IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

FUCHS FAMILY TRUST, :
: Plaintiff, :

:
v. : C.A. No. 9986

- VCN

: PARKER DRILLING COMPANY, :
: Defendant. :

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Date Submitted: November 12, 2014 Date Decided: March 4 , 2015

Joel Friedlander, Esquire and Christopher Foulds, Esquire of Friedlander & Gorris, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware; Benny C. Goodman III, Esquire, Laurie L. Largent, Esquire, and Christopher D. Stewart, Esquire of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP, San Diego, California; and Joe Kendall, Esquire and Jamie J. McKey, Esquire of Kendall Law Group, LLP, Dallas, Texas, Attorneys for Plaintiff.
Srinivas M. Raju, Esquire and Robert L. Burns, Esquire of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware, and Samuel W. Cooper, Esquire and Christie A. Mathis, Esquire of Paul Hastings LLP, Houston, Texas, Attorneys for Defendant.

NOBLE, Vice Chancellor1 I. BACKGROUND

Based in Houston
, Texas, Defendant Parker Drilling Company (“Parker” or
the “Company” ) is a Delaware corporation providing drilling and drilling

- related

services. As an issue r under the federal securities law s , Parker is subject to the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”). 1 The FCPA prohibits covered
companies from bribing foreign officials and requires those companies to adopt

and maintain preventive internal controls and accounting records

. On August 9 , 2007, Parker disclose d that the United States Department of

Justice (t he “DOJ”) had requested information regarding the Company’s use of a
freight forwarding and customs agent. The DOJ was con cerned about FCPA
compliance and had apparently requested similar information from several other
companies. Early the next year
, Parker disclosed that the Securities and Exchange

Commission ( the “SEC” ) had demanded the same information. Soon thereafter,
the Company acknowledged that b oth agencies were investigating potential FCPA
violations relating to Parker ’s business in Kazakhst an and Nigeria, and that the
Company was conducting its own internal investigation.

In 2010, Parker disclosed (the “2010 Disclosure”) that its internal
investigation “ha[d] identified issues relating to potential non

- compliance with
applicable laws and r egulations, including the FCPA, with respect to operations in

1 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 78dd

- 1, et seq

.2

Kazakhstan and Nigeria.” 2 In response , a stock holder made demand on Parker’s

board (the “Stockholder Demand”) to take action “to remedy breaches of fiduciary
duties by the directors and certain officers of the Company

. . . . ” 3 The board
formed a special committee (the “Special Committee”) to evaluate the Stockholder

Demand and determine an appropriate course of action.

Also soon after the 2010 Disc losure, various stockholders filed derivative

actions in Texas state courts

. These actions , one filed by Plaintiff Fuchs Family
Trust (“Fuchs”) , were consolidated and restyled In re Parker Company Derivative

Litigation (the “State Court Derivative Action”)

. 4 Plaintiffs in t he State Court

Derivative Acti on alleged that Parker ’ s directors and executives had breached their
fiduciary duties by failin g to implement and maintain internal controls to comply

with laws
, including the FCPA. The plaintiffs pleaded that demand on Parker’s

2 Joint Exhibit (“JX”) 5. 3 JX 7. Fuchs objected to consideration of the contents of the Stockholder Demand, as well as several SEC filings, on hearsay grounds. In the Pre

- Trial Stipulation and Order ( the “Pre

- Trial Order”), Fuchs admitted that the Company received the Stockholder Demand and that Parker later reported that it had decided not to take action. ¶¶ 8; 32. The Stockholder Demand establishes that Parker received that request, rather than the truth of any assertions therein. Further, “[d]espite the fact that a SEC filin g may constitute hearsay with respect to the truth of the matters asserted therein, courts may consult these documents to ascertain facts appropriate f

or judicial notice under D.R.E. 201.” In re Santa Fe Pac. Corp. S’holder Litig. , 669 A.2d 59, 70 n.9 (Del. 1995). That a stockholder made demand on Parker’s board, and that the board refused to pursue action, has been established. Regardless, these facts are not necessary for resolving this m atter. 4 JX 11.3

board was futile because the members faced a substantial like lihood of liability for
breaching the ir duties of loyalty.

