Posts in Breach of Contract

Court of Chancery Dismisses Claims Against Third-Party Defendants for Lack of Personal Jurisdiction Despite Officer and Agent Status

Amaysing Technologies Corp. v. CyberAir Communications, Inc., 2005 WL 578972 (Del. Ch. March 3, 2005). Amaysing Technologies Corp. ("ATC") brought an action for breach of a loan agreement against CyberAir Communications, Inc. ("CyberAir"). CyberAir filed a third-party complaint alleging various misrepresentations and frauds against Robert Mays, Jr., and Raymond Atilano, both of whom were officers and shareholders of ATC, and Med Fadel, an agent of ATC (together referred to as "Third-Party Defendants"). Third-party Defendants filed a motion to dismiss under Court of Chancery Rule 12(b)(2) for lack of personal jurisdiction, which the court granted. More › Share

Superior Court Denies Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment in Breach of Asset Purchase Agreement Case

MerchantWired, LLC v. Transaction Network Services, Inc., 02C-08-244 FS, 2005 WL 468241 (Del. Super. Ct. Feb. 28, 2005). The plaintiff brought a breach of contract action against the defendant when the defendant refused to close on the purchase of the plaintiff's business. The defendant moved for summary judgment, claiming that the plaintiff failed to meet two pre-closing conditions. Rejecting this argument, the court denied the defendant's motion for summary judgment. More › Share

Superior Court Denies Motion to Dismiss Damages Claim as Speculative in Breach of Contract Case

Enigma Information Retrieval Systems, Inc. v. Radian, Inc., C.A. No. 04C-06-069 FSS, 2005 WL 445568 (Del. Super. Ct. Feb. 23, 2005). Plaintiff, Enigma Information Retrieval Systems, Inc. ("Enigma"), brought breach of contract and tortious interference claims against Defendants, Radian, Inc. and Portal Dynamics, Inc., military contractors that helped supply light armored vehicles. Enigma acted as the subcontractor for the defendants and provided the computer software for training manuals and parts catalogs. The defendants claimed to have terminated Enigma for poor performance. Radian moved to dismiss the damages claim, and the court denied the motion to dismiss, finding that the arguments were premature. More › Share

Superior Court Denies Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim Because Indemnification Provision Required a Court to Rule on the Merits Before Provision Could be Invoked

Midland Red Oak Realty, Inc. v. Friedman, Billings & Ramsey & Co., Inc., C.A. No. 04C-05-091 CLS, 2005 WL 445710 (Del. Super. Ct. Feb. 23, 2005). Plaintiffs Midland Oak Realty, Inc. and MRO Southwest, Inc. ("MRO") sued Defendants Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc. ("FBR") and Velasco Group, L.L.C. ("Velasco") for breach of a real-estate financing contract. FBR moved to dismiss based on an indemnification provision. The Superior Court denied FBR's motion to dismiss, holding that the indemnification provision's language made it applicable only after a court had reached a decision on the merits of the claim. More › Share

Superior Court Grants Plaintiff's Motion for Summary Judgment and Finds that Former Employee Was Obligated to Repay Gains Realized from Exercising Stock Options

W.R. Berkley Corp. v. Hall, C.A. No. 03C-12-146WCC, 2005 WL 406348 (Del. Super. Ct. Feb. 16, 2005). The Plaintiff brought an action in the Superior Court to enforce a provision under the Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") and subsequent agreements. Under the provisions of the Plan, if a former employee engaged in "Noncompetitive Action" within six months of termination and exercised stock options within that time frame, the company could recapture the profits. The court found the agreement to be enforceable, and granted the plaintiff's motion for summary judgment. More › Share

Federal Court Denies Re-Argument In Fiduciary and Contract Breach Case

Damage Recovery Systems, Inc. v. Tucker, No. Civ. 02-1647-SLR, 2005 WL 388596 (D.Del. Feb. 2, 2005). Defendant filed a motion for re-argument in a matter involving breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duties. The plaintiff prevailed on its Motion for Summary Judgment. Defendant then filed this motion which the Court denied. More › Share

Federal Court Denies Jury Trial in Breach Of Contract And Fiduciary Duty Breach Claims

