An attempt by a Worcester property developer to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy has been blocked by a federal judge, amid allegations of forgery.
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An attempt by a Worcester property developer to file for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy has been blocked by a federal judge, amid allegations of forgery.
A voluntary filing for bankruptcy in April was made in the names of Daniel and Rebecca Yarnie, the developers behind Sutton-based Polar Views, a firm in charge of a number of stalled development projects in Worcester.
The case relating to the bankruptcy was dismissed on May 5, amid an allegation that Daniel Yarnie forged the signature of Rebecca Yarnie as part of the filing.
Neither Daniel nor Rebecca Yarnie responded to WBJ requests for comment.
Judge Elizabeth Katz dismissed the bankruptcy case on May 5, citing the fact the filing failed to include several required documents, according to U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts records.
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The dismissal came amid a request from a creditor to lift and annul the automatic stay relating to the bankruptcy, so that several April foreclosure sales on Yarnie-owned properties would remain valid.
A motion filed by an attorney representing Trustee of QS Lending Two Trust Steven Ross argued the stay should be lifted, saying Ross was not notified of the attempt to file for bankruptcy and that Daniel Yarnie had forged the signature of his wife in order to make the Chapter 11 filing.
Generally, Chapter 11 filings lead to a stay that initiates as soon as someone files for bankruptcy, temporarily stopping most efforts by creditors to collect debts or take property.
An affidavit from Rebecca Yarnie filed as part of the motion said the married couple is undergoing a divorce and Daniel Yarnie forged her signature in order to complete the Chapter 11 filing for their joint assets.
Gary Hogan, the attorney from Quincy-based law firm Mirrione, Shaughnessy & Uitti representing Ross, declined to comment.
Under federal law, making a false or fraudulent representation as part of a bankruptcy filing is punishable by up to five years in prison. Massachusetts law governing forgery of legal documents allows for a prison term of up to 10 years.
No charges have been filed against Daniel Yarnie as of Monday, according to a review of federal and state court records.
Katz granted Ross’ motion for a stay, allowing the foreclosure sales to remain valid. The allegations of the forged signature were not directly addressed by Katz’s ruling.
Multiple Polar Views properties in Worcester slated for development have sat dormant, including a partially-built, 12-unit building at 40-42 Hooper St.
At 119-125 Chandler St., the firm had planned a six-story apartment building first announced in 2025, but the original building at the site, which Polar Views had painted pink and covered with murals, remains otherwise untouched.
Among other projects, Polar Views had plans for a four-story apartment building at 10 Grosvenor St.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the real estate and banking & finance industries.
