Posts in Breach of Contract

Superior Court Grants Partial Judgment For Plaintiff on Claim For Unpaid Severance Payments

Casey v. Friends of the Capital Theater, Inc., C.A. No. 04C-03-022 JTV, 2006 WL _____ (Del. Super. Ct. June 21, 2006). Plaintiff sued former employer for breach of contract and wrongful discharge. The court ruled that plaintiff had resigned pursuant to a resignation agreement between the parties, which was binding upon both parties. The court also ruled, however, that the employer had failed to make severance payments required under that same agreement. After granting the employer a set off based on property that plaintiff took with him when he left and unemployment benefits plaintiff received, the court found that plaintiff was entitled to approximately $18,000. Share

Court of Chancery Remedies Breach of LLC Agreement

Eureka VIII LLC v. Niagara Falls Holdings LLC C.A. No. 1203-N, 899 A.2d 95 (Del. Ch. June 6, 2006). This case illustrates the ability of the Court of Chancery to fashion a remedy that is non-traditional and fits the exact circumstances of the case before it. Here the remedy for the breach of a LLC agreement is to hold the breaching party, who is no longer a member in the LLC but only an assignee, with limited rights. More ›

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Court of Chancery Appoints Receiver To Remedy Breach of Duty

Kevin McGovern, et. al. v. General Holding, Inc., et. al., C.A. No. 1296-N (Del. Ch. June 2, 2006). In this action to recover for the diversion of partnership property, the Court of Chancery fashioned a unique remedy by ordering that the partnership be sold by a receiver so as to realize the special value of its technology. More › Share

District Court Grants Leave to File Third-Party Complaint

Federal Insurance Company v. Lighthouse Construction, Inc., 230 F.R.D. 387 (D. Del. 2005). A property insurer brought a subrogation action against a building contractor to recover for loss caused by a roof collapse. The contractor sought leave to filed third-party complaint against erection contractor. Insurer also sought leave to filed a claim against it. The District Court held: (1) the contractor was entitled to add third-party claim of contractual indemnification against erection contractor; (2) the insurer could not assert claim against third-party defendant after expiration of two-year statute of limitations; and (3) insurer's amendment of complaint to add erection contractor would not relate back to subrogation action against building contractor. Share

Court of Chancery Orders Parties to Modify Release Language in Settlement Agreement

Unisuper Ltd. v. News Corp., C.A. No. 1699-N, 2006 WL 1550809 (Del. Ch. May 31, 2006) News Corporation shareholder objected to settlement, arguing the release was overly broad. More › Share

Court of Chancery Grants Summary Judgment for Defendants in Case Arising From Interpretation of Limited Partnership Agreement

Anglo American Security Fund, L.P. v. S.R. Global Int'l Fund, L.P., C.A. No. 20066-N, 2006 WL 1494360 (Del. Ch. May 24, 2006). Plaintiffs and defendants brought cross-motions for summary judgment on claims arising from disputes over interpretation of limited partnership agreement ("LPA"). More › Share

District Court Dismisses Breach of Contract and Misappropriation of Trade Secrets Action for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction

Childcraft Education Corp. v. Alice's Home, et al., C.A. No. 05-461 (GMS) (D. Del. May 22, 2006). Plaintiff filed complaint alleging breach of contract, miappropriation of trade secrets and unjust enrichment claims. Defendants moved to dismiss the action for lack of personal jurisdiction. More › Share

Superior Court Denies Plaintiff's Motion for Reargument of Dismissal of Case for Failure to Substitute Counsel

Street Search Partners, L.P. v. Ricon Int'l., L.L.C., C.A. No. 04C-09-191-PLA, 2006 WL 1313859 (Del. Super. Ct. May 12, 2006). Following the court's earlier decision granting defendant's motion to dismiss, the plaintiff moved for reargument. Because the court did not misapprehend the law or the facts in its previous decision, the motion for reargument was denied. More › Share

Court of Chancery Denies Plaintiff's Motion for Declaratory Judgment, Specific Performance and Damages Resulting From Alleged Breaches of Licensing Agreements

Shadewell Grove IP, LLC v. Mrs. Fields Franchising, LLC, C.A. No. 1691-N, 2006 WL 1375106 (Del. Ch. May 8, 2006). Plaintiff Shadewell Grove IP, LLC sought declaratory judgment, specific performance and damages resulting from Defendant Mrs. Fields Franchising, LLC's alleged breaches of three licensing agreements. More › Share

Superior Court Finds that Settlement Agreement Did Not Require Insurance Companies to Reimburse Insureds for Money Paid to Cover Shortfalls in Payments to The Center for Claims Resolution by Defaulting Members

