Opinion ID: 1508286
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Court of Chancery New Castle County Action First Deed Voided

Text: The Conference is a religious association with which various African Methodist Protestant churches have been affiliated. Shearin has acted as legal counsel for the Conference. Shearin has also actively assisted the Conference and the Bishop in litigation and other transactions. The Church had been affiliated with the Conference until April 1991 when it took steps to secede from the Conference. At that time, the Church owned certain real properties in Wilmington, Delaware. Prior to the Church's secession from the Conference, the Bishop executed a deed (first deed) purporting to transfer ownership in the properties from the Church to the Conference. That deed was prepared and recorded by Shearin. On April 18, 1991, after the Church had seceded from the Conference, the Church brought Civil Action No. 12055. The Court of Chancery entered a temporary restraining order and then a preliminary injunction against the Conference and the Bishop, based upon its preliminary finding that the Church owned the properties. After a trial on the merits in that action, the Court of Chancery entered a final judgment in April 1992, declaring: that the power to control the disposition of the properties was vested solely with the Church; that such ownership had not been ceded in any manner to the Conference or Bishop; that the properties had never been validly conveyed to the Conference; and, that the deed was void. See Mother African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church v. The Conference of African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church, Del.Ch., C.A. No. 12055 Jacobs, V.C., 1992 WL 111257 (May 20, 1992) (Mem. Op.). The Court of Chancery entered an injunction that prohibited the Conference and Bishop from interfering with the Church's title, use, enjoyment or operation of the properties. See Mother African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church v. The Conference of African Union First Colored Methodist Protestant Church, Del.Ch., C.A. No. 12055, Jacobs, V.C., 1992 WL 111257 (May 20, 1992) (Mem.Op.). The order was entered as a final judgment by the Court of Chancery in February 1993. That final judgment was affirmed by this Court in October 1993. The United States Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of certiorari to review the final order.