Californians To Vote On Stripping Common Cause Of Its First Amendment Rights

I recently wrote about SB 1272 (Lieu) which calls a special election for this November 4 at which California voters will be able to cast an advisory vote on whether the U.S. Constitution should be amended to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's holding...

Why Doesn't The SEC Post SubCommittee Recommendations?

Last Thursday, the Investor Advisory Committee held another meeting.  The agenda included this rather vague agenda description:

Legislature Enacts "5 Second Rule" For Electronic Contracts To Sell Real Property

The Statute of Frauds has been a part of Anglo-American jurisprudence for centuries. It made its first appearance in the wake of the English Civil War (yes, they had one too but for very different reasons) when King Charles II decided that it was...

Does A Director Have A Contractual Right To Compensation?

Yesterday, I wrote about stockholder challenges to director compensation. Today's post considers what happens when a director joins a board. When someone is invited to join a board, she may ask about compensation. The company may refer the candidate...

When It Comes To Director Compensation Claims, Nevada And Delaware Are Fundamentally Different

Since 1969, there has no question that directors of a Delaware corporation have the authority to set their own compensation. 8 DGCL § 141(h). Having authority to do something, however, doesn't mean that the use of that authority won't be challenged,...

Some Questions Boards Might Want To Ask When Considering Fee-Shifting Bylaws

1.  Is a fee-shifting bylaw facially valid under applicable law?  The Delaware Supreme Court has held that a fee-shifting bylaw adopted by a Delaware non-stock corporation is facially valid.  ATP Tour, Inc. v. Deutscher Tennis Bund, 2014 Del. LEXIS 209...

Federal Court Rejects Court Of Chancery's Privity Analysis

Two years ago, I wrote about La. Mun. Police Emples. Ret. Sys. v. Pyott, 46 A.3d 313 (Del. Ch. 2012) in which Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster refused to give preclusive effect to federal district court's dismissal of a derivative action.  See ...

How Broad Was That Bylaw?

In yesterday's posting, I noted a recent Form 8-K filing that discloses the adoption of a fee-shifting bylaw.  In  ATP Tour, Inc. v. Deutscher Tennis Bund, 2014 Del. LEXIS 209 (Del. May 8, 2014), the Delaware Supreme Court held that a fee-shifting...

Public Company Adopts Fee Shifting Bylaw

The Delaware Supreme Court caused quite a stir when it concluded that a fee shifting bylaw adopted by a non-stock corporation did not run afoul of the Delaware General Corporation Law.  ATP Tour, Inc. v. Deutscher Tennis Bund, 2014 Del. LEXIS 209...