Biomedical Statistical Consulting LLC v. Cordio Medical Ltd.

• Court: Superior Court of Delaware
• Decided: April 29, 2026
• Docket: N25C-11-280 KMM
• Status: Published

Opinion

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE KATHLEEN M. MILLER LEONARD L. WILLIAMS JUSTICE CENTER JUDGE 500 NORTH KING STREET, SUITE 10400 WILMINGTON, DELAWARE 19801 TELEPHONE (302) 255-0669

April 29, 2026

Charles A. McCauley III, Esq. Thomas A. Uebler, Esq. Bradley T. Meyer, Esq. Sarah P. Kaboly, Esq. Offit Kurman, P.A. McCollom D’Emilio Smith Uebler, LLC 222 Delaware Avenue, Suite 1105 2751 Centerville Road, Suite 401 Wilmington, DE 19801 Wilmington, DE 19808

RE: Biomedical Statistical Consulting LLC v. Cordio Medical Ltd. C.A. No.: N25C-11-280 KMM

Date submitted: March 16, 2026 Date Decided: April 29, 2026

Dear Counsel:

This letter decision resolves Cordio Medical LTD’s (“Cordio”) Motion to

Dismiss Counts II through IV (the “Motion”). 1 0F

I. Factual Background

A. The Contract

Biomedical Statistical Consulting LLC (“Biomedical”) provides statistical

consulting services and support to its clients. 2 Cordio is a medical technology 1F

company developing its HearO® system. 3 2F

1 D.I. 9. 2 Complaint (D.I. 1) ¶¶ 1, 10. 3 Id. ¶¶ 2, 19. April 29, 2026 Page 2 of 11

The parties executed a Consulting Services Contract, effective as of March

12, 2025, (the “Contract”). 4 The Contract provides that Biomedical was retained “to 3F

provide certain consulting services regarding statistics and statistical support, as

requested by [Cordio] and/or pursuant to specific projects for which [Cardio] and

[Biomedical] have executed a Work Order Addendum … (‘Services’).” 5 4F

The Contract called for Biomedical to be paid on an hourly rate or project-

based fee, as stated in the Work Order Addendum. 6 Biomedical was required to 5F

invoice Cardio monthly and payment was due within thirty days. 7 Interest accrued 6F

on invoices not paid when due, “provided that any amounts in an invoice that are

disputed in good faith within ten (10) days following receipt thereof shall not accrue

interest for so long as they are disputed.” 8 7F

The scope of the work, defined as “[c]onduct[ing] analyses as outlined in the

Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP) for Cardio HearO system’s performance,” was

described in the attached Statement of Work (“SOW”), titled “Estimate and Budget

Report.” 9 The contractual estimated budget was $146,300. 10 8F 9F

4 Id. ¶ 8. 5 Id., Ex. 1, § 1 (emphasis in original). 6 Id., Ex. 1, § 3.1. 7 Id., Ex. 1, § 3.2. 8 Id. 9 Id., Ex. 1, SOW. 10 Id., Ex. 1, SOW at 4. April 29, 2026 Page 3 of 11

B. The Dispute

Biomedical alleges that it performed services for Cordio pursuant to “written

and verbal requests for Services beyond the enumerated tasks” identified in the SOW

or Work Addenda. 11 Biomedical timely invoiced Cordio, but it failed to pay 10F

invoices for September, October, and November 2025, totaling $276,802.65. 12 11F

Biomedical further alleges that Cordio failed to object to the invoices within 10 days,

and therefore, it waived any good faith objection to the invoices.

Biomedical asserts four claims: breach of contract (Count I), account stated

(Count II), promissory estoppel (Count III), and unjust enrichment (Count IV).

II. The Parties Contentions

Cordio moved to dismiss Count II because it fails to state a claim for account

stated. Cordio moved to dismiss Counts II through IV, arguing that the claims are

barred because a valid contract exists and Biomedical’s relief, if any, is under the

Contract. To allow Biomedical to assert these additional claims, it argues, would

impermissibly expand the scope of the parties’ written agreement.

Biomedical responds that whether a valid contract exists, and the scope of

such contract, are factual issues that cannot be decided at this stage of the case.

Further, the additional Counts are necessary because Biomedical expects Cordio to

11 Id. ¶ 13. 12 Id. ¶ 16. April 29, 2026 Page 4 of 11

argue that the invoices in dispute were for services beyond those covered by the

Contract.

