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Showing 227 posts in Breach of Contract.

Court Of Chancery Addresses Material Adverse Change Clause In Commercial Contract

The Mrs. Fields Brand Inc. v. Interbake Foods LLC, C.A. 12201-CB (June 26, 2017)

A material adverse change or effect clause permits a party to avoid its contractual obligations under certain circumstances. Delaware courts have addressed so-called “MAC” clauses in the merger agreement context on a number of occasions. Under that precedent, the party claiming a MAC has a high burden of proof and the alleged adverse change to a company’s business must be unexpected, serious, and extend over a significant period of time. A short-term hiccup is not a MAC. This decision is notable because it largely extends this law to the commercial contract context. 

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Delaware Supreme Court Explains Setoff And Recoupment

Finger Lakes Capital Partners LLC v. Honeoye Lake Acquisition LLC, No. 42, 2016 (November 14, 2016)

This decision explains the difference between a defendant’s right of setoff and recoupment. The key difference is that the right of setoff arises out of an independent transaction, while recoupment must be based on the same facts that support the main claim. Another difference concerns the statute of limitations.  Setoff is subject to a three-year statute of limitations, while time-barred claims can be considered for recoupment when they arise out of the same factually-related transaction as the plaintiff’s claim.   

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Court Of Chancery Holds Release Is Binding On A Non-Signatory

Geier v. Mozido LLC, C.A. 10931-VCS (September 29, 2016)

It may surprise many of us to know that a party who does not sign a general release may still be bound by its terms. Yet, that is what this decision holds under this case’s facts, which involved New York law and a release signed by the non-signatory’s affiliates. When the release binds those for whom the releasing party is authorized to act, carve out for those other parties is needed to avoid this result.

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Court of Chancery Explains When Contract Bars Tort Claims and Arbitration

Flores v. Strauss Water Ltd., C.A. 11141-VCS (September 22, 2016)

This is a great decision on when the provisions of a contract bar tort claims of fraud and tortious interference. Briefly, when the contract speaks to an issue (e.g., expressly permitting certain acts, or imposing no duty to act), a party may not assert a tort claim that would deny the other party the benefit of its bargain. Further, when the contract between two parties selects a judicial forum for dispute resolution, arbitration is not part of the deal even if provided in a collateral contract involving one of those parties, at least not where there are no grounds for binding the non-signatory to the arbitration clause.



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Court Of Chancery Explains Contract Interpretation Rules

iBio Inc. v. Fraunhoffer USA Inc., C.A. 10256-VCMR (July 29, 2016)

This is an excellent primer on the rules that guide the proper interpretation of a contract. While the rules it applies are taught to first year law students, they are too often forgotten by those of us long out of school.

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Superior Court Dismisses Warranty Of Accuracy Claim

National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA. v. Trustwave Holdings, Inc., C.A. N14C-10-160-MMJ (CCLD)

This decision holds that Delaware does not recognize a claim for the implied warranty of accuracy for a report of an inspection company. Of course, that does not mean there is no breach of contract claim for inspection services. The problem in such matters is that the contract often contains a limitation of damages clause that a clever plaintiff may try to avoid, but not this time.

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Delaware Superior Court Clarifies When The Duty Of Acting In Good Faith Applies To Enforcement Of A Guarantee

Comvest Capital II, L.P. v Selkoe, C.A. N15C-08-110 JRJ CCLD (April 26, 2016)

This is a novel decision because it deals with when a guarantor can defend against enforcement of his guarantee by claiming the company whose obligations he guaranteed was wrongly put out of business by the plaintiff who is trying to enforce the guarantee. The Court held that there was a duty to act in good faith and fairly to permit that company to first fulfill its obligation to the guaranteed party, before it could enforce the guarantee against the guarantor. Whether this defense will win, of course, remains to be seen. However, the decision is a caution that it is important to not prejudice the ability of a party who has given a guarantee to have his guarantor pay off the debt..

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Court Of Chancery Limits Fiduciary Claims Based On A Contract

CIM Urban Lending GP, LLC v. Cantor Commercial Real Estate Sponsor, L.P., C.A. 11060-VCN (February 26, 2016)

A recurring problem in Delaware jurisprudence is whether breach of contract and fiduciary duty claims may proceed simultaneously. This decision explains when they are duplicative of one another so that the secondary claim [here the breach of fiduciary duty one] should be dismissed.

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CCLD Explains Indemnification For Assumed Contractual Liabilities

Alcoa World Alumina LLC v. Glencore Ltd., C.A. 15C-08-032 EMD CCLD (February 8, 2016)

This is an important decision because it explains the specificity with which provisions indemnifying a party for liabilities under a separate contract must be stated.  In this case, Glencore, which had sold an aluminum plant to an Alcoa subsidiary pursuant to an agreement in 1995 (the “1995 Agreement”), claimed that Alcoa had agreed in the 1995 Agreement to indemnify Glencore for any liabilities arising out of an earlier sale agreement pursuant to which Glencore had purchased the plant from Lockheed in 1989 (the “1989 Agreement”).  In a separate litigation, Lockheed was claiming that Glencore had to indemnify Lockheed for certain environmental liabilities pursuant to the 1989 Agreement. More ›

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Superior Court Explains Reliance Disclaimer Clauses

Pivotal Payments Direct Corp. v. Planet Payment Inc., No. 15C-02059-EMD CCLD (December 29, 2015)

A party to a contract may try to limit any future claims of fraudulent inducement by providing an anti-reliance clause in its contracts. As this decision explains, such clauses need to be carefully drafted and particularly need to address any oral statements made before the contract is signed. This decision is also useful for its coverage of the distinction between fraud and breach of contract claims based on whether the claim alleges fraudulent intent.

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Court Of Chancery Limits Scope Of Review Under ADR Clause

PECO Logistics LLC v. Walnut Investment Partners L.P., C.A. 9978-CB (December 30, 2015)

Not infrequently, the parties to a complicated contract include a contractual provision on how to resolve any later disputes. For example, it is common to agree to use an accounting firm to resolve accounting disputes, such as what is due under a payout formula. But what is the scope of review of such a determination? More ›

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Court Of Chancery Explains Change Of Control Clause

Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB v. Foresight Energy LLC, C.A. 11059-VCL (December 4, 2015)

This is a potentially significant decision because it interprets a change in control clause to include a change in beneficial ownership of an entity's securities. Hence, not only actual changes in ownership may trigger such clauses and drafters need to be aware of this point.

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Superior Court Explains Continuing Contract Law

Palisades Collection LLC v. Unifund CCR Partners, C.A. N14C-08-036-CCLD (November 3, 2015)

The statute of limitations for a breach of a "continuous contract” does not accrue until the contract is at an end. But what is a ”continuous contract?”  This decision attempts to explain that concept that largely turns on what the parties intended.

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Superior Court Upholds Duty To Negotiate

The Data Centers LLC v. 1743 Holdings LLC, C.A. N15C-02-041-EMD CCLD (October 27, 2015)

This interesting decision upholds a claim based on the alleged duty to negotiate a contract in good faith.  This confirms the need to be careful in wording letters of intent or you may be obligated for more than you were willing  to give.

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Superior Court Interprets Jury Waiver

The Data Centers LLC v. 1743 Holdings LLC, C.A. N15C-02-042-EMD CCLD (October 27, 2015)

When is a waiver of a jury trial effective?  This is not always an easy question as some claims may be outside the scope of the waiver. This decision provides good guidance on how to decide how far the waiver reaches.

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