Court Opinion

ID: 2791095
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-04-02 17:03:29.939247+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:50:10.855375
License: Public Domain

COURT OF CHANCERY
                                         OF THE
                                   STATE OF DELAWARE

ABIGAIL M. LEGROW                                                 NEW CASTLE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
MASTER IN CHANCERY                                              500 NORTH KING STREET, SUITE 11400
                                                                       WILMINGTON, DE 19801-3734

                               Final Report: April 2, 2015
                               Submitted: March 24, 2015

                                                  Kathaleen St. J. McCormick, Esquire
Brad Greenspan                                    Daniel M. Kirshenbaum, Esquire
2995 Woodside Road, Suite 400                     Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor
Woodside, CA 94062
                                                  100 N. King Street
Gregory V. Varallo, Esquire                       P.O. Box 391
Kevin M. Gallagher, Esquire                       Wilmington, DE 19899
Christopher H. Lyons, Esquire
                                                  A. Thompson Bayliss, Esquire
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
                                                  Abrams & Bayliss LLP
One Rodney Square
                                                  20 Montchanin Road, Suite 200
920 North King Street
                                                  Wilmington, DE 19807
Wilmington, DE 19801

                                                  Daniel B. Rath, Esquire
Kevin M. Coen, Esquire
                                                  Rebecca L. Butcher, Esquire
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, LLP
                                                  Tyler O’Connell, Esquire
1201 North Market Street
                                                  Landis Rath & Cobb LLP
Wilmington, DE 19801
                                                  919 North Market Street
                                                  Wilmington, DE 19801
       Re:     Greenspan v. News Corporation, et al.
               C.A. No. 9567-ML

Dear Counsel and Mr. Greenspan:

       I am in receipt of Mr. Coen’s letter dated March 24, 2015 and Mr. Greenspan’s

numerous filings, which include a motion asking me to recuse myself from these

proceedings (the “Motion to Recuse”). This letter constitutes my resolution of Mr.
C.A. No. 9567-ML
April 2, 2015
Page 2

Coen’s request for a scheduling order and also constitutes my final report on the Motion

to Recuse.

       First, I have signed the proposed scheduling order requiring Mr. Greenspan to

respond to the Advancement Defendants’ motions to dismiss. The motions to dismiss

were filed in January and Mr. Greenspan has had more than enough time to respond to

those motions. If Mr. Greenspan opposes the motions to dismiss, he should file his

opposition on or before April 21, 2015.

       Second, I have reviewed the Motion to Recuse, along with the Motion of Joinder,

the Motion to Supplement Pleadings, and the Delaware Judges’ Code of Judicial Conduct

(the “Code of Conduct”).1 In the Motion to Recuse, Mr. Greenspan appears to argue that

my past association with Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP (“Potter Anderson”) represents

a conflict of interest because Potter Anderson represented Answers Corporation

(“Answers”) in a previous case pending before Vice Chancellor Noble and Mr.

Greenspan alleges Answers and Potter Anderson made false statements about Mr.

Greenspan in that litigation and in certain public filings. Although Potter Anderson and

Answers are not presently parties to this action, Mr. Greenspan has filed a Motion of

Joinder and a Motion to Supplement Pleadings that – collectively – seek to add Answers,

1
 On March 2, 2015, Mr. Greenspan filed a Mandamus Petition with the Delaware Supreme
Court asserting that this case improperly was assigned to a Master and seeking relief from the
Supreme Court. Because the Mandamus Petition is not before me, I have not considered those
arguments in resolving the Motion to Recuse.
C.A. No. 9567-ML
April 2, 2015
Page 3

Potter Anderson, and several Potter Anderson attorneys as defendants to this action,

along with several other firms and individual attorneys.

         I have not granted the Motion of Joinder or the Motion to Supplement Pleadings,

and Potter Anderson, Answers, and any Potter Anderson attorneys have yet been served

with process in this action. I believe, however, it is proper to resolve the Motion to

Recuse with the proposed amended pleadings in mind, as the motions seeking to add

those additional defendants shortly will need to be resolved and the conflict on which Mr.