Parker moved to dismiss the State Court Derivative Action
, asserting that
plaintiffs had in adequately pleaded demand futility. T he cou rt dismissed the action
without prejudice, after which the plaintiffs filed an amended petition. Parker
again moved to dismiss on substantially the same basis as its first motion. The
court dismissed the amended petition, again without prejudice

. 5

While this litigation was ongoing , another stockholder derivative action (the
“Freuler Action”) was lodged in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of Texas (the “ Texas federal court ”). The Freuler Action also addressed
the Company’s FCPA

- related issues. As with the State Court Derivative Action,

Parker moved for dismissal base d on plaintiff ’s failure to plead demand futility
sufficiently . The court dismiss ed the Freuler Action, allowing the plaintiff (the
“Freuler Plaintiff”) opportunity to replead. 6 The court subsequently dismissed an

5 JX 31 (July 23, 2012
, Order In re Parker D rilling Co. Deriv. Litig. , Master File No. 2010

- 34655, 61st Dist. Ct., Harris Cnty., Tex.).
6 JX 16 (Opinion and Order, Freuler v. Parker, Jr. , CA H

- 10

- 3148 (S.D. Tex. June 30, 2012) (“First Federal Court Dismissal”)).4

amended complain t with prejudice for failure to demonstrate demand excusal. 7

T he United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal

. 8

On February 15, 2013, Parker announced that it had reached an agreement in
principle to settle the DOJ and SEC investigations. Two months later , the
Company settled with the agencies
, entering into a three

- year deferred prosecution
agreement (“DPA”) with the DOJ and a civil settleme nt with the SEC ( together,
the “Settlement”) . Parker agreed to pay $15.85 million in fines, penalties and

disg orgement, consented to a permanent injunction against FCPA violations , and
adopted new internal controls to bring the C ompany into compliance with the

FCPA’s books and records provisions. The DPA noted Parker’s cooperation with
the investigation and its extensive remediation. 9 Further, Parker has “end[ed] its
business relationships with [the] officers, employees, or agents pri marily
responsible for the corrupt payments.” 10

The papers accompanying the S ettlement (the “Resolution Papers”)
described a bribery scheme (the “Nigerian Bribing Scheme”) , that violated the

FCPA, stemming from Parker ’s operations in Nigeria between 2001 and 2004.

Parker admitted that two senior executives, identified only as “Executive A” and

7 JX 19 (Opinion and Order of Dismiss al, Freuler v. Parker, Jr. , CA H

- 10

- 3148 (S.D. Tex. Mar. 14, 2012) (“Second Federal Court Dismissal”)). 8 JX 37 (Opinion, Freuler v. Parker Jr. , Case No. 12

- 20260 (5th Cir. Mar. 11, 2013)). 9 JX 41 , ¶ 4. 10 Id.5

“Executive B”
, had funneled $1.25 million in bribes to Nigerian officials through a

partner (“Outside Legal Counsel”) at the law firm retai ned by the Company (the
“Law Firm”)

. By July 29, 2013, the Special Committee had finished assessing the
Stockholder Demand. The Special Committee recommended that the Company

not pursue action against the individuals named in the Stockholder Demand, and
the board accepted this recommendation.

