Posts tagged Case Summaries

Delaware Supreme Court Reverses Superior Court and Finds that Defendant Became an "Insured" for Purposes of 18 Del. C. § 4211(2)(a) by Operation of Law after Named Insured Merged Into Defendant

Delaware Ins. Guar. Ass'n v. Christiana Care Health Services, Inc., No. 244, 2005, 2006 WL 196382 (Del. Jan. 24, 2006). The Delaware Insurance Guaranty Association ("DIGA") sought reimbursement from Christiana Care Health Services ("CCHS") pursuant to one of the Delaware Insurance Guaranty Association Act's provisions for claims paid on behalf of an insolvent insurer. In this case the insolvent insurer had insured a corporation that merged into CCHS. The Superior Court granted CCHS's motion for summary judgment, finding that CCHS was not an "insured" under the insurance policy. Reversing the lower court, the Delaware Supreme Court found that a court must consider the purpose and intent of 18 Del. C. § 4211 when determining if a company is an "insured." A court may not rely on terms in an insurance policy that are inconsistent with the purpose and intent of Section 4211. The Supreme Court found that CCHS became an insured after the named insured merged into the defendant, and CCHS is obligated to reimburse DIGA pursuant to Section 4211. More › Share

Court Of Chancery Upholds Voluntary Advancement Provisions Irrespective Of Alleged Wrongful Conduct

Radiancy, Inc. v. Zion Azar, et al., C.A. No. 1547-N, 2006 WL 224059 (Del. Ch. Jan. 23, 2006). This is a summary judgment motion for advancement of legal fees made by defendant-officers. Their corporation alleged fraud, fiduciary violations and usurpation of corporate opportunity against defendants as a bar to advancement. Defendants replied with counterclaims under their respective employment contracts. The motion was granted and denied in part. More › Share

Court Of Chancery Awards Litigation Fees Advancement Under LLC Agreement And Fees On Fees For Present Suit

Joyce C. Delucca v. KKAT Management, L.L.C. et al., C.A. No. 1384-N, 2006 WL 224058 (Del. Ch. Jan. 23, 2006). This case was decided on a motion for judgment on the pleadings. Plaintiff sought to obtain advancement of attorney fees allegedly contractually agreed, to defend a New York action and fees on fees for initiating and prosecuting this action. The plaintiff was sued in the New York action by affiliates-entities of her then employer. More › Share

Court Of Chancery Permits Interlocutory Appeal On Poison Pill Contract Issues

Unisuper, Ltd. v. New Corporation, C.A. No. 1699-N (Del. Ch. Jan. 20, 2006). Opinion and order granting interlocutory appeal on two contract issues, after court dismissed corporate allegations of fraud, negligent misrepresentation and fiduciary duty breach. More › Share

Superior Court Finds Company to be a De Facto Corporation and Dismisses Individual Defendants from Case

Caudill v. Sinex Pools, Inc., C.A. No. 04C-10-090 WCC, 2006 WL 258302 (Del. Super. Ct. Jan. 18, 2006). In his complaint, the plaintiff, Ken Caudill, alleged that Sinex Pools, Inc. breached its contract to build Caudill an in-ground swimming pool. Subsequently, plaintiff amended his complaint to include Romie Bishop and Shirley Bishop, individually, based on the theory that Sinex Pools, Inc. was not a legal entity. The Bishops moved for summary judgment, arguing that Sinex Pools, Inc., while not formally incorporated, amounted to a de facto corporation. A de facto corporation is a company that was not properly incorporated despite a good faith and bona fide effort, but is still treated as a corporation by the courts. Granting the Bishops' motions for summary judgment, the Superior Court found that they had met the three-pronged test to establish a de facto corporation. More › Share

Superior Court Finds that Plaintiff Was Entitled to Advisory Fee Pursuant to Contract

Barker Capital LLC v. Rebus LLC, C.A. No. 04C-10-269 MMJ, 2006 WL 246572 (Del. Super. Ct. Jan. 12, 2006). The plaintiff, Barker Capital LLC ("Barker"), a Delaware LLC, sued Rebus LLC ("Rebus"), also a Delaware LLC, Mark A. Fox ("Fox"), and Twinlab Corporation ("Twinlab"), a Delaware corporation, alleging breach of contract, quantum meruit, tortious interference with contract, and unjust enrichment. Rebus and Barker entered into an Engagement Agreement, pursuant to which Barker would act as Rebus' nonexclusive financial advisor to identify and consummate a transaction to purchase two medical newsletters. Under the terms of the Engagement Agreement, Barker was entitled to an Advisory Fee in the amount of 2.5% of the transaction's value. Both sides moved for summary judgment. The court found that Barker was entitled to 2.5% of a $12 million loan associated with the deal, but was not entitled to a percentage of a $35 million loan connected with the deal. The court also found against the plaintiff on the quantum meruit claim because the plaintiff had been made whole when the court ruled in his favor on the breach of contract claim. Turning to the tortious interference claim, which was only alleged against Fox, the court found that it did not have the subject matter jurisdiction to pierce the corporate veil. More › Share

Partial Summary Judgment Denied by Court Of Chancery On "Entire Fairness" And Disclosure Grounds

