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Delaware Decisions Reduce Hurdles to Defending D&O Claims



by Anjali C. Das
Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP - Chicago Office

September 28, 2009

Previously published on September 2009

A typical claim targeting directors and officers ("D&Os") in the context of a merger or acquisition is that the D&Os breached their fiduciary duties of care and loyalty by failing to get the best deal for shareholders. However, in a boon to D&Os and their insurers, several recent Delaware court decisions have made it easier for defendants to successfully defend these types of claims. Earlier this year, the Delaware Supreme Court set a high threshold for breach of duty of loyalty claims, which must be premised on a "knowing and complete" failure of a director's responsibilities. Subsequent Delaware cases have applied this exacting standard in dismissing breach of loyalty claims against directors.


 

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