On November 15, 2013, Fuchs sent an inspection demand (the “Inspection
Demand”) , pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 220, to Parker ’s board. 11 The letter described

the misconduct disclosed in the Resolution Papers and stated that inspection was
sought for “ (1) investigating possible mismanagement and breaches of fiduciary
duties; and (2) investigating violations of law by the current and former officers
and directors of the Company in connection with Parker’s violations of the

[FCPA].” 12

On December 3, 2013, Parker rejected the Inspection Demand , which had
requested eight se parate categories of documents . Parker cited technical defects
and expressed its belief that Fuchs had failed to state a proper purpose or a credible

basis for inspection. 13 Fuchs has since narrowed the scope of its demand to

11 JX 52. Fuchs had requested inspection pursu ant to Texas law on June 10, 2013. 12 Id. at 1. 13 JX 54

.6

“[d]ocuments sufficient to identify Executive A, Executive B, Law Firm and

Outside Counsel.” 14 It “seeks to assess the options, with the aid of counsel, for
potential litigation and/or to demand that the Company take action.” 15 Fuchs’s
inspection demand action was tried on a paper record. 16

II. ANALYSIS
“Stockholders of Delaware corporations enjoy a qualified common law and
statutory right to inspect the corporation’s books and records.” 17 “Any
stockholder, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall, upon written demand
under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right . . . to inspect for an y proper
purpose . . . [t]he corporation’s . . . books and records . . . .” 18 In order to exercise
this powerful right, “a stockholder has the burden of proof to demonstrate a proper
purpose by a preponderance of the evidence.” 19

A proper purpose is define d as one “reasonably related to such person’s

interest as a stockholder.” 20 A desire to investigate wrongdoing or mismanageme nt
is a proper purpose; however, such investigation “must be to some end. Delaware

14 JX 72, at 5. 15 Id. at 1. 16 This memorandum opinion sets forth the Court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law. 17 Saito v. McKesson HBOC, Inc. , 806 A.2d 113, 116 (Del. 2002). 18 8 Del. C. § 220(b)(1). 19 Seinfeld v. Verizon Commc’ns, Inc. , 909 A.2d 117, 121 (Del. 2006). 20 8 Del. C. § 220(b).7

law does not permit section 220 actions based o n an ephemeral purpose, nor will
this court impute a purpose absent the plaintiff stating one.” 21

When a stockholder’s stated purpose is to investigate wrongdoing or
mismanagement, it must establish a credible basis to support an inference that

waste or mismanagement occurred. 22 This relatively minimal burden allows
stockholders to exercise a valuable right while protecting corporations from
demands based on mere suspicion or curiosity. 23

A. Fuchs’s Stated Purposes
Fuchs’s stated purposes have evolved over time. In its first demand letter,

sent on November 15, 2013, Fuchs described its intentions as “(1) investigating
possible mismanagement and breaches of fiduciary duties; and (2) investigating
violations of law by the current and former officers and directors of the Company
in connection with Parker’s violations of the [FCPA].” 24 In the Complaint, filed
July 31, 2014, Fuchs expressed a desire to “investigat[e] corporate wrongdoing and
mismanagement for potential li tigation.” 25 Then, on November 4, 2014, after both
parties had filed opening pre

- trial briefs, Fuchs sent to Parker an updated demand

21 W. Coast Mgmt. & Capital, LLC v. Carrier Access Corp. , 914 A.2d 636, 646 (Del. Ch. 2006). 22 Seinfeld , 909 A.2d at 122. 23 Id . at 123. 24 JX 52 , at 1. 25 Compl. ¶ 31.8

letter, explaining its intention to “assess the options, with the aid of counsel, for
potential litigation and/or to deman d that the Company take action.” 26

A Section 220 action is not for the merely curious. There must be some
purpose that would benef it the corporation and its stock holders, and not just the
idiosyncratic notions of one stockholder. Fuchs has not been as constant and as
focused on its ultimate objective as one might expect. 27 It has (at various times)

identified two ends to where its investigation might lead: (i) a derivative action or
(ii) a demand on Parker’s board. 28 However, collateral estoppel would b ar Fuchs

26 JX 72 , at 1. 27 Indeed, during his deposition, Fuchs’s sole trustee and manager could not identify those objectives, beyond deferri ng to the guidance of counsel. JX 68 (Dep. Tr. of Paul Joseph Fuchs, Oct. 16, 2014) 105

