Levine v. Milton

• Decision Date: 04 April 1966
• Citation: 42 Del.Ch. 597,219 A.2d 145
• Parties: Irving LEVINE v. David M. MILTON et al.
• Court: Court of Chancery of Delaware

Page 145

219 A.2d 145

42 Del.Ch. 597

Irving LEVINE v. David M. MILTON et al.

Court of Chancery of Delaware, New Castle County.

April 4, 1966.

Aubrey B. Lank, of Theisen & Lank, Wilmington, for plaintiff, Nemerov & Shapiro, New York City, of counsel.

E. Dickinson Griffenberg, of Killoran & VanBrunt, Wilmington, for certain defendants, Arnold & Porter, Washington, D.C., of counsel.

Bruce M. Stargatt, of Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor, Wilmington, for defendant The Equity Corp.

SHORT, Vice Chancellor:

This is a double derivative suit brought by plaintiff on behalf of Oceanic Trading Company, Inc., (Oceanic), a Panamanian corporation, the sole stockholder of Darien Continental Corporation (Darien), also a Panamanian corporation. The complaint alleges three causes of action. First, that certain defendants wrongfully caused Darien to transfer shares which it held in The Equity Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and options with respect to such shares. The complaint prays that these transfers be declared null and void. Second, after realleging the facts set forth in the first cause of action, that the principal defendant has personally profited from the transactions complained of. An accounting is sought as to this cause of action. The third cause of action purports to be a representative class action. However, since it merely realleges the facts stated in the first two causes of action, it must also be taken as asserting a derivative claim. The fact that the relief sought is for distribution of any recovery directly to the stockholders does not have the effect of converting it into a representative cause of action.

Defendants have moved to dismiss (1) for failure to obtain jurisdiction over indispensable parties, namely Darien and Oceanic, neither of which has been served or has appeared in this action; (2) for failure to allege that derivative actions are recognized under Panamanian law; and, (3) that this court, in a derivative action, has no jurisdiction over Panamanian corporations which have not appeared and are not subject to service of process under the laws of this state.

I am satisfied that defendants Oceanic and Darien, for whose benefit this action is brought, are indispensable parties. 13 Fletcher, Corporations, § 5997; Koster v. (American) Lumbermens Mutual Casualty Co., 330 U.S. 518, 67 S.Ct. 828, 91 L.Ed. 1067; Overfield v. Pennroad Corporation, 3 Cir., 146 F.2d 889; Greenberg v. Giannini, 2 Cir., 140 F.2d 550, 152 A.L.R. 966; Busch v. Mary A. Riddle Co., 283 F. 443 (D.C.Del.); Tessari v. Herald, D.C., 207 F.Supp. 432; Levey v. Babb, 39 Misc.2d 648, 241 N.Y.S.2d 642. That this is the general rule does not seem to be disputed by plaintiff. He contends however that the rule should not be applied in the circumstances presented, particularly where, as here, there is a prayer such as that contained in the third cause of action, that is, for distribution of any recovery directly to stockholders. Assuming that the case of Rabinowitz v. Kaiser-Frazer Corp., Sup., 111 N.Y.S.2d 539, cited by plaintiff, is precedent in support of his contention, it is not in accord with Delaware law. See Keenan v. Eshleman, 23 Del.Ch. 234, 2 A.2d 904, 120 A.L.R. 227. I therefore hold that Oceanic and Darien are indispensable parties in this action.

But plaintiff suggests that the interests of Oceanic and Darien in the Equity shares 'can and will be sequestrated in the future so that this Court will thereby acquire jurisdiction.' This contention is based upon the false assumption that 10 Del.C. § 366, the sequestration law, was designed to provide a means of compelling the appearance not only of 'real' defendants named in a derivative action, but also of the corporation for whose benefit the suit is brought. I am satisfied that the statute was not intended to be utilized for the latter purpose. Nor am I impressed with plaintiff's argument that to now hold Oceanic and Darien indispensable parties would be premature. The circumstances here presented...