If I was party to a lawsuit in which a company like Homejoy was the defendant, and a similar situation happened, I'd definitely be interested in finding out how one of it's co-founders "acquired" the customer database / IP, for how much, if it went to public tender, and if not, why not -- and I'd certainly be asking a judge to join whatever the new entity is called to the case as a co-defendant with shared liability.

It's at the very least dishonest if not of questionable legality to shut down your old company to try to avoid lawsuits and / or debts, start a new company and sell yourself your old assets. I really hope that isn't what you're doing / did. Because that would be pretty low-brow kind of stuff.