A recent Delaware Court of Chancery opinion provides a reminder of the limited jurisdiction of Delaware’s court of equity and why not all suits for declaratory judgment satisfy the narrow subject matter jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery. See Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. v. Genentech, Inc., C.A. No. 2018-0384-MTZ (Del. Ch. Mar. 26, 2019). Background: … Continue Reading
A recent seminal decision of the Delaware Court of Chancery must be included in the lexicon of every lawyer who wants to understand the boundaries of Delaware law on forum-selection clauses in corporate documents. In the case of Sciabacucchi v. Salzberg, C.A. No. 2017-0931-JTL (Del. Ch. Dec. 19, 2018), the Court determined that a forum-selection clause … Continue Reading
The Delaware General Corporation Law was amended last summer to allow companies to maintain their corporate records using blockchain technology. The purpose of this short post is to provide a high-level overview of this evolving intersection of technology and corporate law that will have an increasingly profound impact on corporate governance and related areas of the … Continue Reading
The Delaware Court of Chancery addressed a bevy of basic corporate litigation principles in the context of claims challenging the actions of directors, and determining which standards of review apply, and which procedural prerequisites need to be satisfied. In Carr v. New Enterprise Associates, Inc., C.A. No. 2017-0381-AGB (Del. Ch. Mar. 26, 2018), claims for … Continue Reading
An Eckert Seamans associate prepared this overview. In a recent transcript ruling in the case styled Doctors Pathology Servs., PA v. Gerges, C.A. No. 11457-CB, transcript (Del. Ch. Feb, 15, 2017), Chancellor Bouchard provides additional guidance to attorneys seeking to file motions to compel discovery in the Delaware Court of Chancery. This ruling should be considered … Continue Reading
Last month, in a comprehensive advancement decision captioned White v. Curo Texas Holdings, LLC, C.A. No. 12369-VCL (Del. Ch. Feb. 21, 2017), the Delaware Court of Chancery applied what has become known in Delaware as the “Fitracks Procedures” to determine the appropriate amount of an advancement award when the exact amount of fees for covered … Continue Reading
An Eckert Seamans associate prepared this overview. In the Delaware Court of Chancery decision captioned, In re Merge Healthcare Inc. S’holders Litig., C.A. No. 11388-VCG (Del. Ch. Jan. 30, 2017), Vice Chancellor Glasscock applied the business judgment rule and dismissed an action for failure to state fiduciary-related claims. This opinion is important because it highlights … Continue Reading
An Eckert Seamans associate prepared this overview. In the Court of Chancery’s opinion styled, In re United Capital Corp. Stockholders Litigation, C.A. No. 11619-VCMR (Del. Ch. Jan. 4, 2017), the plaintiff sought a quasi-appraisal remedy for purported breaches of disclosure in connection with a short-form merger transaction. In granting the defendants’ motion to dismiss, the … Continue Reading
An Eckert Seamans associate prepared this overview. The thorough 75-page post-trial decision in Merion Capital L.P. v. Lender Processing Servs., Inc., C.A. No. 9320-VCL (Dec. 16, 2016), is a must read for those involved in appraisal proceedings. In the memorandum opinion, Vice Chancellor Laster provides a comprehensive analysis of the fair value of Merion Capital … Continue Reading
An Eckert Seamans associate prepared this overview. In Meyers v. Quiz-Dia LLC, C.A. No. 9878-VCL (Dec. 2, 2016), the Chancery Court stayed indemnification claims to determine whether they were arbitrable. Background: This matter involves the perenial issue of arbitrability. Plaintiffs sued three Quiznos sandwich shop entities for indemnification and advancement pursuant to multiple agreements. Plaintiffs … Continue Reading
Today the Delaware Court of Chancery issued an opinion in Strougo v. Hollander, C.A. No. 9770-CB (Del. Ch. Mar. 16, 2015), on an issue of first impression. The Court did not decide the merits of the underlying complaint; the only issue before the Court on the narrow motion for partial judgment on the pleadings was … Continue Reading
Caspian Select Credit Master Fund Ltd. v. Key Plastics Corp., C.A. No. 8624-vcn (Del. Ch. Feb. 24, 2014). Practical Insights on Decision: This Chancery opinion is one of many examples highlighted on these pages over the last 9 years or so, of the not infrequent inefficiency and unsatisfying nature of an action based on DGCL … Continue Reading
