Welcome to FleerABC.com

 GENERAL BACKGROUND

By May 31, 2005, both Fleer/Skybox International, LP and Fleer Collectibles, LLC had ceased all operations.  The assets of both companies have been assigned to Warren J. Martin Jr. (the "Assignee"), an attorney with Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C. in Morristown, NJ.  Martin specializes in bankruptcy and insolvency matters.

The Fleer Companies have not filed for bankruptcy protection.  Rather, they have commenced a state court proceeding called an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors (ABC), filed in the Probate Part, Chancery Division of the Burlington County, New Jersey, Superior Court.  The Assignee is charged with the task of marshaling the assets of the Estates and selling them for the highest and best value in order to pay creditors a share of what they are owed.  The amounts paid to creditors are governed by the creditor priority scheme set forth under the laws of the State of New Jersey.  Mr. Martin’s role, as Assignee, is similar to a Trustee’s role in a bankruptcy. 

All assets of the Estates will be liquidated.  Please bookmark and frequently check this website for the most up to date information regarding case filings, plans for the auction and sales of the Estates assets and information regarding distribution(s) to the creditors of the Estates.

Creditors who did not receive a claim form from the Assignee are asked to visit the “Documents” page of this site and download the appropriate claim form, complete it and return it to the Assignee with information (invoices or other documents) that substantiates the claim.

The Assignee thanks you in advance for your patience, understanding and cooperation as the liquidation moves forward.

ASSIGNEE UPDATE

As of March 27, 2006:
Redemption Card Program Completed

We are happy to report that Ara Collectibles, LLC ("AC, LLC") has informed the Assignee that it has completed the redemption card program, utilizing approximately 150,000 autographed and event/game used cards to fulfill nearly 50,000 redemption requests.  Collectors should allow until April 3, 2006 to receive their cards.  It may take slightly longer for cards sent internationally to arrive.  The Assignee?s Office and the Burlington County Office of Consumer Affairs extensively monitored the process, and have been satisfied with the fulfillment program, implemented by AC, LLC.

Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, AC, LLC, which purchased over 305,000 cards from the Assignee, has slightly more than half of these cards remaining after completion of the redemption program.  As a result, collectors may see AC, LLC selling Fleer cards through various outlets such as collectible shows or online auction services.  AC, LLC owns these cards, as per their purchase agreement with the Assignee, and is within its rights to sell them.

To reiterate the terms of the program, redemption cardholders should have received 1 autographed card and 2 game/event-used cards, for each redemption card that was on file with Fleer.

The program was completed in a random fashion with no regard to the alleged value of the original redemption card, as approved by the Court on January 17, 2006.  AC, LLC did not know the exact cards owed to collectors, only the sport.  Efforts were made to send collectors the same sport; however, at the end of the program, due to autograph shortages, basketball autographs may have been substituted for some football and baseball collectors.  Collectors cannot exchange their cards.

Any cardholders who did not receive the correct amount of redemption cards should contact the Assignee at fleer@pbnlaw.com or by calling (973) 889-4096.

The Assignee also continues to receive unfulfilled redemption cards.  The deadline to submit redemption cards was originally October 31, 2005.  The database was then subsequently closed on January 17, 2006, as part of the redemption card program motion. 

Please be aware that redemption cards, issued by Fleer Skybox International, LP, not submitted to the Assignee by the deadline, are no longer valid and cannot be submitted for fulfillment.  This includes redemption cards that remain in sealed product issued by Fleer Skybox International, LP.  (NOTE: This does not include Fleer redemption cards issued by Upper Deck.  Upper Deck redemption cardholders should follow Upper Deck's terms, conditions and procedures in order to obtain their cards.)

The Assignee also continues to receive NPN requests for old Fleer/Skybox International, LP product.  The Assignee has no product to send in response to these requests.

As of February 9, 2006:
The Redemption Card Program Has Started

The Assignee's redemption card program has commenced and cards are being sent on a rolling basis to redemption cardholders.  The goal is to have the program completed by the end of March 2006.  Any redemption card request not in the database, as of the Court?s January 17, 2006 Order, are not part of the redemption card program.  Collectors should stop sending redemption card requests to the Assignee, Ara Collectibles and/or the former Fleer P.O. Boxes listed on the cards, as they will not be honored.

The following should be noted about the redemption card program itself.  To contribute to the randomness of the redemption card program (as fully described in the motion filed by the Assignee), the database turned over to Ara Collectibles only contained the name, street address and sport of the card(s) owed.  Ara Collectibles has no information about the specific card that was submitted by the cardholder.  Further, the year of the card will also be random.