- 06. 28 “[T]o warrant relief from this court, a demand for books and records must be sufficiently specific to permit the court (and the corporation) to evaluate its propriety.” Norfolk Cnty. Ret. Sys. v. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. , 2009 WL 353746, at *11 (Del. Ch. Feb. 12, 2009), aff’d , 977 A.2d 899 (Del. 2009). The only end goals Fuchs has identified in its Complaint and demand letters are derivative litigation and board demand. Section 220 requires a stockholder to state its purpose in its written demand. T hat Fuchs has vaguely referenced “in a conclusory manner, [other] generally accepted proper purpose[s]” is of no effect in this case. See, e.g.
, W. Coast Mgmt. & Capital , 914 A.2d at 646. “ [ U ] nless a demand in itself unspecific as to purpose can in some way successfully be given an expanded reading viewed in the light of surrounding circumstances . . . a vague demand without more must a fortiori be deemed insufficient. ” Norfolk Cnty. Ret. Sys. , 2009 WL 353746, at *11 (quoting Weisman v. W. Pac. Indus., I nc. , 344 A.2d 267, 269 (Del. Ch. 1975)). “[I]t may be safely assumed that neither the corporation nor the Court will be required or inclined to engage in speculation as to the stated purpose for the demand

. . . .” Donald J. Wolfe, Jr. & Michael A. Pitte nger, Corporate and Commercial Practice in the Delaware Court of Chancery , § 8.06[e][2], at 8

- 141 (2014). Here, the surrounding circumstances do9

from pursuing further derivative litigation. While Fuchs may demand that Parker
take action in relation to the past FCPA violations, the documents it seeks are
unnecessary for that course of action. 29

B. The Scope of Fuchs’s Demand

While Fuchs i nitially requested eight categories of documents, it
subsequently narrowed the s cope of its demand. The Complaint requests
documents sufficient to identify Executives A and B and Outside Legal Counsel. 30

In its pre

- trial opening brief, Fuchs reaffirmed: “Plaintiff only seeks four pieces of

not warrant reading the reasons behind Fuchs’s purpose beyond those it has specifically identified. 29 The Section 220 demand that Fuchs made before initiating this litigation apparently was defective when made because it did not demonstrate ownership of Parker stock. Parker identified this shortcoming in its answer. See Answer ¶ 6 (“[Fuchs’s demand] incl udes a Statement of Account showing only that an unidentified account held stock in the Company, which the Statement of Account states was purchased on April 16, 2009.”). A week before trial, Fuchs updated its demand and provided documentation that Parker concedes is sufficient evidence of ownership. A demand’s compliance with the technical requirements of Section 220 is measured as of the time of the demand. See, e.g.
, Cent. Laborers Pension Fund v. News Corp. , 45 A.3d 139, 145 (Del. 2012) (“The require ments in section 220 protect ‘corporations from improper demands by requiring that evidence of beneficial ownership be both furnished with the demand and provided under oath .” (emphasis in original) (quoting Seinfeld v. Verizon Commc’ns Inc. , 873 A.2d 316
, 317 (Del. Ch. 2005)); Barnes v. Telestone Techs. Corp. , 2013 WL 3480270, at *2 (Del. Ch. July 10, 2013) (explaining that stockholders must “provid[e] documentary evidence of stock ownership at the time the plaintiff made its initial demand to the company .”). Parker no longer pushes this argument and stipulated that Fuchs is a stockholder, perhaps because Fuchs could simply make a new demand and substantially the same issues would require consideration in the short term anyway. 30 Compl. ¶¶ 4; 26.10

information

— documents sufficient to identify the persons and entities identified in

[ the DPA ] as ‘Executive A,’ ‘Executive B,’ ‘Law Firm,’ and ‘U.S. Outside

Counsel.’” 31

On November 4, 2014, just eight days before trial, Fuchs issued a
supplemental inspection demand, to provide, in part, sufficient proof of its
beneficial ownership of Parker stock. 32 In addition to requesting documents

sufficient to identif

y the anonymo us wrongdoers , Fuchs attempted to broaden its

demand ( shortly before trial and after briefing had commenced ) to include any
report prepared by Parker’s boa rd , or any committee thereof, concerning
investigation of the Nigerian Bribing Scheme , and all documents relied upon by

the board or any committee thereof

. 33

G iven the circumstances, Fuchs’s late attempt to expand its inspection must
be rejected. 34 “Strict adherence to the section 220 procedural requirements for