I.U. North America, Inc. v. A.I.U. Ins. Co., 896 A.2d 880 (Del. Super. Ct. 2006). This case involved claims for breach of contract and for declaratory judgment and ancillary relief to determine the responsibility for payment of liabilities incurred as a result of numerous claims and actions seeking to recover damages allegedly due to exposure to asbestos resulting from the conduct of the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs, the insureds, argued that a settlement agreement to resolve coverage issues arising out of asbestos claims required insurer to indemnify insureds for payments on behalf of defaulting parties to settlements. The plaintiffs moved for summary judgment, and the Superior Court found that the settlement agreement did not require insurer to reimburse insureds for payments on behalf of defaulting parties. More › Share

District Court Denies Defendant's Motion for Partial Summary Judgment in Breach of Warranty Action

AES Puerto Rico, L.P. v. ALSTOM Power, Inc., C.A. No. 04-1282-JJF, 2006 WL 1154786 (D. Del. Apr. 28, 2006). Plaintiff alleged that defendant breached an accelerated corrosion warranty in the parties' agreement and that plaintiff suffered damages as a result. Defendant moved for partial summary judgment, claiming that any warranty liability was subject to a condition precedent in the parties' contract, which condition was never met. More › Share

Superior Court Grants Summary Judgment to Insurers, Finding that Certain of AT & T's D & O Policies Do Not Cover Claims in Underlying Litigation

AT&T Corp. v. Clarendon America Ins. Co., C.A. No. 04C-11-167 (JRJ), 2006 WL 1382268 (Del. Super. Ct. April 25, 2006). This was an insurance coverage case involving Directors and Officers and Company ("D & O") liability policies purchased by plaintiff AT & T Corp. ("AT & T") and At Home Corp. ("At Home") from various primary and excess insurers. AT & T sought coverage, including indemnity, payment of defense fees, costs, and settlements or judgments, relating to several underlying shareholders suits brought against AT & T and certain officers and directors of AT & T and At Home. The defendants brought motions for partial summary judgment, alleging that AT & T's clams fell outside the scope of coverage under the D & O policies. Ultimately, the court granted the defendants' motions. More ›

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Court of Chancery Finds No Violation of an Enforceable Covenant Not To Compete

American Homepatient, Inc. v. Collier, C.A. No. 274-N, 2006 WL 1134170 (Del. Ch. Apr. 19, 2006). Plaintiff alleged that a former employee of plaintiff breached a confidentiality and non-compete agreement (the "Non-Compete"), that the former employee and his new employer both breached a related settlement agreement (the "Settlement" and collectively with the Non-Compete, the "Agreements"), and that the new employer tortiously interfered with the Non-Compete and prospective business relations. Plaintiff sought damages and injunctive relief. The court concluded that while the Agreements were enforceable, they were not breached by defendants and there was no tortious interference. More ›

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Court of Chancery Imposes Class Certification with Hedge Fund as Class Representative

Regal Entertainment Group v. Amaranth LLC, C.A. No. 1226-N, 2006 WL 948257 (Del. Ch. Apr. 12, 2006). Plaintiff, Regal Entertainment Group, asked the Court of Chancery to grant its motion for certification of defendant class. Plaintiff is the issuer of a series of convertible notes under an indenture and defendant Amaranth is one of the largest holders of these notes. After a public dispute regarding Regal's method of calculating the number of shares of common stock upon conversion, Regal filed a lawsuit against Amaranth seeking a declaration that its calculation was correct. Amaranth counterclaimed that its calculation of conversion was correct. The only objection that Amaranth raised to the motion for certification was that its status as a hedge fund should relieve it of the obligation to serve as the representative of a defendant class. The court granted Regal's motion for class certification finding that Amaranth is well-positioned to represent the class as it seeks to advance an interpretation of the calculation provisions of the indenture contrary to Regal's, which affects all noteholders. More ›

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Court of Chancery Awards Reliance Damages for Promissory Estoppel

Ramone v. Lang, C.A. No. 1592-N, 2006 WL 905347 (Del. Ch. Apr. 3, 2006). This case involved a dispute between two businessmen who hoped to work together on a project to open a swim and fitness center, but who failed to achieve this despite months of efforts and negotiations. Plaintiff and defendant intended to formalize their relationship in a written LLC agreement. Ultimately, defendant closed on the property for himself, frustrated by his inability to reach a final agreement with plaintiff. Plaintiff sued for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and promissory estoppel. The Court of Chancery found that there was no contract between the parties and that the parties were not partners, therefore defendant did not owe any fiduciary duties. The court did, however, find that plaintiff had a claim for promissory estoppel and awarded reliance damages. More ›

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