III. Standard of Review

On a motion to dismiss pursuant to Superior Court Civil Rule 12(b)(6), the

governing pleading standard is reasonable conceivability. 13 Delaware courts afford 12F

a liberal construction to allegations in a complaint. 14 The court accepts all well- 13F

pleaded factual allegations as true and draws all reasonable inferences in favor of

the non-moving party. 15 The court, however, does not accept conclusory allegations 14F

that lack supporting factual allegations. 16 The court must “‘deny the motion unless 15F

the plaintiff could not recover under any reasonably conceivable set of

circumstances.’” 17 16F

IV. Discussion

A. The complaint fails to state a claim for account stated.

To adequately plead an account stated claim, a plaintiff must allege “(1) an

account existed between the parties; (2) the defendant stated or admitted to owing a

specific sum on the account to the plaintiff; and (3) the defendant made this

13 Delaware Human & Civil Rights Comm’n v. Welch, 2025 WL 2222967, at *4 (Del. Super. Aug. 5, 2025). 14 Surf’s Up Legacy Partners, LLC v. Virgin Fest, LLC, 2021 WL 117036, at *6 (Del. Super. Jan. 13, 2021). 15 Id. at *5. 16 Id. at *6. 17 Id. (quoting Cent. Mortg. Co. v. Morgan Stanley Mortg. Capital Holdings LLC, 27 A.3d 531, 537 (Del. 2011)). April 29, 2026 Page 5 of 11

admission after the original account or debt was created.” 18 “A specific sum on the 17F

account” means “that an exact and definite balance [was] struck as to which both the

creditor and debtor assent[ed].” 19 “To survive a motion to dismiss, an account stated 18F

claim must establish ‘that the purported account debtor expressly agreed to pay a

certain sum at issue.’” 20 Failure to object is insufficient. 21 Account stated claims 19F 20F

are disfavored in Delaware. 22 21F

Cordio argues that Count II must be dismissed because Biomedical has not

alleged that Cordio expressly agreed to a specific sum (or any sum). Biomedical

counters that its allegation that it sent invoices to Cordio, who accepted the benefit

of the services without objecting, is sufficient to infer that Cordio assented to the

amount alleged.

Even construing all reasonable inferences in Biomedical’s favor, the

complaint fails to adequately allege that Cordio expressly agreed to a sum certain

18 Trust-Ed Solutions, LLC v. Gilbert LLP, 2022 WL 16641902, at *8 (Del. Super. Nov. 3, 2022) (citations omitted). 19 Id. (quoting Outbox Sys., Inc. v. Trimble Inc., 2022 WL 3696773, at *7-8 (Del. Super. Aug. 24, 2022) (citation omitted)). 20 Trust-Ed Solutions, 2022 WL 16641902, at *8; Outbox Sys., Inc., 2022 WL 3696773, at *6 (“the common law doctrine and various treatises make clear that the defendant must make such admission after the original account or debt was created.”) (emphasis in original); Sparebank 1 SR-Bank ASA v. Wilhelm Maass GMBH, 2019 WL 6033950, at *6 (Del. Super. Nov. 5, 2019) (“complaint must provide facts that the defendant stated or admitted to owing a specific sum on the account to the plaintiff.”) (citation omitted). 21 Outbox Sys., Inc., 2022 WL 3696773, at *6 (“silence is not enough”). 22 Trust-Ed Solutions, 2022 WL 16641902, at *8. April 29, 2026 Page 6 of 11

after the invoices were delivered. Its failure to object is insufficient as a matter of

law.

In an effort to save the claim, Biomedical further argues that the scope of the

Contract is in dispute because Cordio disputes the meaning of Section 3.2.

Biomedical asserts that because Cordio did not dispute the invoices within 10 days,

under Section 3.2, it waived its right to object. It contends that this raises a factual

dispute, which cannot be resolved on a motion to dismiss. Cordio responds that

Section 3.2 merely adds interest to past due invoices; it does not waive any objection

or defense.

