In a matter of first impression, the Delaware Court of Chancery ruled that management of a Delaware corporation may not preclude a director from obtaining privileged information of the company. The decision was handed down yesterday by Chancellor Bouchard in the ongoing WeWork litigation, styled as In re WeWork Litigation, C.A. No. 2020-0258-AGB (Del.
Delaware Court of Chancery Holds that Internal Affairs Doctrine Governs Books and Records Demand; Applies Delaware Law Instead of California Corporations Code
Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law permits a stockholder or director to make a books and records against a corporation incorporated in Delaware, regardless of where the corporation conducts its business. Yet many jurisdictions have their own inspection statutes, some of which govern not only entities incorporated or formed in that state, but
Delaware Judicial Emergency Extended for Another 30 Days
Today, the Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court issued Administrative Order No. 9, which extends Delaware’s Judicial Emergency for another 30 days, effective August 7, 2020. Per the Administrative Order, the Delaware courts will continue to operate under Phase 2.
Citing the “national trend of increasing virus spread, new quarantine requirements by other
Section 225 of the DGCL: Challenges to Director Elections, Appointments, Removals or Resignations
Section 225 of the Delaware General Corporation Law is an important and powerful tool for any shareholder, director or officer seeking to challenge the results of an election of directors of a Delaware corporation, along with the appointment, removal or resignation of any director or officer.
From a procedural perspective, a party seeking such relief
Delaware Court of Chancery Permits Validation of Defective Act Under Section 205 of the DGCL; Failure of Authorization Distinguished from Absence of Corporate Power
In a rare decision pertaining to Section 205 of the DGCL handed down today by the Delaware Court of Chancery, Applied Energetics, Inc. v. Farley, et al., C.A. No. 2018-0489-JTL (Del. Ch. Aug. 3, 2020), Vice Chancellor Laster granted summary judgment in favor of a plaintiff who challenged a defective board action, as result
Stockholder Seeking Books and Records Need Not Prove an End-Use for Valuation of Shares
It is well established that when a stockholder of a Delaware corporation makes a books and records demand under Section 220 of the DGCL, the stockholder must state a proper purpose for the requested books and records. “Valuation of a stockholder’s investment in a corporation, particularly where the corporation is privately held, has long
Chancery Denies Books and Records Demand; Déjà Vu All Over Again
The recent decision of SolarReserve CSP Holdings, LLC v. Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC, C.A. No. 2020-0064-JRS (Del. Ch. July 24, 2020), handed down by the Delaware Court of Chancery, is an important read for any litigant involved in a books and records demand, where the party seeking information has assigned its interests in the
Delaware 2020 Bar Exam Cancelled; Applicants to Practice Law on Limited Basis
In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Delaware bar exam has been cancelled this year, according to an announcement by the Court issued on July 24, 2020. The bar examination, usually scheduled in late July, had previously been rescheduled to September 9th to 11th.
Pursuant to the announcement, in lieu of the bar exam,
Delaware Court of Chancery Issues Courtroom Protocols Pertaining to Courthouse Reopening
Earlier in June 2020, the Delaware Court of Chancery has issued its Courtroom Protocols, that are being implemented, effective June 8, 2020, in conjunction with the reopening of the courthouses. A high-level summary of the new practices and procedures are set forth below:
- All attorneys and members of the public will be screened upon
Dissolution of a Delaware LLC with Members of Equal Ownership Interest
Section 273 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides a basis for the dissolution of a deadlocked “joint venture” corporation, in which two equal shareholders cannot agree on whether to discontinue the corporation. However, the Delaware Limited Liability Act (“LLC Act”) does not have a provision similar to 8 Del. C. § 273