A federal judge Wednesday, Feburary 17, 2010, cleared the way for newspaper owner Morris Publishing Group to emerge from bankruptcy protection less than a month after it filed under Chapter 11. Morris Publishing, owner of 13 daily newspapers including The Augusta Chronicle and Savannah Morning News, sped through the court after a year spent formulating a plan to shed $288.5 million in debt -- or about 70 percent of its total of $415 million -- and winning approval from the vast majority of its creditors. Judge John S. Dalis took less than 20 minutes Wednesday to approve Morris' prepackaged debt restructuring proposal after hearing no objections from creditors. The plan lets Morris' owners keep control of the privately held company, with creditors receiving no equity. Top-tier lenders will be repaid in full, while holders of $278.5 million in unsecured bonds will recoup 36 cents on the dollar. Neal Gerber Eisenberg Financial Restructuring and Bankruptcy Practice Group partner and chair Mark A. Berkoff is cited in a February 17, 2010 New York Times article.