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...

Federal Court Rules Boilermakers Didn't Decide All Issues And Orders Company To File A Form 8-K

At first glance, the plaintiff's position in Bushansky v. Armacost, 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 88072 (N.D. Cal. June 25, 2014) seems a bit peculiar. The plaintiff had filed suit challenging Chevron Corporation's adoption of an exclusive forum bylaw....

When "All" Doesn't Necessarily Mean "All"

In Who Can’t Raise Capital?: The Scylla and Charybdis of Capital Formation, 102 Ky. L.J. 1 (2013-2014), Duke University Professor James D. Cox tackles the widespread criticism of state blue sky laws as barriers to capital formation. Along the way,...

Californians May Vote This November On Whether To Overturn Citizens United

Although state law does not explicitly authorize advisory elections, the California legislature is poised to pass a bill calling a special election for this November for an advisory vote. SB 1272 (Lieu) would submit the following question to the...

How Confused Is This? California Defines LLCs Subject To New Law To Include Foreign LLCs

The California Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. which took effect on January 1 of this year, provides the statutory framework for the formation and operation of limited liability companies. The law appears to distinguish between a...

If Fee-Shifting Bylaws Are Ever Put On Trial, This Case Should Be Exhibit A

Item 5.07(d) of Form 8-K requires issuers to disclose "the company’s decision in light of such vote as to how frequently the company will include a shareholder vote on the compensation of executives in its proxy materials until the next required...