IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
DANIEL C. MURPHY,
Plaintiff,
)
)
)
)
)
v. ) C.A. NO. N16C-12-433 WCC CCLD
)
PENTWATER CAPITAL )
MANAGEMENT LP, )
HALBOWER HOLDINGS, INC., )
and MATTHEW C. HALBOWER )
)
)
Defendants.
Submitted: June 23, 2017
Decided: October 31, 2017
Defendants’ M0ti0n to Dismiss - GRANTED in Part and DENIED in Part.
Plaintiff’s Partial Motion for Summary Judgment - DENIED
MEMORANDUM OPINI()N
John L. Reed, Esquire, Ethan H. ToWnsend, Esquire, Harrison S. Carpenter,
Esquire, DLA Piper LLP (US), 1201 N. Market Street, Suite 2100, Wilmington,
DE 19801. Attorneys for Defendants.
Thomas M. Horan, Esquire, Johrma M. Darby, Esquire, ShaW Fishman Glantz &
ToWbin LLC, 300 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1370, Wilmington, DE 19801.
Attorney for Plaintiff.
CARPENTER, J.
Defendants PentWater Capital Management LP (“Pentwater”), Halbower
Holdings, Inc. (“Holdings”), and MattheW C. Halbower (“Halbower”) (jointly
“Defendants”) move to dismiss the Amended Veritied Complaint (“Complaint”)
filed by Plaintiff Daniel C. Murphy (“Murphy” or “Plaintiff”). Plaintiff also filed a
Motion for Partial Summary Judgment for Count l of the Complaint. For the
following reasons, the Motion to Dismiss as to Defendant HalboWer is granted and
all remaining Motions are denied.
I. FACTS
This action stems from the parties’ varying interpretations of Plaintiff' s
Employment Agreement and PentWater’s Employee Bonus Plan (the
“Agreements”). Plaintiff Was employed at PentWater, a Chicago based hedge fund,
from February 2008 to February 20111 and rejoined PentWater in July, 2013 as the
Co-Head of FiXed Income.
Upon his return, Plaintiff received a copy of his Employment Agreement and
Bonus Plan. The Employment Agreement set forth the salary, benefits, and other
bonuses available to Plaintiff including the disputed post termination bonus.2 It also
stated:
1 See id. Murphy left since he believed that Halbower did not set his bonus compensation
through any objective criteria and that Murphy did not have an equity stake in PentWater.
2 See Am. V. Compl., Ex. 1, § 5.4.
2
[i]n the event your employment is terminated, PentWater Will have no
further obligation to provide any further compensation or benefits to you,
including post termination bonus, unless you execute a Waiver and
release of claims Within two Weeks of your termination in a form
reasonably determined by PentWater.3
The Bonus Plan, dated April 20, 2010, confirmed the “eXplanation of PentWater’s
Synthetic Equity program, including that, if Murphy’s employment With PentWater
Was terminated, he still Would be entitled”4 to earn an annual Incentive Bonus.5 The
Bonus Plan stated that:
If the employment of a Plan Participant is terminated for any reason
other than Cause and said Plan Participant is not in breach of any
provision of his or her employment contract, the Plan Participant shall
have the right to continue to receive Incentive Bonuses based upon his
or her Synthetic Equity Percentage until such time as he or she has
received in aggregate the Post Termination Incentive Bonus Cap. Once
the Plan Participant has received the Post Termination Incentive Bonus
Cap, the plan Participant shall have no further rights to receive any
Incentive Bonus or payment of any kind under the Plan.6
Post Termination Incentive Bonus Cap Was defined as:
