Maldonado v. Flynn
Maldonado v. Flynn
Opinion of the Court
OPINION
This action, and another commenced by the plaintiff, as well as a third action in which he appeared involving the Zapata Corporation (“Zapata”), have been the subject of numerous opinions in the District Courts of Texas and this District, the Courts of Appeals for the Second and Fifth Circuits, and the Chancery Court of Delaware and familiarity is assumed with the factual and other aspects of the various rulings.
When the instant appeal is decided, Judge Weinfeld, in accordance with the Second Circuit’s remand, will proceed to determine first; whether any, all, or part of the New York action is precluded by the Texas settlement judgment, providing it is upheld by this Court, and then, if neeessary, whether, in his own independent business judgment, it is in the best interest of the Corporation to grant Zapata’s motion for summary judgment based on the Investigation Committee’s recommendation (already established to have been independent and appropriately arrived at in good faith) that the New York action be terminated.3
The Independent Investigation Committee of Zapata now moves to dismiss this action on the grounds of res judicata or, in the alternative, for a determination that in this Court’s independent business judgment the continued maintenance of this action is contrary to Zapata’s interest. Plaintiff, while opposing defendants’ motions on the grounds advanced by them, nonetheless acknowledges that, based upon analysis of the issue of materiality, it is inappropriate “to proceed in the prosecution of the § 14a claims which are asserted before this Court” and that “as a result of the great delay caused by the many appeals in this case, time has rendered our § 14(a) claim moot.” However, plaintiff insists that the Texas action is not res judicata and adheres to his original position that the Independent Committee’s determination that the action should be dismissed is unsound and that this Court should so hold. He urges that the Court enter a voluntary dismissal under Fed.R.Civ.P. 41(a).
After ten years of extensive litigation in three trial and three appellate courts, involving tremendous legal and other expenses and the distraction of corporate officers from their assigned duties in furtherance of the corporate well being, the defendants are entitled to a determination upon the merits. The various opinions that have addressed plaintiff’s basic and other claims and those that have considered his instant contentions render further discus
Accordingly, judgment may be entered dismissing the action.
. Maher v. Zapata Corp., 714 F.2d 436 (5th Cir. 1983); Maldonado v. Flynn, 413 A.2d 1251 (Del. Ch. 1980); Maldonado v. Flynn, 417 A.2d 378 (Del.Ch. 1980); Zapata Corp. v. Maldonado, 430 A.2d 779 (Del.Supr. 1981); Maldonado v. Flynn, 448 F.Supp. 1032 (S.D.N.Y. 1978); Maldonado v. Flynn, 597 F.2d 789 (2d Cir. 1979); Maldonado v. Flynn, 477 F.Supp. 1007 (S.D.N.Y. 1979); Maldonado v. Flynn, 485 F.Supp. 274 (S.D.N.Y. 1980); Maldonado v. Flynn, 671 F.2d 729 (2d Cir. 1982).
. Maher v. Zapata Corp., 714 F.2d 436, 467 (5th Cir. 1983).
. Id. at 449.
. Id. at 441 n. 10.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William MALDONADO v. William H. FLYNN, Sam Israel, Jr., A.G. Gueymard, J.B. Harrison, Ronald C. Lassiter, B.J. Mackin, Michael R. Naess, Eugene F. Shiels, Robert B. Wall and Zapata Corporation
- Status
- Published