31 Pl.’s Corrected Opening Pre

- Trial Br. 13. 32 JX 72. 33 This was Fuchs’s only new request. See Pre

- Trial Order ¶ 42 (“[The November 14, 2014, letter] added a new request.”). 34 In the Pre

- Trial Order , Fuchs stated its intention to move to supplement its Complaint either before trial or in conformity with the evidence presented at trial. ¶ 45. In an amendment to the Pre

- Trial Order, approved by the Court on the day of trial, Parker stated: “Defendant object s to any such amendment or supplement on any basis, including based on evidence present at trial, except consents to the amendment of or supplement to the pleadings to include the November 4, 2014 inspection demand.” The amendment purported to alter only one paragraph in the Pre

- Trial Order.11

making an inspection demand protects the right of the corporation to receive and

consider a demand in proper form before litigation is initiated. ” 35 Parker’s right to

consider Fuchs’s demand properly would be substantially impaired by forcing it to
adapt i ts response and defense to Fuchs’s evolving requests. 36 The scope of

In paragraph 44.H. of the Pre

- Trial Order, Parker characterized one of the issues to be litigated as: “Whether [Fuchs’s] purported supplemental demand letter sent only eight days before trial . . . and sent only two days before Defendant’s answering pre

- trial brief was due, supports denying [Fuchs’s] inspection requests as further evidence of the undue burden placed on Defendant by [Fuchs].” At trial, Parker argued that Fuchs’s shifting document requests were bur densome and that the Special Committee’s work had been public knowledge well before Fuchs’s November 4, 2014, letter. Thus, although Parker consented to the admission of that letter into the pleadings, it did not waive its argument that Fuchs’s expansion of its requests shortly before trial was inappropriate. 35 Barnes , 2013 WL 3480270 , at *2 (emphasis in original) (quoting Cent. Laborers Pension Fund , 45 A.3d at 146). Even beyond concerns related to Section 220’s requirements, forcing Parker to defend aga inst issues raised only a week before trial would be at odds with fundamental fairness. 36 Fuchs suggests that it requested the board or S pecial C ommittee report late because it only recently became aware of its existence. Given the circumstances here, the Court is not moved to employ any discretion it might have to allow Fuchs’s late addition. That the Special Committee was evaluating the Stockholder Demand has been public knowledge since 2010. JX 8. That the committee had engaged counsel, evaluated the demand, and recommended that Parker not pursue the action contemplated by the Stockholder Demand has been public knowledge since 2013. JX 51. Fuchs could have sought documents related to that process when it initiated this action. Parker, which has n ot been properly afforded time to consider this belated request, has indicated that production of a special committee report would raise issues of privilege. Whether a request for that report would have been appropriate had Fuchs initially sought it throu gh this action cannot now be determined. Fuchs’s demands also include what it describes as a “catch all,” including “all information referred to in this letter that is within the legal possession, custody or control of Parker, including, but not limite d to, such information that is within the possession, custody or control of Parker’s subsidiaries and outside legal counsel,12

Fuchs’s demand is thus limited to documents sufficient to identify Executives A
and B, Law Firm, and Outside Legal Counsel.

C

. Collateral Estoppel Bars Further Derivative Litigation
“[I]nvestigating the possibility of pursuing a derivative action based on
perceived wrongdoing by a corporation’s officers or directors represents a proper
purpose for a Section 220 demand.” 37 However, if claim or issue preclusion would

bar future derivati ve action, a Section 220 demand may be denied as a matter of

law. 38 Here, the Texas federal court has already dismissed with prejudice the
Freuler Action for failure to plead demand futility. That judgment prevents Fuchs
from relitigating that issue.