Absent ambiguity, contract interpretation is a question of law. 23 A contract is 2F

ambiguous when the “provision in controversy is reasonably or fairly susceptible of

different interpretations or may have two or more different meanings.” 24 At the 23F

motion to dismiss stage, the court cannot choose between two reasonable

interpretations. 25 The motion will be successful if the moving party’s interpretation 24F

is the only reasonable reading. 26 5F

“Delaware adheres to the ‘objective’ theory of contracts, i.e. a contract’s

construction should be that which would be understood by an objective, reasonable

23 Magellan Pipeline Co, L.P. v. Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc., 2026 WL 766429, at *9 (Del. Super. Feb. 26, 2026). 24 BitGo Holdings, Inc. v. Galaxy Digital Holdings, Ltd., 319 A.3d 310, 323 (Del. 2024) (internal quotations and citations omitted); Diner v. Plume Design, Inc., __ A.3d ___, 2026 WL 607362, at *5 (Del. Super. Feb. 20, 2026). 25 Magellan Pipeline Co, L.P., 2026 WL 766429, at *9. 26 Id. April 29, 2026 Page 7 of 11

third party.” 27 “The basic business relationship between parties must be understood 26F

to give sensible life to any contract.” 2827F

Section 3.2 provides if after Biomedical delivers an invoice to Cordio, and if

not paid when due, it “will accrue interest at the maximum rate permitted by law”

but “any amounts in an invoice that are disputed in good faith within ten (10) days

… shall not accrue interest for so long as they are disputed.” Biomedical urges the

Court to read this provision as requiring objections to be raised within 10 days, or

they are forever barred. Cordio argues that this provision merely adds interest to any

past due invoice, except when there is a dispute raised within 10 days. Under

Cordio’s interpretation, there is no contractual deadline by which it must raise

objections and if it does so after the 10-day period, the invoices will still be subject

to accrued interest.

A waiver is the voluntary relinquishment of a known right. 29 There is nothing 28F

in Section 3.2 that suggests that Cordio is waiving its right to object to invoices.

These are sophisticated parties who entered into a commercial contract. If the parties

intended for Section 3.2 to set a deadline by which objections must be raised, they

27 Osborn ex rel. Osborn v. Kemp, 991 A.2d 1153, 1159 (Del. 2010). 28 Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. N.V. v. Westinghouse Electric Co, LLC, 166 A.3d 912, 927 (Del. 2017). 29 Jiggy Puzzles, LLC v. Steelhead Acquisition EE, Inc., 2026 WL 465112, at *19 (Del. Super. Feb. 18, 2026). April 29, 2026 Page 8 of 11

could have said so. They did not. Cordio’s interpretation is the only reasonable

reading of Section 3.2.

For these reasons, the complaint fails to state a claim for account stated and

Count II must be DISMISSED.

B. Counts II-IV are barred by the existence of a valid contract.

Cordio seeks to dismiss the non-contract claims—account stated, promissory

estoppel, 30 and unjust enrichment 31—because the parties’ relationship is governed 2 F 0F

by a valid contract and these claims are therefore, impermissibly duplicative of

Biomedical’s breach of contract claim. Biomedical counters that it pleads these

claims in the alternative because Cordio contends that some of the services for which

Biomedical seeks payment fall outside the parameters of the Contract. Biomedical

argues that at this stage of the proceedings, it cannot be determined that a valid

contract covers all of the services, and therefore, these claims should not be

dismissed.

Superior Court Civil Rule 8 permits a party to plead claims in the alternative,

even if the claims are inconsistent. 32 Thus, asserting a breach of contract claim will 31F

30 The elements of promissory estoppel are: “(i) a promise was made; (ii) it was the reasonable expectation of the promisor to induce action or forbearance on the part of the promisee; (iii) the promisee reasonably relied on the promise and took action to his detriment; and (iv) such promise is binding because injustice can be avoided only by enforcement of the promise.” SIGA Technologies, Inc. v. PharmAthene, Inc., 67 A.3d 330, 347 (Del. 2013). 31 Unjust enrichment is “the unjust retention of a benefit to the loss of another, or the retention of money or property of another against the fundamental principles of justice or equity and good conscience.” Kuroda v. SPSJ Holdings LLC, 971 A.2d 872, 891 (Del. Ch. 2009) (citation omitted). 32 Super. Ct. Civ. R. 8(e)(1). April 29, 2026 Page 9 of 11

not necessarily bar quasi-contract claims. Alternative theories of recovery are

permissible where the existence of the contract is in dispute. 33 When a valid contract 32F

governs the parties’ relationship, however, alternative claims for recovery are

barred. 34 Stated differently, if “the contract is the measure of [plaintiff’s] right, there 33F

can be no recovery under an [alternative] theory independent of it.” 35 The logic for 4F

this is Delaware’s pro-contractarian policy, which respects the parties’ right to self-

order their agreements. 36 Therefore, 35F

if a contract covers the subject matter, the defendant’s conduct either violates the contract or not. If the defendant did not violate the contract governing the subject of the dispute, then the plaintiff cannot attempt to hold the defendant responsible by softer doctrines, and thereby obtain a better bargain than he got during the contract negotiations. 37 36F