Greenspan relies arguably would by implicated in the Court’s consideration of those

motions. After reviewing the matter, and with an interest toward erring on the side of

caution, I have decided to recuse myself from this case and ask the Chancellor to reassign

the matter to another judicial officer.

         The Motion to Recuse is governed by Rule 2.11(A) of the Code of Conduct.

Under that Rule, a judge should recuse herself:

         in a proceeding in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be
         questioned, including but not limited to instances where:

            (1) The judge has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party or
            personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the
            proceeding;
                                       ***

            (4) The judge (a) served as a lawyer in the matter in controversy, or a
            lawyer with whom the judge previously practiced law served during
            such association as a lawyer concerning the matter … .2

2
    Del. Judge’s Code of Judicial Conduct § 2.11.
C.A. No. 9567-ML
April 2, 2015
Page 4

       I do not believe this case falls within Section 2.11(A)(4) of the Code of Conduct.

Although I was an associate at Potter Anderson at the time that firm served as counsel to

Answers, I did not personally work on that matter. More importantly, I understand the

reference to the “matter” in Section 2.11(A)(4) as referring to the actual cause of action

then pending. In this case, the “matter” would refer to the case before Vice Chancellor

Noble in which Potter Anderson represented Answers, but would not refer to later,

separate cases, such as the one currently pending before me. Therefore, I do not believe

that disqualification is required under that Section of the Code of Conduct.

       The inquiry, however, does not end there. Judicial impartiality is fundamental to

due process.3 The standards governing judicial conduct require both actual impartiality

as well as the appearance of impartiality.4 Accordingly, where the basis for the alleged

disqualification is a claim that the judge personally is biased or prejudiced concerning a

party, the judge must engage in a two-part analysis. “First, he must, as a matter of

subjective belief, be satisfied that he can proceed to hear the cause free of bias or

prejudice concerning that party. Second, even if the judge believes that he has no bias,

situations may arise where, actual bias aside, there is the appearance of bias sufficient to

cause doubt as to the judge’s impartiality.”5

3
  Los v. Los, 595 A.2d 381, 383 (Del. 1991).
4
  Id. at 583-84 (citing Ungar v. Sarafite, 376 U.S. 575, 588 (1964)).
5
  Id. at 584-85. See also In re Wittrock, 649 A.2d 1053 (Del. 1994).
C.A. No. 9567-ML
April 2, 2015
Page 5

       The mere involvement of Potter Anderson as counsel in a proceeding before me

indisputably would not create the appearance of impartiality.6 Here, however, Mr.

Greenspan seeks to amend the pleadings to add the firm and three of its attorneys as

defendants and impose personal liability on them. I am confident that – as a subjective

matter – I could hear this action free from bias or prejudice, even if Potter Anderson or

various of its attorneys are added as defendants. I worked for the firm for approximately

seven years, left on amicable terms, was not a partner, and do not have any continuing

financial interest in the firm or any exposure to liability the firm may incur. Nonetheless,

I have concluded that – under these circumstances – there would be an appearance of bias

in presiding over a matter that could result in a finding of liability for my former firm or

several attorneys with whom I closely worked while employed there.

       I am aware– and deeply regret –that recusing myself from this case will impose

additional work on one of my colleagues. The decision is not one I relish or make

lightly. The importance, however, of maintaining both the fact and appearance of an

unbiased judiciary must, in my view, take precedence. While Potter Anderson or its

attorneys are – or may be – defendants, I believe there is a sufficient basis for Mr.

Greenspan to question my impartiality. If, however, the Motion to Supplement is denied,

or if Potter Anderson and its attorneys later are dismissed as defendants, and the

6
 See Del. Judges’ Code of Judicial Conduct § 2.11(A)(4) (requiring disqualification if a judge
was associated within the previous year with a lawyer or law firm acting as counsel in a
proceeding).
C.A. No. 9567-ML
April 2, 2015
Page 6

presiding judicial officer concludes the case may be reassigned to me without prejudicing

the parties, I would be happy to be reassigned to the case.

       For the foregoing reasons, I believe I should recuse myself from this matter, and

therefore I ask the Chancellor to reassign it to another judicial officer. This is my final

report and exceptions may be taken in accordance with Court of Chancery Rule 144.

                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                    /s/ Abigail M. LeGrow
                                    Master in Chancery