T his Court must “give a federal judgment the same force and effect as it
would be given under the preclusion rules of the state in which the federal court is
sitting.” 39 In this case, Texas law controls. A party asserting “collateral estoppel

must establis h that (1) the facts sought to be litigated in the second action were
fully and fairly litigated in the first action; (2) those facts were essential to the

accountants and consultants.” JX 52
, at 6; JX 72 , at 5. Fuchs represents that this “catch all ” was intended to avoid a hyper

- tech nical reading of its inspection demand. The language does not appear to request any category of documents independently. Anyway, such a request lacks the requisite “rifle d precision” to support the demand. 37 Norfolk Cnty. Ret. Sys. , 2009 WL 353746, at *6. 38 Id. 39 Pyott v. La. Mun. Police Emp l s.’ Ret. Sys. , 74 A.3d 612, 616 (Del. 2013).13

judgment in the first action; and (3) the parties were cast as adversaries in the first

action.” 40

S trict mutuality of parties is not required; “[t]o satisfy the requirements of
due process, it is only necessary that the party against whom the doctrine is
asserted was a party or in privity with a party in the first action.” 41 Further, “the
unique nature of derivative litigation logically leads to a finding of privity between
all shareholder plaintiffs.” 42 Therefore, Fuchs is in privity with the Freuler Action

Plaintiff. 43

Fuchs argues that the facts and legal theories underlying its case, including

the al legations supporting demand futility, differ from those considered in the
Freuler Action. However, the Freuler Action Plaintiff and Fuchs alleged breaches
of fiduciary duties against Parker’s directors and officers based on the same
underlying operative f

acts, i.e. , Parker’s FCPA

- related issues. That the two

40 John G. & Marie Stella Kenedy Mem’l Found. v. Dewhurst , 90 S.W.3d 268, 288 (Tex. 2002). 41 Sysco Food Servs., Inc. v. Trapnell , 890 S.W.2d 796, 802 (Tex. 1994) (emphasis in original). 42 Hanson v. Odyssey Healthcare, Inc. , 2007 WL 5186795, at *5 (N.D. Tex. Sept. 21, 2007) (applying Texas law). 43 Fuchs argues that Parker has failed to prove that the Freuler Action Plaintiff was a Parker stockholder while maintaining the F reuler Action. However, it is clear that the Freuler Action was litigated on the basis that the plaintiff was a stockholder. The Freuler Action Plaintiff verified his status as a stockholder in his first amended complaint. JX 23. His lawyer filed the v erification to the second amended complaint because the plaintiff was unavailable

. JX 28. The record appears clear that Parker would establish that the Freuler Action Plaintiff was indeed a Parker stockholder when he pursued litigation in Texas.14

plaintiffs may have offered somewhat different theories for demand futility does
not deprive the Freuler Action of preclusive effect. “[T]he doctrine [of collateral
estoppel] will not be set aside fo r failure of a representative to invoke all possible
legal theories or to develop all possible resources of proof, but rather only in light
of representation so grossly deficient as to be apparent to the opposing party.” 44

Despite Fuchs’s rhetoric, its l egal theory appears similar to that advanced in
the Freuler Action. In Fuchs’s own words: “Plaintiff here alleged liability based
on the directors’ personal failure to cause Parker Drilling to adopt books and
records and other policies necessary for compl iance with the FCPA despite a
known legal duty to do so . . . .” 45 The Texas federal court characterized one of the
Freuler Action Plaintiff’s claims as: “[Parker’s officers and directors] failed to
establish and maintain internal controls to ensure compli ance with the FCPA,
federal securities laws, and accounting regulations . . . .” 46 While the two
plaintiffs’ theories need not be identical for collateral estoppel to apply, they are at

least similar.