The amount equal to the sum of (a) the Post Termination Incentive
Bonus Supplement and (b) a Plan Participant’s Synthetic Equity
Percentage multiplied by the lesser of (i) the Book Value on December
31 prior to the date of termination or (ii) the Book Value on December
31 subsequent to the date of termination7
3 Am. v. Compl., EX. 2 11 6.
4 Am. V. Compl. 11 4.
5 See id.
6 Am. V. Compl., Ex. 1, at 3.
7 Id.
On July 15 , 2013, the day before Plaintiff began at PentWater, the Bonus Plan
Was amended, and during the time that Plaintiff Worked there, it Was amended two
additional times before he terminated his employment8 Plaintiff Was unaware of
such amendments until his separation from PentWater in 2015.9 In fact, Plaintiff
received bonuses from PentWater for the two years 2013 and 2014 Without issue.10
On August 7, 2015, after a disagreement regarding compensation, Plaintiff
separated from Pentvvater.1l There is an on-going dispute as to Whether Plaintiff Was
terminated or resigned, but after August 2015, he Was no longer employed by the
company.12 Plaintiff sought to enforce the Bonus Plan, Which required PentWater to
pay Murphy the Post Termination Incentive Bonus Supplement and an annual
Incentive Bonus (jointly the “Bonus Plan Money”) “on or before February 15,
2016.”13 The Defendants refused to pay Plaintiff the Bonus Plan Money, asserting
Plaintiff did not meet his obligations under the Agreements. Specifically, Defendants
assert that Plaintiff failed to execute a release and Waiver Within two Weeks of
termination.14 Additionally, Defendants assert that Plaintiff resigned from
PentWater, releasing them of payment of any post termination bonuses.
8 See Am. V. Compl.11 29.
9 Am. V. Compl.11 29.
10 See id. at 11 32.
11 See id. at 11 7.
12 See id. at 11 33.
13 Am. V. Compl.11 36.
14 Defs. Opening Br. in Supp. of their Mot. To Dismiss at 5.
4
Upon denial of the Bonus Plan Money, Plaintiff filed suit in the Court of
Chancery on June 12, 2016.15 The Court of Chancery held it lacked subject matter
jurisdiction over the case and Plaintiff transferred the case to the Superior Court on
December 30, 2016,16 and filed an Amended Verified Complaint. Plaintiff’ s
complaint asserts claims for breach of contract, violation of the lllinois Wage
Payment and Collection Act (“IWCPA”), and fraudulent inducement17 The
Plaintiff s Amended Verified Complaint included a breach of contract claim, Which
Plaintiff previously stated in the Court of Chancery pleading he Would not pursue
due to time and expense.18
In response to Plaintiff’ s Amended Verified Complaint, Defendants filed a
Motion for Judicial Action and to Strike, Which Was denied in February 2017.
Plaintiff subsequently filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment on Count 1 of
the Amended Verified Complaint. On March 17, 2017, Defendants filed a Motion
to Dismiss the amended verified complaint pursuant to Superior Court Civil Rules
12(b)(2) and 12(b)(6), for lack of personal jurisdiction and failure to state a claim.
This is the Court’s decision on these Motions.
15 Am. V. Comp1.11 48.
16 See id.
17 See id. at 11 7.
18 Ch. Compl. at 9 n.l.
II. MOTION TO DISMISS FOR LACK
OF PERSONAL JURISDICTION
On a defendant’s motion to dismiss pursuant to Superior Court Civil Rule
12(b)(2) for lack of personal jurisdiction, the plaintiff “bear[s] the burden to
articulate a non-frivolous basis for this court’s assertion of jurisdiction.”19 The
plaintiff can satisfy this burden “by making a prima facie showing that jurisdiction
is conferred by statute.”20 Although the factual record is read in the light most
favorable to the plaintiff in ruling on the motion, “the plaintiff must plead specific
facts and cannot rely on mere conclusory assertions.”21 This requires the Court to
answer two legal questions. “First, it must determine whether jurisdiction is
appropriate under Delaware's Long-Arm statute. And, second, it must evaluate
whether asserting such jurisdiction would offend the Due Process Clause of the
Constitution.”22
Defendants argue that Counts IV and V against Halbower as an individual
should be dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction. Defendants contend that the
Court has no personal jurisdiction over Halbower as he is a resident of Illinois and
19 IM2 Merch. & Mfg. , Inc. v. Tirex Corp. , 2000 WL 1664168, at *4 (Del. Ch. Nov. 2, 2000) (citing
Hart Hola'ing C0. Inc. v. Drexel Burnham Lambert Inc., 593 A.2d 535, 539 (Del. Ch. 1991)). See
also In re Asbestos Litz'g. (Anderson), 2015 WL 556434, at *3 (Del. Super. Jan. 30, 2015); Boone
v. Oy PartekAb, 724 A.2d 1150, 1154 (Del. Super. 1997), ajj"d, 707 A.2d 765 (Del. 1998); Greenly
v. Davis, 486 A.2d 669, 670 (Del. 1984); Harmon v. Eua’aily, 407 A.2d 232, 233 (Del. Super.
