SEC Attempts to Eliminate Fiduciary Duty Element of Insider Trading

The Harvard Law School Corporate Governance Blog has a post here about recent cases where the SEC argues that breach of a confidentiality agreement can be the basis for an insider trading claim even when there is no underlying fiduciary duty.

Chancery Addresses Fiduciary Claims by Bankruptcy Trustee; Claim Survives Against Financial Advisor for Aiding and Abetting Fiduciary Duty Breach

In Shandler v. DLJ Merchant Banking, Inc., C.A. No. 4797-VCS (Del. Ch. July 26, 2010), read opinion here, the Delaware Court of Chancery, in a 47-page opinion, addressed fiduciary duty claims brought against the controlling shareholder of a bankrupt company as well … Continue reading

Court of Chancery Construes Stockholders Agreement and Proxy Agreement to Determine Constituency of Board in Section 225 Case

In this 50-page post-trial decision, the Court of Chancery in TR Investors, LLC v. Genger, C.A. No. 3994-VCS (July 23, 2010), read opinion here, held that: (1) defendant Arie Genger (“Genger”), the founder and former majority owner of Trans-Resources, Inc. … Continue reading

Court Addresses Insurance Coverage for Claims Arising out of Madoff Ponzi Scheme

In a July 23, 2010 opinion in Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co., et al., v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s of London, et al., C.A. No. 4791-VCL (July 23, 2010), read opinion here, the Court of Chancery, following Massachusetts law, denied … Continue reading

Court of Chancery Addresses Dissolution Issues for Small Start-Up Corporation

In Grimm v. Beach Fries, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 931-VCN (Del. Ch. April 21, 2010), read decision here, the Court issued this post-trial decision in an action for dissolution of a Delaware corporation. Kevin Brady of the Connolly Bove firm prepared … Continue reading

Chancery Provides “Teachable Moment” for M & A Lawyers: Find Problems of Bidder in Due Diligence or Put Specific Reps in APA; Otherwise No Fraud Claim

Airborne Health, Inc. v. Squid Soap, L.P., C.A. No. 4410-VCL (Del. Ch. July 20, 2010), read opinion here.  Prior Delaware Court of Chancery decisions in this case were highlighted here. Overview This case involves a claim against the purchaser of a company and its … Continue reading

Chancery Refuses to Remove Conflicted Arbitrator Chosen by Parties

Milton Investments, LLC v. Lockwood Brothers II, LLC, C.A. No. 4909-VCP (Del Ch. July 20, 2010), read opinion here. This 38-page opinion by the Delaware Court of Chancery addressed two issues that are of practical importance to business litigators. Procedurally it is noteworthy that … Continue reading

New York Federal Court Applies Delaware Law to Deny Motion to Dismiss Breach of Fiduciary Duty Claims Regarding Pfizer’s Alleged “Off-Labeling” Marketing

On July 14, 2010, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, in the case of In Re: Pfizer Inc. Shareholder Derivative Litigation, C.A. No. 09 Civ. 7822 (JSR), read opinion here, issued a decision which denied … Continue reading

Company Defenses to Shareholder Proxy Access

Prof. J. W. Verret previews an upcoming article he is writing on the above topic based on Delaware corporate law, which is especially timely in light of the new shareholder proxy access provisions of the new Dodd-Frank Bill that just passed. Here … Continue reading

Chancery Dismisses Claim that Acquirer Aided and Abetted Breach of Revlon Duty Based on Merger Payments to Preferred Holders and Zero Received by Common Stockholders

In Morgan v. Cash, C. A. No. 5053-VCS (Del. Ch. July 16, 2010), read opinion here, the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed a claim that the acquirer of a small software company aided and abetted the directors of the acquired company to breach their fiduciary duties … Continue reading