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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 as its board of directors and financial advisor.

Overview.

Shandler was appointed by the Bankruptcy

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. (“Trans-Resources”) violated a Stockholders’ Agreement by a transfer of shares; (2) the transfer was

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 certain defendant insurance carriers’ motion to dismiss a complaint which seeks, among other things

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 major law firm for fraud in connection with an Asset Purchase Agreement (APA). The

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 within about 6 weeks of the complaint being filed, cross-motions for summary judgment

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 in part the defendants’ motion to dismiss a derivative complaint alleging, among

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 is the link.

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 in connection with not obtaining the highest value for the company as required

Prof. Stephen Bainbridge discusses here the aspects of Delaware corporate law impacted by the recent offer of Hugh Hefner, as a controlling shareholder of the Playboy company, to freeze-out or otherwise purchase the remaining shares that he does not own already. The good professor also links to the analysis and commentary of other scholars on