A recent Delaware Supreme Court decision should be required reading for those interested in the nuances of Delaware law on the fiduciary duties of disclosure and loyalty of a manager or a director in connection with communications with stockholders or others to whom a fiduciary duty is owed. In Dohmen v. Goodman, Del. Supr., No. … Continue Reading
A recent Delaware Court of Chancery letter ruling determined the amount of a bond for an injunction entered in connection with a suit to enforce a non-competition agreement. The matter of Natera, Inc. v. Goddard, C. A. No. 2020-0371-KSJM (Del. Ch. June 15, 2020), deserves mention due to the relative lack of a robust body … Continue Reading
In connection with the Delaware Supreme Court’s recent Order providing for the multi-phased, limited reopening of Delaware Courthouses as of June 8, 2020, while at the same time extending Delaware’s “judicial emergency declaration” for another 30 days, the Delaware Court of Chancery has issued an Order to impose new Courtroom protocols for attorneys and visitors, … Continue Reading
I’m happy to report that I am now the Managing Partner of the new Delaware office of the Lewis Brisbois firm, which has over 1,500 lawyers, in over 40 practice areas of the law, in over 50 offices. I’m very excited to share this exciting next chapter in my professional career. The Delaware Law Weekly … Continue Reading
There is a precious paucity of Delaware decisions that thoroughly and directly address the potential equitable dissolution of an LLC, as compared to a statutory dissolution of an LLC based on the LLC Act, but that situation has been ameliorated by the recent Delaware Court of Chancery decision in SolarReserve CSP Holdings LLC v. Tonopah … Continue Reading
A recent Delaware Court of Chancery opinion discussed the nuances of an unusual personal and business relationship, akin to a “familial intimacy”, that formed the basis for the court to conclude that a fiduciary relationship could be proven at trial. See Bamford v. Penfold, L.P., C.A. No. 2019-0005-JTL (Del. Ch. Feb. 28, 2020). Short Overview: … Continue Reading
In a departure from the manner in which most cases have been highlighted on these pages, this post includes a collection of short blurbs about recent Delaware corporate and commercial decisions, identifying the key issues addressed, with a link to the whole opinion. This experimental approach to highlighting recent decisions was prompted by a combination … Continue Reading
The following article is reprinted with permission from the Jan. 15, 2020 edition of “The Delaware Business Court Insider”, (c) 2020 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. By: Francis G.X. Pileggi and Chauna A. Abner This is the 15th year that Francis Pileggi and various co-authors have created an annual list of important corporate … Continue Reading
A recent Delaware Court of Chancery decision provides an important lesson about the downside of imprecise drafting, and the need to express with precision how specific risks are to be allocated between the purchaser and seller of a business. In Julius v. Accurus Aerospace Corporation, C.A. No. 2017-0632-MTZ (Del. Ch. Oct. 31, 2019), the court … Continue Reading
A recent Delaware Court of Chancery bench ruling granted advancement in connection with defensive counterclaims against a former officer and director. In Dodelson v. AC Hold Co., Inc., C.A. No. 2019-0029-SG (transcript) (Del. Ch. May 21, 2019), the court interpreted the provisions of a charter with advancement provisions, and reasoned that advancement was warranted. An … Continue Reading
An Eckert Seamans associate prepared this overview. In a recent letter opinion in the case styled Vento v. Curry, C.A. No. 2017-0157-AGB, Chancellor Bouchard granted the plaintiff’s motion to preliminarily enjoin a stockholder vote until information regarding the company’s financial advisor’s interests had been fully disclosed. Background: Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc.’s (the “Company”) sought to … 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
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
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
Winshall v. Viacom International, Inc., Del. Supr., No. 39, 2013 (Oct. 8, 2013). Issue Addressed: The Supreme Court affirmed a Chancery ruling that Viacom was not entitled to contractual indemnification, and thus was required to release escrow funds. A prior Supreme Court decision in this case from July 2013, regarding arbitrability, was highlighted on these pages … Continue Reading
Grove v. Brown, C.A. No. 6793-VCG (Del. Ch. Aug. 8, 2013) Issues Addressed: This post-trial opinion addresses issues involved in a 4-person LLC whose members disputed: (1) what specific ownership interest each had in the LLC; (2) the impact of a member not contributing the required amount of start-up capital; (3) whether there was an … Continue Reading
The Sequoia Presidential Yacht Group LLC v. FE Partners LLC, C.A. No. 8270-VCG (Del. Ch. July 15, 2013). This ruling amplifies the relative paucity of judicial interpretation of the rather new Court of Chancery Rule 5.1 that defines the standard that must be met before filings with the court will be kept confidential or redacted … Continue Reading
Cartanza v. Cartanza, C.A. No. 7618-VCP (Del. Ch. July 8, 2013). Bottom line: This short letter ruling amplified the reasoning in the court’s prior decision in this case, highlighted here, in which the court awarded fees in connection with a motion to compel a deposition. The point of this short post is to serve as … Continue Reading
Gerber v. Enterprise Products Holdings, LLC, Del. Supr., No. 46, 2012 (June 10, 2013). Issue Presented: This seminal Delaware Supreme Court decision addresses the important, nuanced issue of whether a contract provision that presumes good faith can preclude a claim for a breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Short Answer: … Continue Reading
Among the key corporate and commercial Delaware decisions that we have highlighted on these pages during the first five months of 2013, the following decisions either clarified existing Delaware law or announced new law on important substantive or procedural topics. This is a supplement to the annual review of cases we have provided on this … Continue Reading
Brinckerhoff v. Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., Del. Supr., No. 574, 2011 (May 28, 2013). This is the third Delaware Supreme Court decision in two consecutive business days that addressed the issue of good faith in the context of an agreement. This is the second decision on the same day that addressed the provision in an LP … Continue Reading
Norton v. K-Sea Transportation Partners, L.P., Del. Supr., No. 238, 2012 (May 28, 2013). This Delaware Supreme Court decision is the second in consecutive business days that addresses the concept of good faith in the contractual context. See SIGA Technologies, Inc. v. PharmAthene, Inc., highlighted on these pages. (Photo: Supreme Court Building in Dover.) Issue … Continue Reading
The current issue of the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law that recently came in the mail, Volume 37, No. 3 (2013), includes a reprinting of the new Practice Guidelines recently promulgated by the Court of Chancery, and also features an introduction to those new court “de facto rules” by Kevin F. Brady and Francis G.X. … Continue Reading
