropped during the economic slump that began in 2007 as consumers, whose spending accounts for about 70 percent of the U.S. economy, tried to conserve cash. Loehmann’s previously filed for chapter 11 protection in May 1999.

Star Dynamics Corp., an Ohio defense contractor that has been embroiled in a legal battle with a BAE Systems PLC subsidiary for the last year, has filed for chapter 11 protection with a plan to sell its assets, Dow Jones Newswires reported yesterday. The company said in court documents filed on Tuesday that in July 2013, a state court issued an interim injunction preventing it from bidding on certain contracts identified by BAE and from developing a radar system. BAE had alleged "misappropriation of secrets," but most of the proceedings aren't public due to the nature of Star's and BAE's businesses. Although the order hasn't become final and Star said that it is objecting, the fight has drained resources during a time of industry-wide plight caused by cuts to federal spending. With more than $50.9 million in debt, Star decided that a bankruptcy sale of its assets was the best option.

Cielo Vineyards & Winery LLC filed for chapter 11 protection citing $1,000,001 to $10 million in assets and the same figure in liabilities, the Sacramento Business Journal reported yesterday. Though the winery’s website describes it as having 41 acres, only about 18 are actually planted vineyards at the moment. Among the list of creditors, the largest single amounts are for a total of $1.63 million to three individuals or entities whose claim is on the 21.6 acres of undeveloped land.

Fisker Automotive Inc., whose $103,000 luxury hybrid car was driven by celebrities including Justin Bieber and Leonardo DiCaprio, filed for bankruptcy with plans to sell itself to Hybrid Tech Holdings LLC, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. The Anaheim, Calif.-based company listed assets of as much as $500 million and debt of as much as $1 billion in a chapter 11 petition filed yesterday in bankruptcy court. Assets include a shuttered General Motors Co. factory in Wilmington that Fisker had planned to reopen. Safety recalls, a battery supplier that went bankrupt and shipments lost to Hurricane Sandy all contributed to the company’s financial woes, Henrik Fisker, the auto designer who co-founded the company, told Congress in a hearing April 24. A House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee scrutinized a $529 million federal loan granted to Fisker in 2009, questioning why the government had made it in the first place and what the company would do to repay taxpayers. Fisker missed its first payment on the low-interest U.S. loan on April 22. It had drawn about $193 million of the loan before being cut off by the U.S. Energy Department for missing milestones.