In re Tele-Communications Inc. Shareholders Litig., C.A. No. 16470, 2005 WL 3547674 (Del. Ch. Dec. 21, 2005), opinion revised and superseded by No. CIV. A. 16470, 2005 WL 3642727 (Del. Ch. Dec. 21, 2005), (revised Jan. 10, 2006)(Westlaw citation not available). This summary judgment action originates from a Consolidated Amended Complaint that alleged nondisclosure of material information <and a lack of fairness of the impugned merger transaction. More › Share

Court Of Chancery Holds That Contractually Agreed Issues Of Substantive Arbitrability Are For Judicial Resolution

Willie Gary LLC. v. James & Jackson LLC., C.A. No. 1781, 2006 WL 75309 (Del. Ch. Jan. 10, 2006), aff'd, (Del. Mar. 14, 2006)(Berger, J.) Plaintiff sought to enjoin defendant to remedy an alleged breach of the LLC Agreement and to specifically enforce the defendant's alleged promise to guarantee a debt of the LLC. Alternatively, plaintiff sought to dissolve the entity in which he owned 80% of stock because of an alleged decisional deadlock. More › Share

Court Of Chancery Grants Plaintiff's Rule To Show Cause And Finds Defendant Was Contemnor Despite Wrongful TRO

Richard Y. Johnson & Son, Inc. v. Just-In Construction, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 1735-S, 2006 WL 75308 (Del. Ch. Jan. 06, 2006). This case involved the issue of a TRO to prevent defendant from alienating goods and effects and imposition of a constructive trust pursuant to 6 Del. C. §3501 under a claim of breach of fiduciary duties, to capture receipts to defray vendors and contractors retained to complete DMV related work. More › Share

Class Representative Awarded Additional Fee Compensation For Shouldering Extra Burden By Court Of Chancery

Raider v. Sunderland, et al., C.A. No. 19357 NC, 2006 WL 75310 (Del. Ch. Jan. 04, 2006) (Revised Jan. 05, 2006). This is a class action involving board actions and fee requests by the plaintiff representative. More › Share

Court Of Chancery Denies Declaratory Judgment And Anticipatory Breach Of Contract On Ripeness Grounds

Ubiquitel Inc. and Ubiquitel Operating Co. v. Sprint Corp, et al., C.A. No. 1489-N, 1518-N, 2006 WL 44424 (Del. Ch. Jan. 04, 2006). and Horizon Personal Communications, Inc. et al. v. Sprint Corp., et al., C.A. No. 1518-N (Del. Ch. Jan. 04, 2006). These cases pertain to summary judgment and a request for declaratory judgment involving an anticipatory breach of a commercial agreement concerning a merger transaction. More › Share

Federal Court Transfers Venue Under The Jumara v. State Farm Ins. Co. Articulation Of 28 U.S.C. Section 1412 Multifactor Considerations.

Bank of America, N.A. (USA) v. US Airways, Inc., No. Civ. A. 05-793-JJF, 2005 WL 3525680 (D.Del. Dec. 21, 2005). This is an action founded on tort and breach of contract. The Court granted defendants' motion to transfer the action to the Eastern District of Virginia and denied, without ruling, plaintiff's motion for expedited remand to the Delaware Court of Chancery. Defendants include three Delaware entities: US Airways, Inc., US Airways Group, Inc., and America West Airlines, Inc. The first two defendants maintained their principal place of business in Virginia. America West, Inc., maintained its principal place of business in Arizona. Additionally, Juniper Bank intervened as a defendant. More › Share

Court of Chancery Substantially Denies Motion to Dismiss Complaint Seeking Release of Escrowed Funds and Other Relief

Bonham v. HBW Holdings, Inc., C.A. No. 820-N, 2005 WL 3589419 (Del. Ch. Dec. 23, 2005). Former stockholders sued acquirer for release of $25 million held in escrow for purpose of indemnification for breach of warranty claims and other relief. The acquirer moved to dismiss the complaint on the grounds that it properly and timely noticed claims for breach of warranty and other issues, Plaintiffs failed to allege that those claims were made in bad faith, and certain of the claims were subject to mandatory arbitration under the terms of the stock purchase agreement. More › Share

Court of Chancery Grants Partial Summary Judgment with Respect to Claims that Former Controlling Stockholder Extracted Excess Compensation from Acquirer in Exchange for Supporting Merger

Crescent/Mach I Partnership, L.P. v. Turner, C.A. No. 17455-NC, 2005 WL 3618279 (Del. Ch. Dec. 23, 2005). Former stockholders who were cashed out in connection with merger sued the corporation's former controlling stockholder and the acquirer for breach of fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, respectively. Plaintiffs complained of numerous side deals, allegedly negotiated by the controlling stockholder. Plaintiffs also complained that the controlling stockholder breached his fiduciary duty by supplying growth projections that he knew to be unduly pessimistic and inconsistent with management's view. Defendants moved for summary judgment, which the court granted in part and denied in part. More › Share

District Court Grants Motion to Dismiss Proceeding for Preliminary Injunction

Bally Total Fitness Holding Corp. v. Liberation Investments, L.P., Liberation Investments, Ltd., Liberation Investment Group, LLC and Emanuel R. Pearlman, 2005 WL 3525679 (D.Del., December 22, 2005). The District Court for the District of Delaware granted Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's Preliminary Injunction application. At issue were SEC mandated disclosures in advance of the annual shareholders' meeting. More › Share