It has come to the Assignee?s attention that unreleased 2005 Fleer branded football cards, not issued by Upper Deck, have entered the marketplace.  Any redemption cards from this issue are not part of the redemption card program and cannot be submitted.  Further, collectors should not send in NPN?s for this or any Fleer product as they will not be honored. NPN's and redemption cards for Fleer branded product, produced by Upper Deck, should be sent to Upper Deck under the terms and conditions on their cards and packaging.

Questions about the redemption card program should be directed to the Assignee?s office and not Upper Deck, as Upper Deck is no way involved in this process.

As of January 17, 2006:
The Redemption Card Program is Approved, The Database is Closed

Today, the Redemption Card Program was approved by the Court.  Ara Collectibles (Cherry Hill, NJ) will be completing the program.  Those who are owed redemption cards and appear in the Fleer database will receive (1) autographed card and two (2) game-used/memorabilia cards, at random, for each card they are owed.  The cards will be from the same sport they submitted for.  A copy of the Order can be found on the Documents page, Tab 73.0.  The goal is to complete the program by March or April of this year.

As of January 12, 2006:
Redemption Card Motion Hearing Adjourned a Second Time

The Redemption Card hearing scheduled for Friday, January 13, 2006 has been adjourned to Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.  Thomas Fish of Frontline Collectibles filed an objection to the motion just prior to the hearing date, which triggered the adjournment.  Further, the Distribution motion in the Fleer Collectibles case was also moved to Tuesday?s hearing.  Please keep an eye on Fleerabc.com for additional information.

As of December 13, 2005:
Redemption Card Motion Hearing Adjourned

 A NOTE TO REDEMPTION CARD HOLDERS

As of November 7, 2005 

The Assignee understands that Fleer/Skybox International LP engaged in an industry practice where certain trading cards that contain autographs and/or pieces of game used sports equipment of the featured player(s) were randomly inserted into packs of trading cards.  When a specific group of trading cards for a certain player(s) were not available “Redemption Cards” were inserted into packs, in place of the actual card.  Those who receieved “Redemption Cards” were instructed to return them to Fleer/Skybox International to exchange them for the actual card. 

The Assignee has filed with the Court that will attempt to fairly address the claims of redemption card holders.  Please see document #63 (Fleer/Skybox Docket) on Documents Page of the website. 

Redemption cardholders are still invited to file a Proof of Claim, as a creditor of Fleer/Skybox International LP.  These forms are located under the documents section of this website.  As the forms must have original signatures, they cannot be electronically mailed to the Assignee.  Further, those cardholders under the age of 18 must have their forms completed by a parent or guardian.  Those filing claims should sign the original redemption card and send a photocopy of both sides of the signed redemption card attached to the claim.  If you wish to assign a value to your claim, the Assignee understands that market values for “Redemption Cards” may be listed in independent trading card price guides.  Those using these price guides to assign value to the claim should include a copy of the page supporting the value claimed including the source of the information.  Multiple cards can be attached to one claim form with the total value of all cards submitted listed in the “Unsecured Debt” section of the form.  At this time, it is unknown if the Estates will have enough assets to pay these unsecured claims in full, if at all.

Further, if a cardholder has already sent in their redemption card(s) to Fleer or the Assignee your name should already be included in the database of unfullfilled redemption cards.

NOTICE TO REDEMPTION CARD HOLDERS FROM THE
BURLINGTON COUNTY (NJ) DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS: 

If you have any consumer complaints that you wish to pursue, please contact the Burlington County Department of Consumer Affairs prior to contacting other agencies.  Please be able to provide some proof that you submitted a redemption card to Fleer, and direct all complaints to:

Joseph T Threston, III, Assistant Director
Burlington County Consumer Affairs
49 Rancocas Road, P.O. Box 6000
Mount Holly, NJ 08060-6000
Phone Number: (609) 265-5190
Fax Number: (609) 265-5065
Click here for their website.

The Assignee’s contact information is as follows:

Warren J. Martin Jr.
c/o Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C.
100 Southgate Parkway
Morristown, NJ 07962-1997
(973) 889-4096 Voice
(973) 538-5146 Fax
fleer@pbnlaw.com

The Court’s contact information is as follows:
Attention Clerk
Burlington County Superior Court
Chancery Division
49 Rancocas Road
Mt. Holly, NJ 08060
(609) 518-2510

Please reference:
Fleer/Skybox International LP
Docket # P-2005-1394
Fleer Collectibles, LLC
Docket # P-2005-1408

 This site was last updated on November 1, 2007.  If you encounter any technical problems with the site please advise Mathew D. Laskowski, Senior Paralegal to Warren J. Martin Jr. at mdlaskowski@fleerabc.com. Thank you.

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