Here, a valid contract governs the parties’ relationship. Biomedical agreed to

provide Services “as requested” by Cordio or pursuant to Work Order Addenda.

33 Dillon Gage Incorporated of Dallas v. Umicore Precious Metals USA Inc., 2025 WL 3779149, at *3 (Del. Super. Dec. 30, 2025) (“a disputed contract opens the door to pleading such alternative claims”). 34 Id. 35 Wood v. Coastal States Gas Corp., 401 A.2d 932, 943 (Del. 1979); SIGA Technologies, Inc., 67 A.3d at 347 (“Promissory estoppel does not apply, however, where a fully integrated, enforceable contract governs the promise at issue.”); Outbox Sys., Inc., 2022 WL 3696773, at *9 (dismissing account stated claim where Defendant did not move to dismiss breach of contract claim and nothing in pleadings “suggests any doubt as to the validity or enforceability of the express contract that controls”); Kuroda, 971 A.2d at 891-92 (dismissing unjust enrichment claim where it was “clear from the face of the complaint that plaintiff’s relationship with the defendants is governed by an express contract”). 36 Outbox Sys., Inc., 2022 WL 3696773, at *10. 37 Ameristar Casinos, Inc. v. Resorts Int’l Holdings, LLC, 2010 WL 1875631, at *13 (Del. Ch. May 11, 2010). April 29, 2026 Page 10 of 11

While Cordio disputes the invoices, it does not dispute the Contract is valid and

enforceable. 38 37F

Counts II through IV are based on Biomedical providing Services “consistent

with the Parties’ prior dealings,” based on Cordio’s verbal and written requests, for

which Biomedical expected to be compensated. In each count, Biomedical seeks

payment on the same invoices, for the same Services, at the same billing rate as its

breach of contract claim.

Biomedical argues that Chrysler Corp. v. Chaplake Holdings, Ltd. confirms

that its alternative theories are permissible where the claims are based on promises

“in addition to” the existing contractual relationship. Biomedical’s reliance is

misplaced for two reasons. First, Chrysler Corp. is distinguishable. The Delaware

Supreme Court found no error in the trial court allowing plaintiff’s breach of contract

and promissory estoppel claims to be submitted to the jury. 39 Plaintiff’s primary 38F

claim was based on “the purported existence of an enforceable contract” and its

alternative claim was based on promissory estoppel. 40 The jury found for defendant 39F

on the contract claim and for plaintiff on the promissory estoppel claim. Thus, the

jury found no contract existed and recovery under promissory estoppel was

38 Cordio has not yet answered the complaint. However, it represented to the Court, both in its brief and at oral argument, that it did not contest the validity of the Contract. 39 822 A.2d 1024 (Del. 2003). 40 Id. at 1031 (emphasis added). April 29, 2026 Page 11 of 11

permissible because it applies where no contract was formed. 41 Here, there is no 40F

dispute that a valid contract exists between Biomedical and Cordio.

Second, Biomedical does not allege that the alternative theories of recovery

are based on promises unrelated to the subject of the Contract. 42 41F

If the disputed invoices/work is not covered by the Contract, Biomedical

cannot use the alternative theories to obtain a benefit it did not obtain at the

bargaining table. Accordingly, the Motion is GRANTED and Counts II through IV

are DISMISSED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

/s/Kathleen M. Miller Kathleen M. Miller, Judge

41 Id. 42 See Complaint, Count II, ¶ 28 (Biomedical provided “professional Services” to Cordio), ¶ 30 (Cordio “accepted and retained the benefit of [Biomedical’s] Services); and Count III, ¶ 35 (Cordio promised [Biomedical] that it would provide compensation for the Services performed”); and Count IV, ¶ 43 (Biomedical “rendered Services for” Cordio).