Posts tagged Fiduciary Duty

Court of Chancery Grants Preliminary Injunction Against Majority Stockholder Seeking to Purchase Additional Shares for a Penny Each in an Attempt to Convert Some of its Debt to Equity

Flight Options Int'l, Inc. v. Flight Options, LLC, C.A. No. 1459-N, 2005 WL 2335353 (Del. Ch. July 11, 2005). Plaintiff Flight Options International, Inc. ("FOI") sought a preliminary injunction against defendant Flight Options LLC ("the Company"), a Delaware limited liability company. More › Share

Court of Chancery Finds Genuine Issue of Material Fact Regarding Disinterestedness of Board of Acquisition Target

IN RE FREEPORT-MCMORAN SULPHUR, INC. SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION., C.A. No. 16729, 2005 WL 1653923 (Del.Ch. June 30, 2005) In a shareholder class action, the plaintiffs sought relief alleging an unfair exchange ratio in a stock-for-stock merger of two public companies. The defendants moved for summary judgment. The Court of Chancery denied Defendant's Motion. More › Share

Court of Chancery Denies Motion for Temporary Injunction Where Breakup Fee Is Alleged To Be Too High

In re Toys "R" Us Shareholder Litigation, C.A. No. 1212-N, 877 A.2d 975 (Del. Ch. June 24, 2005) The Court of Chancery considered a motion to enjoin a vote of the stockholders of Toys "R" Us, Inc. to consider approving a merger with an acquisition vehicle formed by a group led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, the Toys "R" Us stockholders would receive $26.75 per share for their shares. The $26.75 per share merger consideration constituted a 123% premium over the price of TRU stock when merger negotiations began in January 2004. Plaintiffs charged the board did not act reasonably in pursuit of the highest attainable value. The Court of Chancery denied the motion to enjoin a stockholder vote on the proposed merger, saying stockholders could stop the merger by voting if they thought it was unfair More › Share

Court of Chancery Denies Motion to Dismiss Complaint Where Board Materially Misled Shareholders About Search For New CEO

Shamrock Holdings, et al. v. The Walt Disney Co., et al., C.A. No. 1330-N, 2005 WL 1377490 (Del. Ch. June 6, 2005) Plaintiff dissident shareholders seek to void the result of a corporate election of directors, to compel the company to make full and fair disclosure of the CEO selection process, and (following such disclosure) compel another election of directors. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss Plaintiffs' complaint. The Court of Chancery denied the Motion. More › Share

Motion for Summary Judgment Granted Where Shareholders Ratified Internal Recapitalization

Rosser v. New Valley Corporation, et al., C.A. No. 17272-N, 2005 WL 1364624 (Del. Ch. May 27, 2005) Defendants filed a motion for summary judgment where Plaintiff alleged proposed internal recapitalization favored director shareholders. Plaintiff challenged the adequacy of the fairness opinion, the disclosures to shareholders and the sufficiency of the Proxy Statement because it failed to disclose separate valuations of New Valley's various assets and lines of business The Court of Chancery granted the Defendants' motion for summary judgment. More › Share

Court of Chancery Dismisses Stockholders' Claims Because Claims were Derivative and Demand was Not Excused

In re J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. S'holder Litig., 2005 WL 1076069 (Del. Ch. April 29, 2005), aff'd, 2006 WL 585606 (Del. Mar. 8, 2006). J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. ("JPMC") and Bank One agreed to a business combination that was expected to create the second largest financial institution in the country. JMPC paid a premium over the market share price for Bank One, effectively making JPMC the acquirer and the Bank One the target. After the merger was completed, the stockholders of the acquirer sued its directors, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty with regard to the acquisition. Their claims stemmed from the allegation that the directors paid too much for the acquired bank. The defendants moved to dismiss the complaint on the basis that the claims were derivative, not direct, and that demand was not excused. The court granted defendants motion to dismiss. 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

Court Of Chancery Ropes In Florida Corporation On Conspiracy Theory For Jurisdictional Nexus

Benihana of Tokyo, Inc. v. Benihana, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 550-N (Del. Ch. Feb. 28, 2005). This case deals with several motions to dismiss on several grounds, the upholding of personal jurisdiction under a conspiracy or aiding/abetting theory and plaintiff's request for a declaratory judgment. More › Share

Constructive Trusts Circumvent Limitations Period Under 10 Del. C. Section 8113

Nicholas A. Ruggerio v. Estate of Michael A. Poppiti, Sr., et al., C.A. No. 18961-NC, 2005 WL 517967 (Del. Ch. Feb. 23, 2005). This is an action for breach of fiduciary duties, commingling of assets and a failure to account involving two Delaware limited partnerships. Defendants brought an unsuccessful motion to dismiss. The court however granted their summary judgment motion for claims predating June 18, 1998 but denied judgment as to all other claims. More › Share

Defendant Fails To Rebut Presumption Of Beneficial Causation For Merger Fee Award

In re Plains Resources Inc. Shareholders Litigation, C.A. No. 071-N, 2005 WL 332811 (Del. Ch. Feb. 04, 2005). This is an action for plaintiff's attorney fees following settlement of fiduciary duty-based shareholder class actions. More › Share

Court of Chancery Stays Discovery Applying The "Special Circumstances" Test

George D. Orloff, et al. v. Lloyd J. Shulman, et al., C.A. No. 852-N, 2005 WL 333240 (Del. Ch. Feb. 02, 2005). Minority shareholders of LLC brought a derivative suit for corporate waste and breach of fiduciary duties. Defendants filed a motion to stay discovery pending the resolution of a motion to dismiss. The court granted it. More › Share

Court of Chancery Denies Answer Amendment On Public Policy Grounds

Oliver, et al. v. Boston University., et al., C.A. No. 16570-NC (Del. Ch. Jan. 28, 2005). Plaintiff filed a motion to amend its answer to limit its liability exposure to its shareholders in a publicly traded corporation, by asserting an affirmative defense under the law of Massachusetts. More › Share

Court of Chancery Permits Privileged Documents For "Good Cause" Under "Mutuality of Interest" Exception

In re Freeport-McMoran Sulphur, Inc. Shareholder Litig., C.A. No. 16729, 2005 WL 225040 (Del. Ch. Jan. 26, 2005). This discovery-related action involves a claim of access to defendant-corporation's documents listed in its privilege log through a motion to compel. The court granted the motion in part, but denied production of the shareholder repurchase document. 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

Superior Court Grants Defendant's Motion to Dismiss Based on Doctrine of Res Judicata

Best Drywall Inc. v. Feeheley, C.A. No. 03C-04-005 (Del. Super. Ct. Jan. 6, 2005) The plaintiff brought an action against a former officer for fraud, unjust enrichment, and breach of fiduciary duty. The defendant moved to dismiss based on doctrine of res judicata because a similar case had been brought and dismissed for failure to prosecute in the Court of Chancery. The Superior Court granted the motion to dismiss. More › Share