1979), afd, 420 A.2d 1175 (Del. 1980).
20 McKamey v. Vander Houten, 744 A.2d 529, 531 (Del. Super. 1999).
21 Mobz`le Diagnostz'c Grp. Holdings, LLC v. Suer, 972 A.2d 799, 802 (Del. Ch. 2009).
22 Boone, 724 A.2d at 1154~55. Sample v. Morgan, 935 A.2d 1046 (Del. Ch. 2007) (citing
AeroGlobal Capital Mgmt., LLC v. Cl`rrus ]ndus., Inc., 871 A.2d 428, 438 (Del. 2005).
6
has no contacts with the State other than being the CEO of the two Delaware
Defendants.23 Plaintiff asserts that Halbower is subject to the jurisdiction of this
Court based on the Delaware Long-Arm Statute, 10 Del. C. § 3104(c)(1) because
Halbower, “regularly transacts business in Delaware.”24 Plaintiff also asserts that
personal jurisdiction is proper based on the forum-selection clause in the disputed
Bonus Plan.25
Under Delaware’s Long-Arm statute, Delaware courts can exercise personal
jurisdiction over a defendant for a claim that “arises from” a “jurisdictional act”
enumerated in the statute.26 Section 3104(0)(1) gives this Court personal jurisdiction
over any nonresident who “transacts any business or performs any character of work
or service in the State.”27 “In order for this Court to exercise jurisdiction under
3104(c)(1) ‘some act must actually occur in Delaware.”’28
Plaintiff contends that jurisdiction over Halbower is proper because Halbower
regularly transacts business in Delaware.29 However, in his Amended Verified
Complaint, Plaintiff fails to cite to any specific instances of such activity as required
23 Am. V. Compl. 1111 11-12 (stating that Pentwater and Holdings are both Delaware
corporations).
24 See ia'. at 11 8.
25 See ia'.
26 Sprinr Nextel Corp. v. iPCS, Inc., C.A. No. 3746-VCP, 2008 WL 2737409, at *5 (Del.Ch.
2008).
2710 Del. C. § 3104(c)(1).
28 Mobile Diagnostic Group, 972 A.2d at 804 (citing Kelly v. McKeSSon HBOC, Inc. , 2002 WL
88939, at *17 (Del. Super. 2002)
29 See Defs.’ Opening Br. in Supp. of their Mot. To Dismiss at 15.
7
and in fact, the Complaint is totally void of any such information. It appears the
Plaintiff simply assumed jurisdiction without pleading it even though the conduct
here occurred in Illinois.30 As such, the Court agrees with the Defendants that
Plaintiff has failed to make a prima facie showing to fit Halbower’s conduct under
Delaware’s Long-Arm Statute. Plaintiff’s claim for personal jurisdiction via the
forum-selection clause, however, is more complicated and requires additional
analysis.
Plaintiff asserts “that Halbower is estopped from contesting jurisdiction based
on his close relationship with the Bonus Plan, as someone who it was foreseeable
would be sued personally in matters relating to the administration of the plan.”31
Plaintiff cites to previous Delaware cases which held non-party officers and directors
bound to forum-selection clauses.32 Such cases applied the following three-pronged
test to determine if a non-party should be bound: “(1) [the] forum selection clause
[is] valid, (2) [1 the non-signatory [is] a third-party beneficiary of the agreement or
[is] closely related to the agreement, and (3) [] the claim at hand arise[s] from the
non-signatory’s claims related to the agreement[.]”33
30 Am. V. Compl. 11 8 (“In addition, upon information and belief, Halbower regularly transacts
business in Delaware.”).
