Posts tagged Breach of Contract

Federal Court Sets Aside Judgment of Dismissal and Reopens Judgment To Enter Settlement Agreement On Record

Money Centers of America, Inc. v. Regen, No. Civ. A. 04-1516-KAJ, 2005 WL 2663709 (D.Del. Oct. 17, 2005). Plaintiff filed a Motion To Vacate Dismissal and to enforce a Settlement Agreement that the parties had entered into earlier. Regen and Coast ATM (collectively "Defendants") contested subject matter jurisdiction. The Court vacated dismissal to the extent requested by the plaintiff. Plaintiff requested the court to: (1) reopen the case; (2) enter the settlement agreement ("Agreement") between the parties on the record; (3) permit plaintiff to depose Defendant Regen, his wife, Helene Regen, and a representative of Coast ATM ("Coast"), a joint defendant and; (4) permit Plaintiff Money Centers to recover its costs and attorney fees in connection with the case and this motion. More › Share

Court of Chancery Partially Grants Defendants' Motion To Dismiss Complaint

Chrin v. Ibrix Inc., C.A. No. 20587, 2005 WL 2810599 (Del. Ch. Oct. 19, 2005). Plaintiff, a co-founder, stockholder and former employee of Defendant Ibrix, Inc., brought a complaint against Ibrix and Steven Orszag, a co-founder and chairman of the Ibrix board of directors, asserting claims relating to his termination and a stock repurchase agreement. Defendants moved to dismiss the complaint. More › Share

Federal Court Dismisses Delaware-Based Deceptive Trade Practices Claim But Denies Dismissal Of Contract, Conversion And Enrichment Claims For Motor Yacht Charter

Worldspan, L.P. v. Ultimate Living Group, LLC., 390 F.Supp.2d 412 (D.Del. 2005). This action was brought under the Admiralty jurisdiction of the Federal Court. It claimed breach of a single-day maritime contract for charter of a motor yacht, unjust enrichment, conversion and violation of Delaware's Deceptive Trade Practices Act ("DTPA"). The Court denied defendant's motion to dismiss with respect to all but the DTPA claim which did not survive for lack of consumer standing against the seller of the chartered motor yacht services. More › Share

Court of Chancery Grants Motion to Amend Arguments in Brief On Eve of Oral Argument in Exchange for Payment of Attorneys' Fees

Lillis v. AT&T Corp., C.A. No. 717-N, 2005 WL 2149748 (Del. Ch. Aug. 23, 2005). Plaintiffs, former owners of options to purchase shares in AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. ("Wireless"), brought suit against Wireless and AT&T Corp., seeking compensation for the value of their options, which were canceled when Wireless merged with Cingular Wireless Corp. Plaintiffs were officers and directors of MediaOne Group, Inc., a broadband telecommunications company, which AT&T purchased. At MediaOne, plaintiffs were to receive stock options as part of their compensation under the 1994 Stock Plan. After AT&T acquired MediaOne, AT&T exchanged the MediaOne options for new options in AT&T and, subsequently, for options in Wireless. More › Share

Court of Chancery Refuses to Dismiss Claims for Tortious Interference, Unfair Trade Practices, and Fraudulent Misrepresentation in Connection with Sale of Business

Griffin Corp. Services v. Jacobs, C.A. No. 396-N, 2005 WL 2000775 (Del. Ch. Aug. 11, 2005). Counterclaim plaintiffs Jacobs, Dobrzynski, Stewart, and Stewart Management Company ("SMC") asserted that Griffin Corporate Services ("Griffin") and other counterclaim defendants interfered with their existing contract and prospective business relationships and engaged in common law and statutory unfair trade practices. They also asserted that Griffin breached its confidentiality agreement with SMC and made misrepresentations to SMC. The counterclaim defendants moved to dismiss. More › Share

Superior Court Finds that Both Parties to a Contract Must Contractually State an Intention to Benefit a Third Party to Create a Third Party Beneficiary

Street Search Partners, L.P. v. Ricon Int'l, L.L.C., C.A. No. 04C-09-156 PLA, 2005 WL 1953094 (Del. Super. Ct. Aug. 1, 2005). The plaintiff brought a breach of contract action against two defendants on the theory that the plaintiff was a third party beneficiary to the contract between the defendants. One of the defendants moved to dismiss the suit for failure to state a claim. The court determined that one defendant subjectively intended for the plaintiff to benefit from the contract. However, the court determined that the other contracting party did not intend to benefit the plaintiff. Furthermore, there was no evidence from the contract that the parties intended for the plaintiff to be a beneficiary. Consequently, the court dismissed the plaintiff's claims that were based on it being a third party beneficiary to the contract. More › Share

Superior Court Refuses to Dismiss Delaware Action, But Stays Delaware Action in Favor of Michigan Action

Royal Indem. Co. v. General Motors Corp., C.A. No. 05C-01-223 RRC, 2005 WL 1952933 (Del. Super. Ct. July 26, 2005). Royal Indemnity Company ("Royal") sought a declaratory judgment to determine whether it had an obligation to General Motors ("GM") in relation to insurance purchased by GM over the course of several decades from Royal. GM filed a motion to dismiss on forum non conveniens grounds, and the Court denied the motion to dismiss. More › Share

Court of Chancery Denies Preliminary Injunction to Business Partner Who Alleges Breach of Confidentiality and Misappropriation of Trade Secrets

