The move by the Little Rock-based rural telecom company to seek protection from its creditors comes after a Feb. 15 ruling by U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman who said Windstream defaulted on some of its bonds in 2015 when it spun off real estate investment trust Uniti Group Inc. Actions by Windstream subsidiary Windstream Services amounted to a breach of its financial covenants, making Aurelius Capital Management, a New York hedge fund, entitled to a $310 million judgment, Furman said. Windstream had warned a defeat could lead to bankruptcy or liquidation.