31 Pl’s. Answering Br. in Opp. Of Defs.’ Second Mot. To. Dismiss at 11.
32 Carlyle Inv. Mgt. LLC v. Moonmouth Co. SA, 779 F.3d 214, 219 (3d Cir. 2015)
33 Id. at 218.
8
Plaintiff asserts that the first and third prong are easily satisfied34 and “the
only question is if Halbower is a third-party beneficiary of, or closely related to, the
Bonus Plan.”35 Plaintiff cites Delaware Chancery case Weygana’t v. Weco, LLC,
where the Court recognized that “a party can be closely related to an agreement: 1)
she receives direct benefit from the agreement; or 2) it was foreseeable that she
would be bound by the agreement.”36
Plaintiff does not contend that Halbower receives a direct benefit,37 but rather
that it was foreseeable that Halbower could be sued in matters relating to the Bonus
Plan as CEO of both Holdings and Pentwater and “makes all significant decisions
regarding their operations.”38 More specifically, Plaintiff argues that “it was
foreseeable that Halbower could be sued individually under the IWPCA for causing
Pentwater to breach the Bonus Plan.”39
Defendants assert that Halbower is doubly shielded by the fiduciary shield
doctrine, as the Bonus Plan is not an agreement with Halbower personally nor is the
Bonus Plan a Holdings document.40 The fiduciary shield doctrine prohibits acts
34 Pl’s. Answering Br. in Opp. Of Defs.’ Second Mot. To. Dismiss at 12 (stating that the first
prong is satisfied as both Delaware and Illinois uphold forum-selection clauses and that the third
prong is “satisfied if the claim at issue against is related to the agreement containing
the forum selection clause” Weygandt v. Weco, LLC, 2009 WL 1351808, at * 4 n.15).
35 Id
36 Weygandt v. Weco, LLC, 2009 WL 1351808, at *4(Del. Ch. 2009).
37 In the original brief in opposition the Plaintiff does attempt to argue direct benefit.
38 Pl’s. Answering Br. in Opp. Of Defs.’ Second Mot. to Dismiss at 13.
39 Id.
40 See Defs.’ Opening Br. in Supp. of their Mot. to Dismiss at 15.
9
performed by a person acting in his official corporate capacity from serving as the
basis for personal jurisdiction over that individual.4l Defendants assert Halbower
was not a party to the Bonus Plan and as a non-signatory he is not bound to the
forum-selection clause.42
The Court finds that the cases Plaintiff relies on are distinguishable from
Halbower, and he is not closely related enough such that it would be foreseeable that
he would be haled into Delaware courts. For example, in Hadley v. Shajj‘er, the Court
stated that defendants could be bound to the forum-selection clause if they were
considered either parties, third-party beneficiaries, or closely related to the
Agreement.43 The Court held the defendants were third-party beneficiaries of the
merger agreement and were to receive payments set forth in the agreement.44
However, the Court suggested that if the defendants were not third-party
beneficiaries, they would be considered closely related as “they were undoubtedly
intended to receive a benefit from the sale of their stock through the Merger
Agreement.”45 In the instant case, Halbower is not a third-party beneficiary, nor has
41 See Mktg. Prod. Mgmt., LLC v. HealthandBeaul)/Direct.com, Inc., 2004 WL 249581 at *3
(Del. Super. 2004).
42 Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Tremont Gp. Hla’gs., Inc. , 2012 WL 6632681, at *4 (Del. Ch. 2012)
(finding that directors who simply signed an agreement with a forum-selection were not subject to
personal jurisdiction based on their signatures).
43 Hadley v. Shaffer, 2003 WL 21960406, at *4 (D. Del. 2003)
44 See id.
45 See id. at *5-6.
10
the Plaintiff provided any evidence to suggest Halbower as an individual would
directly benefit from the Agreements.
Similarly, in Baker v. Impact Holding, LLC, the Court found that the
defendant was bound by the forum-selection clause because he received a direct
benefit as a board of director for a listed entity in the stockholder agreement.46 More
specifically that the company the defendant was a director for had substantial
investments in the disputed agreement.47 Here, however, Plaintiff has not provided
evidence to suggest that Halbower received any direct benefit to consider him similar
to the defendant in Baker.
Further, the Plaintiff relies heavily on Weygandt v. Weco, LLC for support but
that case is factually distinguishable from the case at hand. Specifically, that
Weygandt, as an individual and as a control person, had previously agreed to be
bound to Delaware jurisdiction in a separate agreement_the Asset Purchase
Agreement.48 Because the Lease Agreement, the agreement between W&A and Gulf
Stream, did not include a forum-selection clause, the Court found that non-signatory
46 Bai