Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer airs frustrations with Smurfit-Stone over lack of communication

When the U.S. Bankruptcy Court convenes in Delaware on Friday to discuss Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.’s http://www.smurfit.com/content/ plan to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the judge could get an earful from the state of Montana.

For the first time in the bankruptcy proceedings, Montana interests will have legal representation.

The California-based firm Steptoe & Johnson LLP has been hired by the Missoula Area Economic Development Corp. to protect the company’s Montana creditors and to help the court understand what the mill closure means to the state.

On Thursday, Gov. Brian Schweitzer http://governor.mt.gov/ wrote a frustration-filled letter to Smurfit’s chief executive officer. If an opportunity presents itself Friday, that letter likely will be read to the bankruptcy judge in an effort to best describe the difficulties Montana interests have had in working with Smurfit.

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_37eaa528-0c8c-11df-8119-001cc4c03286.html

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Debts, future of mill in spotlight with Smurfit-Stone set to detail bankruptcy plan

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

Full Story: http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_64946082-0c8c-11df-8930-001cc4c03286.html