Damage Recovery Systems, Inc. v. Tucker, No. Civ. 02-1647-SLR, 2005 WL 388597 (D.Del. Feb. 2, 2005) . Plaintiff filed an action in 2002 alleging that the defendant had breached: (1) a non-compete covenant in his Consulting Agreement with Plaintiff; and had (2) aided and abetted the breach of fiduciary duties owed by plaintiff's former officer. Plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages and the defendant demanded a jury trial on both claims. While plaintiff moved to strike the defendant's demand for jury trials, the defendant filed a Memorandum stating that he was not opposed to the denial of a jury trial to the extent the parties Consulting Agreement provided. The Court denied the requests for a jury trial on both claims. More › Share

Following Bench Trial in Breach of Contract Case, Superior Court Awards More than a Million Dollars to Plaintiff

Interim Healthcare, Inc. v. Spherion Corp., 884 A.2d 513 (Del. Super. Ct. 2005), aff'd, 886 A.2d 1278 (Del. 2005). In this case, the purchasers of a home health care company brought an action against the seller to recover for multiple alleged breaches of a stock purchase agreement ("Agreement") and recovery under indemnification provisions. Following a non-jury trial, the court found for the plaintiff on certain claims, and awarded the plaintiff $1,070,719.47 in damages. More › Share

Superior Court Holds That It Has Personal Jurisdiction Over Foreign Limited Partnership Because of Forum Selection Clause in Contract

Alstom Power Inc. v. Duke/Fluor Daniel Caribbean S.E., C.A. No. 04C-02-275 CLS, 2005 WL 407206 (Del. Super. Ct. Jan. 31, 2005). The plaintiff brought a breach of contract action in Superior Court. The defendant moved to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The court accepted the plaintiff's argument that it was appropriate for the court to exercise personal jurisdiction based on a forum selection clause in the contract. More › Share

Court of Chancery Examines Post-Merger Insurance Agreement And Denies Injunction Demanding Notice Under Policies

Tenneco Automotive Inc., et al. v. El Paso Corp., et al., C.A. No. 18810-NC (Del. Ch. Jan. 28, 2005). This is an insurance contract related action brought by plaintiff, who also sought an injunction demanding notice under certain insurance policies. Plaintiff also sought a declaratory judgment that the insurance settlement agreement did not impair their rights and a permanent injunction. More › Share

Court of Chancery Holds Limitation Act In 10 Del. C. 8111 And Not 8106 Applies For "Other [Work] Benefits"

Little Switzerland, Inc. v. Patrick J. Hopper, C.A. No. 590 (Del. Ch. Jan. 24, 2005)(published at 867 A.2d 955). This case involved a request for an injunction filed by the employer-corporation seeking to stop an arbitration of a contractual claim by a plaintiff-employee. The employee sought significant payments under a Change in Control transaction that allegedly triggered a clause vesting the right to payment in the employee. The court held the claim was time-barred under 10 Del. C. §8111 and not 10 Del. C. §8106. More › Share

Court of Chancery Holds Limitation Statutes Run From Notice Of Wrongful Act

Jacques Pomeranz, et al. v. Museum Partners, L.P., C.A. No. 20211, 2005 WL 217039 (Del. Ch. Jan. 24, 2005). In this motion to dismiss opinion, the court examines whether the claims were tolled or untimely and held against the plaintiff. The plaintiff had instituted contract claims, fiduciary duty violation claims and a breach of the limited partnership agreement claim against the defendant-partners. More › Share

Court of Chancery Holds Claims Accrue Upon Receipt Of Inquiry Notice Of Wrongful Act

Certainteed Corp. v. Celotex Corp., et al., C.A. No. 471, 2005 WL 217032 (Del. Ch. Jan. 24, 2005). Plaintiff brought a breach of contract action against defendant sellers under their asset purchase agreement for indemnification of losses and other related claims. More › Share

Court of Chancery Holds Breach Of Material Term Renders Contract Voidable At Option Of Seller Without Notice

DeMarie v. Neff, C.A. No. 2077-S, 2005 WL 89403 (Del. Ch. Jan. 12, 2005). This post-trial letter opinion involved plaintiff's request for specific performance of an agreement to sell land. More › Share

Court of Chancery Denies Unpleaded Prejudgment Interest Request

All Pro Maids, Inc. v. Susan Layton, et al., C.A. No. 058-N, 2005 WL 82689 (Del. Ch. Jan. 11, 2005). This opinion discusses a post-judgment motion objecting to the form of the judgment and order relating to prejudgment and post-judgment interest awards pursuant to 6 Del. C. §2301. More › Share