Windstream indemnified officer and directors against lawsuits for actions they take on behalf of the company. That is, Windstream agreed to provide a legal defense for these people and to pay any legal judgements they have to pay. This is standard policy at all companies.
Former Earthlink shareholders filed a class action lawsuit against Windstream, its officers and directors and Earthlink's former officers and directors about the deal they got in the merger.
Obviously, that Windstream indemnification is a problem in bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy automatically put the lawsuit against Windstream on hold. It did not "stay" (put on hold) the suit against the individuals, however.
Windstream is asking the court to stay the shareholder lawsuits against the individuals, too:
http://www.kccllc.net/windstream/document/1922312190405000000000027