In a recent opinion issued by the Delaware Court of Chancery, Perryman v. Stimwave Technologies, Inc., C.A. No. 2020-0079-SG, the Vice Chancellor Glasscock ruled upon whether directors of a Delaware corporation were entitled to advancement under the corporation’s bylaws, pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 145(e). This opinion is an important read for
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.
Delaware Chancery Grants Books and Records Demand; Revises Fee-Shifting Award on Remand
In a brief and short letter opinion of Durham v. Grapetree, LLC, Civil Action No. 2018-0174-SG (Del. Ch. Oct. 8, 2020), Vice Chancellor Glasscock ruled upon a pro se litigant’s books and records demand after it was remanded to the Court of Chancery on appeal. The plaintiff attached a number of books and records…
New Confer in Good Faith Requirement Added to Rule 30(b)(6)
Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 30(b)(6) now includes a confer-in-good-faith requirement. The amendment addresses perceived deficiencies in the Rule 30(b)(6) process, including inadequately prepared witnesses and deficient notices. To address these challenges, the rule makers concluded that requiring lawyers to address such issues in advance will increase clarity and resolution.
The new amendment provides as…
Chancery Permits Amendment to Books and Records Complaint; Disapproves of Rule 11 Rhetoric
In a short and pithy letter opinion, the Delaware Court of Chancery granted leave to a party to amend its complaint in a books and records action where plaintiff initially asserted it was a record stockholder, and then amended to state it was a beneficial stockholder. POSCO Energy Co., Ltd. v. FuelCell Energy, Inc.,…
What Remedies are Available in a DGCL Section 273 Joint Venture Dissolution Action?
In a prior post, we discussed the standards required to obtain relief under Section 273 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), i.e. (i) that a Delaware corporation has two 50/50 stockholders, (ii) that the company is engaged in a joint venture, and (iii) the 50/50 stockholders are unable to agree as to whether…
Chancery Grants Summary Judgment on Contract Interpretation Claim, Denies Plaintiff’s TRO
In the recent decision of Searchlight CST, L.P. v. MediaMath Holdings, Inc., C.A. No. 2020-0652-SG (Del. Ch. Sept. 28, 2020), the Delaware Court of Chancery granted Defendant MediaMath Holdings, Inc.’s (“Defendant”) motion for summary judgment in connection with a contract dispute over a provision limiting the amount of indebtedness Defendant is able to incur.…
Chancery Grants Dismissal of Claims under Revlon Standard, Citing Exculpatory Provision
In the recent decision of Rudd v. Brown, et al., C.A. No. 2019-0775-MTZ (Del. Ch. Sept. 11, 2020), the Delaware Court of Chancery granted defendants’ motion to dismiss plaintiffs’ derivative claims in their entirety in light of an exculpatory provision in the corporation’s charter.
Plaintiffs’ derivative claims alleged that the company’s directors breached their…
Petitioning the Court of Chancery to Appoint a Custodian or Receiver to a Delaware Corporation Under Section 226 of the DGCL
When a Delaware corporation is deadlocked and unable to operate as a result of dissension among its shareholders or directors, or has abandoned its business, what remedies are available to the company’s shareholders under Delaware law? Section 226 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) squarely addresses this issue. Under that statute, any shareholder of…
Delaware Judiciary Extends Emergency Until Oct. 5, 2020; Unveils Plan to Resume Trials In October
On Friday, September 4, 2020, the Delaware Supreme Court released a plan to restart jury trials in October, 2020, while extending the current judicial emergency an additional 30 days until October 5, 2020. The Chief Justice likewise issued Administrative Order No. 10 memorializing the same.
According to the notice, the resumption of jury trials…
Court Denies Motion to Seal Entirety of TRO Hearing
In a short, one-page order, the Court of Chancery denied a motion by defendants to seal the entirety of an upcoming TRO hearing, in the case of Searchlight CST, L.P. v. MediaMath Holdings, Inc., C.A. No. 2020-0652-SG (Del. Ch. Aug. 24, 2020). Vice Chancellor Glasscock ruled that the “Court does not conduct public…