44 Hanson , 2007 WL 5186795, at *5. 45 Pl.’s Pre

- Trial Answering Br. 17. 46 First Federal Court Dismissal. In dismissing with prejudice the Freuler Action following repleading, the Texas federal court noted: “Because the Court finds that Plaintiff’s response reiter ates his same, insufficient, conclusory or erroneous allegations, the Court does not summarize them.” Second Federal Court Dismissal.15

Fuchs’s only truly plausible argument against collateral estoppel is that the

Texas federal court dismissed the Freuler Action with prejudice before Parker

pu blicly admitted to the Nigeria n Bribing S cheme and disclosed the scheme’s
underlying facts in the Resolution Papers. Parker notes that it entered into the
Settlement prior to oral argument in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, which
affirmed the dismissal with prejudice. The Freuler Action Plaintiff could have

filed a motion for reconsideration befo re the Texas federal court. 47 The decision
not to pursue that strategy was not “grossly deficient,” and is a tactical choice
binding on Fuchs.
More fundamentally, the existence of the Settlement and Resolution Papers

would not ha ve materially affected t he Texas federal court’s decision on demand
futility. In dismissing the Freuler Action, that court noted:
Once again, Plaintiff offers a variety of irrelevant facts and unsupported conclusions and again he strings together improper inferences, all based o n the one fact he has: the on

- going FCPA investigation of Parker Drilling. From this one fact, Plaintiff links together the following presumptions: because there is an investigation, there must have been violations of the law; because the law must have be en violated, there must have been deficiencies in the internal controls; because there must have been internal control deficiencies, a majority of the defendants must have known of the deficiencies and deliberately chosen to do nothing about them. 48

47 See F ED

. R. C IV

. P. 60(b) (“[T]he court may relieve a party or its legal representative from a final judgment, order, or proceeding for . . . newly discovered evidence . . . or any other reason that justifies relief.”). 48 JX 19 , at 3

- 4.16

The Settlement would have closed the first infere ntial gap in the failed chain

of reasoning, i.e. , the Texas federal court could have conclude d that there had been
legal violations. However, the Settlement would not have allowed the court to
infer that “a maj ority of the defendants must have known of the deficiencies and
deliberately chosen to do nothing about them.” The Settlement and related
disclosures represent the only “new facts” that Fuchs contends would be relevant
in pleading demand futility. These facts alone cannot support every inferential step

that the Texas federal court indicated would have been necessary to hold that

demand is futile. Therefore, the facts are not material to that decision, and Fuchs is
bound by that court’s judgment on the is sue of demand futility.
The Freuler Action Plaintiff presumably could have made a Section 220
demand before filing either its initial or amended complaint. It did not do so, and
its case was dismissed with prejudice. This Court has observed that a prior
plaintiff’s decision against making a Section 220 demand before pleading demand
futility does not prevent collateral estoppel. 49 Here, where Fuchs itself proceeded
with the same strategy in the State Court Derivative Action, it should not be heard

49 See Pyott , 74 A.3d at 618 (noting th at there is no irrebutable presumption of inadequate representation when a stockholder files a derivative action without first bringing a books and records action).1 7

to complain that such a decision alone rendered the Freuler Action Plaintiff an
inadequate representative of its interests. 50

Because Fuchs cannot pursue further derivative litigation in this context,
pursuit of such action is not a proper purpose. 51

D

. The Information Fuchs Seeks is Not Necessary to Make a Demand on Parker’s Board
As an initial observation, it is worth noting that Parker’s board has already
done much of what one might expect in relation to its past FCPA violations. The
Settlement commended Parker for its response to the FCPA investigations,

50 To the extent that Fuchs argues that Parker’s current directors (a majority of whom joine d the board after the last events described in the Resolution Papers) breached duties based on their response to the conduct underlying the Settlement, there is no credible basis to support an inference of wrongdoing. As discussed, infra Section II.D, Par ker’s board seemingly dealt with the problem in good faith. Stockholders cannot satisfy [the credible basis] burden merely by expressing disagreement with a business decision. When a business judgment forms the basis for a request for books and records, a stockholder must show a credible basis for an inference that management suffered from some self

