In the recent decision of Swift v. Houston Wire & Cable Co., C.A. No. 2021-0525-LWW (Del. Ch. Dec. 3, 2021), the Delaware Court of Chancery considered whether a plaintiff lacked standing to inspect a Delaware corporation’s books and records under 8 Del. C. § 220 when the complaint was filed just hours after a
Carl D. Neff
Carl D. Neff is a Delaware licensed attorney with the law firm of Pierson Ferdinand LLP and is based in Delaware. Carl’s practice focuses in the areas of corporate and commercial litigation before the Delaware Court of Chancery, the Delaware Supreme Court, the Delaware Superior Court and the District of Delaware.
Corporation May Not Rely Upon Deficient Stock Ledger to Deny Section 220 Demand When it was Aware of Plaintiff’s Status as a Stockholder
In the recent decision of Knott Partners L.P. v. Telepathy Labs, Inc., C.A. No. 2021-0583-SG (Del. Ch. Nov. 23, 2021), the Delaware Court of Chancery analyzed to what extent a corporation opposing a Section 220 books and records demand may rely upon its stock ledger to deny the demand.
Vice Chancellor Glasscock held…
Delaware Court of Chancery Issues Revised Guidelines for Persons Litigating in the Court of Chancery
On August 5, 2021, the Delaware Court of Chancery issued revised Guidelines for Persons Litigating in the Court of Chancery. According to the Court’s press release, the Guidelines “review the expectations for remote and courtroom hearings and trials and offer best practices for litigating cases in the Court of Chancery.” These Guidelines are a…
Amendments to Delaware Alternative Entity Statutes Add “Necessary and Essential” Test to Books and Records Inspection Demands
Effective August 1, 2021, the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (“LLC Act”), the Delaware Revised Uniform Limited Partnership Act (“LP Act”) and the Delaware Revised Uniform Partnership Act (“Partnership Act”) have been amended to require that the “necessary and essential” standard apply to books and records inspection demands made under statutory or contractual grounds, subject…
Delaware Court of Chancery Dismisses Caremark Claim for Failure to Sufficiently Plead Demand Futility
The Delaware Court of Chancery recently dismissed a derivative lawsuit asserting a Caremark claim for failure to adequately allege demand futility under Court of Chancery Rule 23.1. The opinion, Pettry v. Smith, et al., C.A. No. 2019-0795-JRS (Del. Ch. June 28, 2021), provides a helpful roadmap regarding the assertion of demand futility under Delaware…
Court of Chancery Dismisses Defamation Claim, Rejects Parties’ Stipulation to Hear Claim Under Clean-Up Doctrine
In the recent decision of DG BF, LLC, et al. v. Michael Ray, et al., C.A. No. 2020-0459-MTZ (Del. Ch. June 30, 2021), the Delaware Court of Chancery declined to exercise subject matter jurisdiction over a defamation claim despite the parties stipulating to have the Court hear such claim under the clean-up doctrine.
Earlier,…
Court of Chancery Grants Stay of Discovery Pending Resolution of Advancement Claim
In the recent decision of Agspring Holdco, LLC, et al. v. NGP X US Holdings, L.P., et al., C.A. No. 2019-0567-JRS (Del. Ch. June 28, 2021), the Delaware Court of Chancery issued a stay of discovery pending resolution of the parties’ cross-motions for summary judgment to confirm or vacate an arbitration ruling concerning advancement…
Delaware Court of Chancery Extends the Permitted Use of Unsworn Declarations to September 30, 2021
On July 12, 2021, the Court of Chancery issued Standing Order No. 6. The standing order extends the permitted use of unsworn declarations, verifications, certificates, statements, oaths, or affidavits in filings with the Court of Chancery, pursuant to 10 Del. C. § 3927, until September 30, 2021.
Citing that many law firms and…
Jury Trials to Resume in the District of Delaware, Subject to Discretion of the Judge
The United States District Court for the District of Delaware recently issued a Jury Trial Notice on April 5, 2021, stating that jury trials will resume, subject to the discretion of each individual judge as to whether and when any particular case will proceed to trial.
Previously, on February 5th, the Chief District Court Judge…
Court of Chancery Holds that Arbitrability of Advancement Claim Must be Determined by Arbitrator
In the recent decision of Blackmon v. O3 Insight, Inc., C.A. No. 2020-1014-SG (Del. Ch. Mar. 9, 2021), the Delaware Court of Chancery held that the arbitrability of a Delaware director’s claim for advancement must be determined by an arbitrator.
The Petitioner, Theodore Blackmon, is a director and stockholder of respondent O3 Insight, Inc.…