Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. v.
Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc. v.
Opinion
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS § INC., § § No. 174, 2014 Plaintiff-Below, § Appellant, § Court Below: Court of § Chancery of the State of v. § Delaware § SPANISH BROADCASTING § Consol. C.A. No. 8321-VCG SYSTEM, INC., § § Defendant-Below, § Appellee. §
Submitted: December 10, 2014 Decided: December 11, 2014
Before STRINE, Chief Justice; HOLLAND, RIDGELY, and VAUGHN, Justices; SILVERMAN, Judge, constituting the Court en Banc.
ORDER
In this appeal, the plaintiff and appellant, Lehman Brothers Holdings, Inc.,
argues that the Court of Chancery erred in finding that the doctrine of acquiescence
barred its claims. The defendant and appellee, Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.,
argues that the Court of Chancery was correct in dismissing Lehman’s claims, and
also urges alternative grounds of affirmance, including that the doctrine of laches
bars the claims, and that the underlying Certificate of Designation cannot
Sitting by designation under Del. Const. art. IV, § 12. 1 reasonably be read in a manner that expands the scope of preferential rights given
to preferred stockholders like Lehman.
We have carefully considered the arguments of the parties and find no error
in the Court of Chancery’s determination that acquiescence barred Lehman’s
claims, given the undisputed facts of record.1 We therefore affirm that
determination substantially for the reasons stated in the Court of Chancery’s
decision of February 25, 2014. In so affirming, however, we do not imply any
agreement or disagreement with the Court of Chancery’s determination that the
doctrine of laches itself did not bar Lehman from proceeding. Because the Court
of Chancery did not err in applying the theory it did, we need not and do not reach
that issue or Spanish Broadcasting System’s other asserted bases for affirmance,
including its argument that the plaintiffs’ contract claim is substantively without
merit.
For these reasons, the judgment of the Court of Chancery is AFFIRMED. IT
IS SO ORDERED.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Leo E. Strine, Jr. Chief Justice
1 Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and T. Rowe Price High Yield Fund, Inc. v. Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc., Consol. C.A. No. 8321 (Del. Ch. Feb. 25, 2014). 2
Reference
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