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Argentina Faces Contempt Bid in U.S. YPF Case as Judge Partly Halts Asset Discovery

Plaintiffs press for sanctions over missing off‑channel communications to bolster an alter‑ego theory targeting state‑linked assets.

Overview

  • Petersen and Eton Park, financed by Burford Capital, proposed filing a contempt motion on January 15, with Argentina’s response on February 19 and a reply on March 5, and Judge Loretta Preska set follow-up hearings for January 10 and 29.
  • Preska ordered production of off‑channel chats and emails from current and former officials, including Luis Caputo and Pablo Quirno, and filings say several high-profile figures refused or did not respond while roughly half of those contacted have cooperated.
  • Argentina says it is not in contempt and has made partial productions, arguing many devices are personal and that access depends on individual consent rather than state compulsion.
  • In a separate step, Preska temporarily suspended portions of the alter‑ego discovery directed at YPF’s assets while appellate issues proceed, even as the underlying US$16.1 billion judgment remains on appeal at the Second Circuit.
  • Court filings and local reports note wider external litigation exposure above US$30 billion across New York, London and ICSID cases, including recent AES and Webuild awards that add to enforcement pressure.