Cook v. Hewlett-Packard Co., C.A. No. 8667-VCG (Del. Ch. Jan. 24, 2014)(revised Jan. 30, 2014). Issue Addressed: Was a stockholder entitled to additional books and records from Hewlett-Packard regarding accounting fraud at a company HP purchased? Answer: No Short Highlights This post-trial letter opinion from the Court of Chancery denying a request for books and … Continue Reading
Top Ten 2013 Delaware Corporate and Commercial Decisions By: Francis G.X. Pileggi and Kevin F. Brady This is our ninth annual review of key Delaware corporate and commercial decisions. During 2013, we reviewed and summarized over 200 decisions from Delaware’s Supreme Court and Court of Chancery on corporate and commercial issues. Among the decisions with … Continue Reading
Grace v. Ashbridge LLC, C.A. No. 8348-VCN (Del. Ch. Dec. 31, 2013). Issue Addressed: Whether a successor entity was liable for advancement and indemnification claims based on the operating agreement of a successor entity LLC even though the sole allegations involve a predecessor entity and a related entity. Short Answer: No. Brief Overview: An understanding … Continue Reading
In Silverberg v. Gold, et al., C.A. 7646-VCP (Dec. 31, 2013), the Court of Chancery denied defendants’ motion to dismiss a derivative action (for failure to make demand) alleging a breach of fiduciary duty based on insider trading against the directors of Dendreon Corporation, a biotechnology company which had only one commercially available drug product, … Continue Reading
The following article first appeared in a recent edition of The Delaware Business Court Insider. A recent decision of the Delaware Court of Chancery in the case of Osram Sylvania, Inc. v. Townsend Ventures, LLC, C.A. No. 8123-VCP (Del. Ch. Nov. 19. 2013), denied a motion to dismiss a breach of contract claim and a … Continue Reading
Boris v. Schaheen, C.A. No. 8160-VCN (Del. Ch. Dec. 2, 2013). Issue Addressed: Whether the written consents of stockholders pursuant to DGCL Section 228 effectively selected new board members. Brief Overview This 51-page post-trial decision addressed the effectiveness of written consents of stockholders that were designed to select new board members. The two entities involved … Continue Reading
Darby Emerging Market Fund, L.P. v. Ryan, Consol. C.A. No. 8381-VCP (Del. Ch. Nov. 27, 2013). This Chancery decision addressed whether the Court had equitable jurisdiction over a dispute among shareholders of a foreign entity. Delaware’s court of equity relied on the well-worn “clean up doctrine”, which allows it to exercise equitable jurisdiction over an … Continue Reading
Klaassen v. Allegro Dev. Corp. et al., No. 8626-VCL (Del. Ch. Nov. 7, 2013). This Chancery decision is the subject of an appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court. Among the issues to be addressed by Delaware’s high court is whether the actions of a board to dismiss the CEO, who also had voting power over a controlling percentage … Continue Reading
Pfeiffer v. Leedle, C.A. No. 7831-VCP (Del. Ch. Nov. 8, 2013). Issue Addressed: Whether the approval of stock option grants that exceeded the maximum number of stock options allowed under the stock incentive plan was the basis for a breach of fiduciary duty claim against both the board that approved it and the executive who … Continue Reading
We previously highlighted the Court of Chancery decision that upheld a forum selection provision in corporate bylaws that required certain suits involving the internal affairs of the corporation to be filed in Delaware. Boilermakers Local 154 Retirement Fund v. Chevron Corporation, C.A. No. 7220-CS (Del. Ch. June 25, 2013). Professor Larry Hamermesh writes about the voluntary … Continue Reading
Costantini v. Swiss Farm Stores Acquisition LLC, C.A. No. 8613-VCG (Del. Ch. Sept. 5, 2013). A subsequent decision in this case was highlighted on these pages here. Issue Presented: Whether a non-manager of an LLC was entitled to indemnification based on the terms of the LLC agreement. Short Answer: Not based on the applicable terms. … Continue Reading
Louisiana Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System v. Hershey Co., No. 7996, Master’s Report (Del. Ch. Aug. 16, 2013). This decision rejected a demand for books and records of the Hershey Company based on DGCL Section 220. The stockholder claimed, in essence, that Hershey’s management must be complicit in the abhorrent child labor practices in the two West … Continue Reading