Nutzz.com v. Vertrue Inc., C.A. No. 1231-N, 2005 WL 1653974 (Del. Ch. July 6, 2005). Plaintiff Nutzz.com ("Nutzz") sought a preliminary injunction against defendant Vertrue Inc. ("Vertrue"), a company with which Nutzz contracted to develop an online membership program for NASCAR fans. After Vertrue terminated the agreement (claiming that Nutzz missed deadlines and promotion requirements), it sent an email to 1,200 Nutzz members advertising Vertrue's own membership program as an upgrade. Nutzz claimed that Vertrue's actions constituted a breach of their confidentiality agreement and a misappropriation of trade secrets. More › Share

Superior Court finds that Defendant Breached Contract By Failing to Pay Invoices and Waived Any Right to Claim Fraudulent Misrepresentation as a Defense

Immedient Corp. v. HealthTrio, Inc., C.A. No. 01C-08-216 RRC, 2005 WL 1953027 (Del. Super. Ct. June 22, 2005). The plaintiff brought an action for breach of contract, and the defendant counterclaimed for fraudulent misrepresentation. Following a non-jury trial, the Court found that the defendant breached the contract, and had waived its right to claim fraudulent misrepresentation on part of the plaintiff. More › Share

Superior Court Grants Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and Finds that Clause in Construction Contract Required Arbitration

Tekmen & Co. v. Southern Builders, Inc., C.A. No. 04C-03-007 RFS, 2005 WL 1249035 (Del. Super. Ct. May 25, 2005). The defendant contracted to build a hotel on the plaintiff's property. Following completion of the structure, the defendant had to return on numerous occasions to repair leaks. Eventually, the plaintiff filed a complaint, arguing that it was entitled to compensatory and punitive damages for breach of contract, negligence, and breach of warranty. The defendant moved to dismiss, claiming that under the terms of the contract all disputes must first be submitted to the architect and any remaining claims must be heard in binding arbitration. The court granted the defendant's motion to dismiss. More › Share

Court of Chancery Finds that Substantial Litigation Expenses Not a Sufficient Material Adverse Effect to Rescind a Contract

Frontier Oil Corporation v. Holly Corporation, 2005 WL 1039027 (Del. Ch. April 29, 2005). Frontier Oil Corporation and Holly Corporation are petroleum refiners that sought to merge. In conducting its due diligence review of Frontier, Holly discovered that activist Erin Brockovich was planning to bring a toxic tort suit claiming that an oil rig that had been operating for decades on the campus of Beverly Hills High School caused the students to suffer from a disproportionately high incidence of cancer. This raised concerns for Holly because a subsidiary of Frontier had previously operated the Beverly Hills drilling facility. Although the terms of the merger agreement were modified to address the situation, including broadening the representation to apply to litigation that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect ("MAE") on Frontier, the court found that substantial litigation costs were not a MAE and therefore the contract could not be rescinded. More › Share

Superior Court Dismisses Case Against Member of Limited Liability Company, Finding that Member Was Not Liable for the Actions of the Limited Liability Company

Thomas v. Hobbs, C.A. No. 04C-02-010 RFS, 2005 WL 1653947 (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 27, 2005). The Plaintiff brought an action for breach of contract against the defendant limited liability company and against the sole member of that defendant limited liability company personally. The member moved for summary judgment, arguing that she could not be held personally liable for the actions of the defendant limited liability company. The court granted the defendant member's motion. More › Share

Federal Court Dismisses Consumer Fraud And Punitive Damages Claims In Diversity Suit Under Arizona Law

J-Squared Technologies, Inc. v. Motorola, Inc., 364 F.Supp.2d 449 (D.Del. Apr. 13, 2005). Plaintiff brought this suit alleging: (1) breach of contract; (2) promissory estoppel; (3) negligent misrepresentation; (4) breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing; and (5) violation of Arizona's Consumer Fraud Act. Plaintiff sought compensatory and punitive damages. The defendant moved to transfer the action to the District of Arizona or alternatively dismiss the case under Fed.R.Civ.P. 9(b) and 12(b)(6). The Court denied the motion in part and granted it in part with respect to the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act and punitive damages claim. The Court declined to dismiss the negligent misrepresentation and estoppel claims. More › Share

Court of Chancery Dismisses Wal-Mart's Claims Regarding Corporate-Owned Life Insurance Policies

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. AIG Life Ins. Co., 872 A.2d 611 (Del. Ch. 2005). Wal-Mart brought suit against all the parties involved in its purchase of corporate-owned life insurance ("COLI") policies. Its complaint alleged a broad range of legal and equitable claims against the insurance brokers and providers, all seeking to recover from them the losses it incurred in connection with this risky tax avoidance scheme. On consolidated motions to dismiss brought by the insurers and brokers, the court concluded that the retailer failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The court, therefore, granted the defendants' motions to dismiss. More › Share

Superior Court Finds that Plaintiff Had Security Interest in Certain Items Formally Owned by Restaurant Owner that Defaulted on Loan, But Not in Fixtures Placed in Restaurant

Wilmington Savings Fund Society v. Chillibilly's, Inc., C.A. No. 03C-11-021 THG, 2005 WL 730060 (Del. Super. Ct. March 30, 2005), aff'd, 886 A.2d 1279 (Del. 2005). Wilmington Savings Fund Society ("WSFS"), the plaintiff, sought replevin of certain collateral it claimed pursuant to a contract it held with Chillibilly's Incorporated ("Chillibilly's") and Joseph Jeffery Stein Corporation ("Stein Corp.") WSFS also alleged fraud, misrepresentation, and various other claims. Essentially, WSFS argued that it was induced into extending a loan to Chillibilly's based on certain misrepresentations by the principal of Stein Corp., Jeffrey Stein. Stein Corp. moved for summary judgment. The Court denied the motion as to replevin of items Stein Corp. had earlier conceded belonged to WSFS pursuant to its security interest. However, the court granted summary judgment as to the other claims. More › Share