Albert J. Carroll

Court Of Chancery Issues A Definitive Opinion on Aronson

Lenois v. Lawal, C.A. No. 11963-VCMR (Nov. 7, 2017)

This case illustrates the power of well-functioning special committee to diffuse the potentially corruptive influence of a self-interested controller on a transaction. The result of a well-functioning special committee in this case was that the derivative plaintiff was unable to get around the pre-suit demand on the board requirement.  Applying the second prong of the Aronson test for demand futility, the Court interpreted that portion of the test to require the plaintiff sufficiently allege that a majority of the board faces a substantial likelihood of liability for non-exculpated claims. In other words, that a non-exculpated claim may be brought against less than a majority of the board or some other individual at the company, or that the board committed exculpated duty of care violations, will not alone prove demand futility.  

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Court Of Chancery Favors Plain Language In Earn-Out Dispute And Declines To Imply Contractual Terms

Greenstar IH Rep. LLC v. Tutor Perini Corporation, C.A. No. 12885-VCS (Oct. 31, 2017)

With every contract under Delaware law comes the obligation to not act so as to deprive the counter party of the benefit of its bargain. This implied obligation plays a limited role, however, and does not trump the contract’s plain terms. This decision addresses this principle in an earn-out dispute surrounding terms about profits and taxes.

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Court Of Chancery Enforces Arbitration Clause Despite Designated Arbitrator’s Unavailability

In re Good Technology Corporation Stockholder Litigation, C.A. No. 11580-VCL (Oct. 27, 2017)

This decision resolves a unique dilemma: what to do when the contracting parties agree to an arbitration clause designating a specific arbitrator (the former mediator in the case) to resolve disputes, but, it turns out, he will not serve in that capacity and the parties cannot agree on a replacement. Under the facts of this case, which involve the JAMS rules, the Court enforces the arbitration clause so that the chosen but unavailable arbitrator can decide whether he should pick his successor as a matter of procedural (as opposed to substantive) arbitrability.

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Delaware Supreme Court Sets A New Standard And Clarifies The Spectrum Of Forum Non Conveniens Standards

Gramercy Emerging Markets Fund v. Allied Irish Banks P.L.C., No. 49, 2017 (Oct. 27, 2017)

Under the Cryo-Maid factors, a Delaware court may dismiss a suit on forum non conveniens grounds only after the defendant shows that litigating in Delaware would impose overwhelming hardship.  Under the McWane doctrine, when a Delaware action is not the first-filed suit on the subject matter because there is a prior pending suit elsewhere, however, a Delaware court has discretion to dismiss or stay the later-filed suit whether or not the defendant faces overwhelming hardship. This decision deals with a particular convergence of these two doctrines, answering the question: when a first-filed suit elsewhere is procedurally dismissed and thus no longer pending, is a motion to dismiss for forum non conveniens in a later-filed Delaware suit still subject to the more plaintiff-friendly overwhelming hardship standard? The short answer is no.  But that doesn’t mean the suit should be subject to the more defendant-friendly McWane standard instead. Rather, as the Court holds here, there is a middle ground, tilted to neither plaintiff nor defendant.  The Court rules that the Cryo-Maid factors relevant to a showing of overwhelming hardship control the analysis, but requires only that the factors favor dismissal, rather than establish overwhelming hardship.

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Superior Court Explains Coverage Analysis Rules

Catlin Specialty Insurance Company v. CBL & Associates Properties Inc., No. N16C-07-166 PRW CCLD (October 17, 2017)

This is an interesting decision for two reasons. First, it settles the choice of law in a coverage case for a nationwide set of claims. The principal place of business for the insured is the law to apply. More ›

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Superior Court Sets Out Rules For Class Certification

Wilmington Pain & Rehabilitation Center P.A. v. USAA General Indemnity Insurance Co., No. N15C-06-218 JRJ CCLD (October 17, 2017)

This is an important decision became it sets out the most recent rules for determining when a class may be certified. Briefly, the class members claims must be capable of resolution on a class-based basis and not by looking at each class member’s circumstance. While easy to say, that is harder to actually do and this decision explains the reasoning that should be used.

