3M Unit Gets Debtor-Friendly Bankruptcy Venue in Indianapolis

The Indianapolis bankruptcy court isn’t the typical venue for large corporate Chapter 11 cases, but its business-friendly legal findings have made it the logical choice for 3M Co.'s Aearo Technologies LLC to try to resolve widespread litigation over allegedly faulty combat earplugs.

Large bankruptcies have gravitated to a few venues in the US—those in Delaware, New York, and Houston—where judges have a reputation for efficiently resolving complex issues with high financial stakes. But in the Seventh Circuit, which encompasses the Indianapolis court where the Aearo bankruptcy is pending, 3M—which is not itself in bankruptcy—has found a jurisdiction known for allowing ...