Corporate Governance / Fiduciary Duty
O'Malley v. Boris, 742 A.2d 845 (Del. Supr. 1999). Counsel in class action involving breach of investment broker's fiduciary duties to 269,000 clients. Case settled on day of trial following Delaware Supreme Court's reversal of Chancery Court's dismissal of suit and Chancery Court's subsequent grant of summary judgment on liability in favor of plaintiffs. See 2002 WL 453928 (Del. Ch.) (granting summary judgment); 2001 WL 50204 (Del. Ch.) (granting class certification) (Messrs. Watkins' and Wylie's prior firm).
Mayfield v. WWC License Holding,No. 18743 (Del. Ch. 2002); Mayfield v. Western Wireless Corp., No. 18717 (Del. Ch. 2002). Class actions on behalf of shareholders of cellular telephone license holders alleging unfair squeeze-out mergers. Cases settled for $2 million in 2002 (Messrs. Watkins' and Wylie's prior firm).
Canel v. Lincoln Nat'l Bank, 1998 WL 1760544 (N.D. Ill. 1998). Squeeze-out merger class action involving bank acquisition. Settled in 2000 (Mr. Watkins' prior firm).
Schelly v. Mfrs. Nat'l Corp.,No. 99-00820 (Cir. Ct. Cook County, Ch. Div.). Breach of fiduciary duty action on behalf of minority shareholders in bank. Settled in 2000 (Mr. Watkins' prior firm).
Ravenswood v. Peerless Weighing & Vending Mach. Co.,No. 95-5885 (Cir. Ct. Cook County, Ch. Div.). Lead counsel. Class and derivative settlement of $3 million reached in October 1996 (Mr. Watkins' prior firm).
Malone v. Brincat,722 A.2d 5 (Del. Supr. 1998). Co-lead counsel in landmark decision allowing class of non-purchaser stockholders of Mercury Finance Company to bring action for breach of fiduciary duty of disclosure. After $12 million partial settlement of related bankruptcy proceedings. related proceedings are still pending in Cook County Circuit Court (Mr Watkins' prior firm).