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Court Of Chancery Explains Long-Arm Jurisdiction Based On Creating A Subsidiary

The Dow Chemical Company v. Organik Kimya Holding A.S., C.A. No. 12090-VCG (Oct. 19, 2017)

Under the Papendick v. Bosch decision, incorporating an entity in Delaware may give rise to long-arm jurisdiction over the entity’s parent, even a foreign one with no other contacts with the State of Delaware. The act of incorporating in Delaware, however, must be an “integral component” of the alleged wrongdoing. This decision explains how to meet that test, which is heightened slightly after the plaintiff conducts jurisdictional discovery. The test was satisfied in this case based on allegations that the defendant, desiring to enter the U.S. market, misappropriated the plaintiff’s trade secrets and incorporated a Delaware entity to profit from the misappropriation.

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Chancery Declines Confidential Treatment to Nonparty’s Claimed Sensitive Business Info

American courts have long recognized that the public enjoys a First Amendment right of access to judicial proceedings and records.  While forceful, the right is only presumptive, and the public’s interest in access may be overcome with an adequate showing of need. More ›

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Court Of Chancery Addresses The Need For Legally-Distinct Co-Conspirators Under A Conspiracy Theory Of Jurisdiction

LVI Group Investments LLC v. NCM Group Holdings LLC, C.A. No. 12067-VCG (Sept. 7, 2017) More ›

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Court of Chancery Applies Privilege Non-Waiver Rule

In Re Cellular Telephone Partnership Litigation, C.A. No. 6885-VCL (Aug. 29, 2017)

This is an interesting decision because it applies a recent addition to the Delaware Rules of Evidence, Rule 510(f), which allows a court to enter an order preserving privilege despite disclosure in connection with the litigation before it. Here, the Court of Chancery entered such an order in connection with an in camera review by a special discovery master.

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Court Of Chancery Reviews When To Vacate An Arbitration Award

Carl Zeiss Vision LLC v. Refac Holdings, Inc., C.A. 11513-VCS (August 24, 2017)

This is another decision explaining the narrow circumstances when the Court of Chancery will vacate an arbitration award. It is very hard to get that relief.

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Court Of Chancery Explains When Side Deals Are Actionable Under A Bad Faith Theory

Kahn v. Stern, C.A. No. 12498-VCG (Aug. 28, 2017)

It is not easy to sufficiently plead a bad faith breach of fiduciary duty by a board in approving a merger when a majority of the directors were disinterested and independent. One basis for such a bad faith breach might be that the board approved a merger where management extracted side deals, such as employment arrangements with the post-merger entity or performance-based sale bonuses. As this decision explains after reviewing the precedent, an extreme set of facts is required to survive dismissal on this theory.

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Superior Court Explains Bootstrapping Doctrine

In Re Bracket Holding Corp. Litigation, C.A. N15C-02-233 WCC CCLD (July 31, 2017)

This decision is an excellent explanation of the “bootstrapping doctrine” that seems to often befuddle litigants. Briefly, a plaintiff cannot “bootstrap” a breach of contract claim into a fraud claim except in certain limited circumstances that this decision explains. For example, misrepresentations made to induce a contract may form the basis for a fraud calm.

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Superior Court Explains The Personal Participation Doctrine

The Washington House Condominium Association Of Unit Owners v. Daystar Sills Inc., C.A. N15C-01-108 WCC CCLD (August 8, 2017)

When is a corporate employee responsible for tortious conduct in that capacity? This decision answers that question in a very helpful way. For example, mere nonfeasance is not enough to impose liability on a corporate actor.

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Court Of Chancery Gives Guidance On What Constitutes Bad Faith

In Re Meadwestvaco Stockholders Litigation, C.A. No. 10617-CB (August 17, 2017)

As this decision explains, to state a claim attacking a merger on the basis that the Board acted in bad faith you need more than  accusations that directors were motivated to avoid a proxy fight involving an activist investor. Informed stockholder approval, disinterested directors, careful consideration, a premium price, reasonable deal protection devices, and prominent advisors all work to negate inferences of bad faith.

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