Case Summaries

Corporation & Enterprise Law

[07/02] Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. v. Fed. Trade Comm'n
Petition for review an order of the Federal Trade Commission requiring petitioner to divest assets acquired from a Pennsylvania company since they would likely result in a substantial lessening of competition or tend to create a monopoly is denied where: 1) the FTC correctly applied the legal standards of burdens of proof and persuasion; 2) the FTC properly analyzed the "potential entry" defense and had substantial evidence to conclude that "potential entry" evidence was insufficient to rebut the prima facie case; 3) substantial evidence supported its factual findings; and 4) there was no abuse of discretion in the issuance of its remedy provisions.

[07/02] City of Geneseo v. Utilities Plus
In an action to recover damages from corporate defendant based on claims of contractual breach, unjust enrichment, promissory estoppel, and fraud, summary judgment for defendant is affirmed where: 1) defendant's president was found to lack actual authority to enter a binding contract on the company's behalf; 2) the doctrine of apparent authority, which was limited under state laws, did not alternatively create a contract to be enforced; and 3) plaintiff had no basis to recover damages under alternative principles of contractual remedies.

[07/02] Rodriguez-Rivera v. Federico Trilla Reg'l Hosp. of Carolina
In a medical malpractice case against defendant-hospital presenting the issue of whether an Asset Purchase Agreement entered between past and present owners of the hospital absolved the current owner's liability for acts or omissions by the hospital's previous owners and/or operators, the circuit court finds that the terms of the asset purchase agreement not only could, but did, absolve the present owners from liability.

[07/01] G.K. Alan Assoc., Inc. v. Lazzari
In a civil lawsuit involving defendant's alleged acts of fraud and embezzlement, a ruling finding that summary judgment for either party was precluded is affirmed where inquiries as to defendant's actual intent for the wrongdoings charged, and plaintiff's knowledge of defendant's ongoing fraud or embezzlement practices, were factual issues properly resolved at trial.

[07/01] In the Matter of Venigalla v. Nori
Article 9 of the Religious Corporations Law does not provide for any elections, other than votes of the trustees themselves. Thus, provisions in the bylaws of an entity incorporated under the Religious Corporations Law, which called for election of trustees by the "General Body", facially contradicted Article 9 and were invalid from their inception.

More...