In re Terraform Power, Inc. Stockholders Litigation

• Court: Court of Chancery of Delaware
• Decided: November 24, 2020
• Docket: C.A. No. 2019-0757-SG
• Status: Published

Opinion

COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE SAM GLASSCOCK III VICE CHANCELLOR STATE OF DELAWARE COURT OF CHANCERY COURTHOUSE 34 THE CIRCLE GEORGETOWN, DELAWARE 19947

November 24, 2020

Ned Weinberger, Esquire Kevin G. Abrams, Esquire Derrick Farrell, Esquire Eric A. Veres, Esquire Labaton Sucharow LLP Stephen C. Childs, Esquire 300 Delaware Avenue – Suite 1340 Abrams & Bayliss LLP Wilmington, DE 19801 20 Monthchanin Road, Suite 200 Wilmington, DE 19807

Peter B. Andrews, Esquire Brian C. Ralston, Esquire Craig J. Springer, Esquire Caneel Radinson-Blasucci, Esquire David M. Sborz, Esquire Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP Andrews & Springer LLC Hercules Plaza, 6th Floor 3801 Kennett Pike 1313 North Market Street Building C, Suite 305 Wilmington, DE 19899 Wilmington, DE 19807

Re: In re Terraform Power, Inc. Stockholders Litigation C.A. No. 2019-0757-SG

Dear Counsel:

I have the Defendants’ Application for Certification of Interlocutory Appeal

of my Memorandum Opinion of October 30, 2020 (the “Opinion”),1 together with

the Plaintiffs’ Opposition thereto. Because the Opinion was not accompanied by an

order, I have filed a consistent order today and consider the Application for

1 In re Terraform Power, Inc. Stockholders’ Litigation, C.A. No. 2019-0757-SG, Dkt. No. 84. Certification to be addressed to that Order of November 24, 2020 (the “Order”).

After considering the parties’ submissions, I have concluded that this matter is

appropriate for interlocutory appeal and have attached an order granting leave to

appeal from the Order and Opinion, consistent with Supreme Court Form L.

Supreme Court Rule 42 is a testament to the particularity with which the

Supreme Court considers interlocutory appeals. It is unsurprising that this is so;

interlocutory appeals tend to be inefficient for the Supreme Court, the trial courts

and litigants. It is a rare case in which such an appeal is justified. I find that this is

such a case, however.

I am directed by Rule 42 to consider several factors in addressing whether an

interlocutory appeal is warranted. I first consider 42(b)(3)(iii)(G). 2 That factor

involves whether consideration of the appeal may end the litigation. The Opinion

and Order involved the Defendants’ contention that the matter should be dismissed

because the Plaintiffs lack standing to pursue their Complaint directly rather than

derivatively. The Plaintiffs have standing in this matter, if at all, under the doctrine

set forth in Gentile v. Rosette.3 I will not repeat in this brief Letter Opinion the

reasons for which the application of the Gentile doctrine has been questioned in light

of our Supreme Court’s overarching test for determining whether a stockholder-

2 Supr. Ct. R. 42(b)(iii)(G) (“Review of the Interlocutory Order may terminate the litigation.”). 3 906 A.2d 91 (Del. 2006). 2 plaintiff’s corporate litigation is direct or derivative, as set forth in Tooley v.

Donaldson, Lufkin, & Jenrette, Inc. 4 That discussion is set out in some detail in the

Opinion from which this interlocutory appeal is sought. 5 In consideration of the

instant motion, however, the issue of the continuing validity of the Gentile rationale,

in light of, inter alia, criticism from our Supreme Court, 6 indicates that factor

42(b)(3)(iii)(G)7 is implicated here. I note that the application of subsection (G), by

itself, it is unlikely to be sufficient to sustain an interlocutory appeal. Here, however,

I find that subsection (H) also comes into play. That factor directs me to consider

whether “[r]eview of the interlocutory appeal may serve considerations of justice.” 8

Again, in light of case law questioning the continued vitality of Gentile at the trial

court level, and in light of criticism at the Supreme Court level, I find it in the interest

of justice that the matter be available for review by the Supreme Court at this Motion

to Dismiss stage. A successful interlocutory appeal, before the parties undergo the

extensive litigation that will be required to bring this matter to a final resolution in

this Court, will avoid substantial useless effort on behalf of litigation by parties who

4 845 A.2d 1031 (Del. 2004). 5 See generally Mem. Op., In re Terraform Power, Inc. Stockholders’ Litigation, C.A. No. 2019- 0757-SG, Dkt. No. 84. 6 See El Paso Pipeline GP Co., L.L.C. v. Brinckerhoff, 152 A.3d 1248, 1265–66 (Del. 2016) (Strine, C.J., concurring). 7 Supr. Ct. R. 42(b)(iii)(G). 8 Supr. Ct. R. 42(b)(iii)(H). 3 lack standing. An unsuccessful appeal will still serve the interests of justice, by

clarifying an area of law that appears to be in a state of flux.

I appreciate the Plaintiffs’ forceful argument that a reliance solely upon the

last two factors of Rule 42(b)(iii) constitutes but a weak ground upon which to certify

interlocutory appeal. To my mind, this is the rare exception that proves that

proposition; of course, if the Supreme Court disagrees, it need only decline to accept

the appeal. I have therefore attached an Order certifying the interlocutory appeal.

To the extent the foregoing requires an order to take effect, IT IS SO

ORDERED.

Sincerely,

/s/Sam Glasscock III

Vice Chancellor