In Re Johns-Manville Corp., 449 B.R. 31

Travelers sought to appeal a Bankruptcy Court order compelling payment of settled proceeds totaling $102,167,212.31.
Common Law Settlement Counsel sought to certify two appeals to the Second Circuit under 28 U.S.C. § 158(d)(2)(A)(i)-(iii).
One appeal concerns the payment order; the other concerns a contempt order for Travelers' failure to pay while appealing.
The motion argued the appeals involve a matter of public importance and would advance the case, warranting direct appeal.
Judge Koeltl denied certification for both appeals, holding none met § 158(d)(2) requirements.
Final judgment had been issued by the Bankruptcy Court; expedited review through direct appeal was not justified.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
Whether the payment-order appeal qualifies for immediate appeal	Common Law Settlement Counsel: meets 'public importance' and 'advance progress'.	Travelers: not a matter of public importance; no expedited progress.	Denied certification for the payment-order appeal.
Whether the contempt-order appeal qualifies for immediate appeal	Common Law Settlement Counsel: argues immediacy due to contempt issue.	Travelers: not argued to meet § 158(d)(2) criteria.	Denied certification for the contempt-order appeal.
Whether either appeal should be certified under § 158(d)(2) for public-interest purposes or to advance the case	Common Law Settlement Counsel asserts public importance and advancement.	Travelers contends none meet the statutory criteria.	Certification denied; neither appeal satisfies § 158(d)(2).

In re Gen. Motors Corp., 409 B.R. 24 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 2009) (private-contract questions not a 'matter of public importance' for certification)
Weber v. U.S. Trustee, 484 F.3d 154 (2d Cir. 2007) (speed not intended to trump comprehensive appellate review)
In re Johns-Manville Corp., 440 B.R. 604 (Bankr.S.D.N.Y. 2010) (illustrates limits of expedited appeals in bankruptcy context)