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Judge orders trustee to take over former Hilton
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U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Jeffery Deller this morning ordered the appointment of a trustee to take over operations at the former Hilton Pittsburgh Downtown.
Judge Deller made the decision from the bench, saying he was fed up with the fighting between the attorneys for Shubh Hotels Pittsburgh LLC and lender BlackRock Financial Management over the hotel's fate.
"I'm putting an end to it," Judge Deller said. "We'll get someone in here totally neutral, not beholden to anyone."
The judge ordered the appointment after hearing from employees at the former Hilton, now known as the Wyndham Grand, who expressed concern about operations at the hotel.
The decision is a blow to the efforts by Tampa cardiologist Dr. Kiran C. Patel to take over the hotel.
His affiliates have been in charge of the Downtown landmark almost since the bankruptcy began in September.
He will now have to relinquish control to an outside party.
First Published January 31, 2011 11:33 am