- interest or failed to exercise due care in a particular decision. Deephaven Risk Arb Trading Ltd. v. UnitedGlobalCom, Inc. , 2004 WL 1945546, at *5 (Del. Ch. Aug. 30, 2004). Fuchs’s only criticism of the current board is that it did not adequately pursue action against those responsible for the Nigeria n Bribing Scheme. That (i) there was wrongdoing and (ii) Fuchs perceives the board’s response as inadequate d oes not establish a credible basis to infer wrongdoing by the board. A holding otherwise would conflate the actions of different actors and eviscerate the credible basis requirement. Further, Parker has ended its business relationships with Executives A and B; there is no credible basis for investigating Parker’s current officers. 51 Because collateral estoppel applies, Parker’s argument that potential derivative litigation would be time barred will not be considered.18

including (i) its cooper ation, including its extensive internal investigation, (ii) its
extensive remediation, including terminating business relationships with officers,
employees, and agen ts primarily responsible for the bribery scheme, (iii) its
improvement of, and continuing commitment to improve, its internal controls, and
(iv) its continuing cooperation with the DOJ in future investigations. 52 Parker’s
board also formed the Special Committee that considered the Stockholder Demand

and apparently pursued action against Outside Legal Counsel. 53

Parker’s range of effort appears reasonable, but it cannot be characterized as
exhaustive. A board’s apparent good faith effort to deal with a problem does not
deprive a stockholder of its inspection rights; ultimately, this is Parker’ s primary
defense. Fuchs has referenced making a demand on Parker’s board, and has thus
stated a proper purpose.
However, “[e]ven if a plaintiff demonstrates a proper purpose, that plaintiff
is not entitled to inspect all the documents that he or she b elieves are relevant or
even likely to lead to information relevant to that purpose.” 54 “The scope of
inspection . . . [is] limited to those documents that are necessary, essential and

52 JX 41, at ¶ 4

. 53 Aff. of John Edward Menger, ¶ 3. Although Fuchs objected to this affidavit because it did not have the opportunity to examine the affiant, whether it is admitted or not is not material to this decision. 54 Norfolk Cnty. Ret. Sys. , 2009 WL 353746, at *6.19

sufficient to the stockholder’s purpose.” 55 A requesting stockholder be ars the
burden of proving that the books and records sought are essential to accomplish its

purpose. 56

This is not a case where Fuchs’s demand could be dismissed as vague or
overly broad. However, while its requests are specific and limited, Fuchs does not

need the identities (already known to the board) of Executives A and B, Outside
Legal Counsel, and the Law Firm in order to make a demand on the board.
Through the Resolution Paper s, Fuchs knows details about the Nigerian Bribing

Scheme , as well as th e steps Parker has taken to remediate those issues . Fuchs can
request that Parker’s board take further action against the wrongdoers without itself
knowing their identities. 57 Fuchs already has sufficient information to pursue this
course of action; the p roduction it seeks is not necessary and essential.

55 Id. (quoting Marathon P’rs, L.P. v. M&F Worldwide Corp. , 2004 WL 1728604, at *4 (Del. Ch. July 30, 2004)). 56 Sec. First Corp. v. U.S. Die Casting & Dev. Co. , 687 A.2d 563, 569 (Del. 1997). 57 Cf. Kaufman v. CA, Inc. , 905 A.2d 749, 753 (Del. Ch. 2006) (“[W] hen a books and records action is brought with the goal of evaluating a possible derivative suit, the books and records that satisfy the action are those that are required to prepare a well

- pleaded complaint. Of course, this means that Section 220 is not meant as a replacement for discovery under Rule 34.”). While the information Fuchs seeks would be necessary to pursue derivative litigation, it is not necessary to make demand on Parker’s board.20 III. CONCLUSION

Given the circumstances of this case, Fuchs has failed to establish that it is

entitled to the books and records it seeks under 8 Del. C. § 220. It is barred from
pursuing further derivative litigation and the documents it seeks are unnecessary to
make a demand on Parker’s board. Given that those are the two purposes that
Fuchs has articulated, judgment will be entered in favor of Parker.