Fawn Weaver
DUANE SHERRILL
Editor
Embattled whiskey giant Nearest Green has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with owner Fawn Weaver vowing that their creditors have spun a false web of untruths about their business, which she believes will be exposed by the light of day during bankruptcy hearings. However, the receiver overseeing the company is now seeking to revoke the bankruptcy filings and is asking the federal court sanction Weaver for her actions.
Nearest Green has been under federal receivership for the better part of the year. The relationship between the Weavers and the federally-appointed receiver has been contentious for the most part with both sides pointing fingers at the other as the receiver wanted to strengthen its oversight on Shelbyville-based distiller while the Weavers wanted out of receivership, believing it was hurting their business. Under the Chapter 11 filing the Weavers are now looking to reorganize their debt so they can continue their brand.
However, the receiver in the case is asking for sanctions against Fawn Weaver, claiming she has thumbed her nose at the federal court by not only filing for bankruptcy but also by going to the media.
“Despite the clear orders of this Court that the Receiver, and only the Receiver, could act on behalf of the receivership entities, on March 17, 2026, Defendant Fawn Weaver signed and filed bankruptcy petitions on behalf of Uncle Nearest, Inc., Nearest Green Distillery Inc., and Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holdings, LLC in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Knoxville Division,” the receiver wrote in his filing asking that sanctions be brought against her. “Further exacerbating matters, Defendant Fawn Weaver went on a media blitz immediately afterward announcing end of this Court’s ordered receivership. Ms. Weaver also released a six minute Instagram video discussing her filing of the unauthorized petitions. A copy of this video can be supplied to the Court upon its request. This follows a troubling pattern about which the Receiver has previously warned this Court, of Ms. Weaver ignoring this Court’s orders to refrain from trying this case in the media and/or social media.”
The receiver further revealed steps are being taken to dismiss the unauthorized bankruptcies.
“Ms. Weaver has continually and consistently violated this Court’s direct orders against trying this case in the court of social media; the Receiver has pointed out these violations previously. These actions, standing alone, are sanctionable,” the receiver wrote. “However, today’s unauthorized bankruptcy filings on behalf of Uncle Nearest, Inc., Nearest Green Distillery Inc., and Uncle Nearest Real Estate Holdings, LLC in clear violation of the Receivership Order are beyond the pale. These actions require immediate and severe sanctions by this Court – not only because they are intentional and knowing violations of this Court’s orders, but because they have caused significant and irreparable damage to the companies that the Receiver has been ordered to protect.”
The receiver is suggesting a fine of $25,000 per unauthorized filing for a total of $75,000 in sanctions.
However, the receiver isn’t the only one seeking legal remedy as Nearest Green has filed a lawsuit against its largest creditor, Farm Credit Mid-America, in the Supreme Court of the state of New York alleging the lender engaged in a smear campaign against the brand by knowingly circulating false accusations including claims of missing inventory, financial misconduct, negative cash flow and insolvency.
“Many who read the headlines are concerned about the allegations of financial irregularities,” Weaver said in her social media post made after filing Chapter 11. “If I were just reading the headlines or just the bank’s allegations I’d be concerned too.”
She said one reason she went ahead with filing bankruptcy is that it requires complete transparency.
“In that courtroom no one gets to hide behind filings or accusations without proof,” she said. “The picture that has been painted about Uncle Nearest will now have to be proven through numbers that add up – not words.”
She pointed out that Chapter 11 has allowed many major companies to stay alive through hard times and to later thrive. She referred to Delta Airlines, Marvel, General Motors, American Airlines and Hertz as some success stories that came after Chapter 11 was filed.
In her social media post, Weaver admitted she should have acted sooner.
“I wish I had but I can’t go back and change the past,” she said. “What I can do is make better decisions moving forward.”
She maintained that the legacy of Nearest Green is far bigger than the headlines.
“Situations like the one we went through would have ended most companies,” she said. “The mission we launched in 2017 is still alive. Uncle Nearest is more than a whiskey – it’s a legacy.”