Hoffman and Shulse declined to comment.
After the sale, some creditors cried foul. For example, in a lawsuit filed in Louisiana state district court in April 2015 against Black Elk, Nordlicht and Platinum entities, contractor Shamrock Management accused Platinum of engaging in an "unethical scheme" to suck assets out of Black Elk and pay itself while stiffing creditors. The lawsuit seeks nearly $1 million for unpaid work and damages.
That lawsuit and more than a dozen others like it remain unresolved in the bankruptcy process, part of 261 claims totaling $1.2 billion. The person familiar with Platinum's position called the lawsuits a frivolous attempt to bilk Platinum of cash.