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OPINION My Readers Respond! And they Don’t Like the Stench Coming From Delaware’s Chancery Court Dear friends, As you can see from the responses below, informed Delawareans don’t want what they’re seeing, and what I believe is happening: It apparently seems that a corrupt, Chancery Court Chancellor is single-handedly dismantling our State’s reputation. I sincerely thank you for your feedback on this amazing story that continues to draw national media attention. With over $250 million of company and shareholder money unaccounted for, much of it ordered to Bouchard’s former law firm Skadden Arps, this is in my view, perhaps the largest case of court corruption in United States history. TransPerfect has not been permitted access to the bills that have been ordered by Bouchard to be paid. Want an example of how corrupt I believe Pincus and Skadden are? Nearly two years after the case has been closed, TransPerfect is still paying millions annually to Skadden Arps. I know this is hard to believe, but this is the information I am receiving from my reliable sources in the company. To receive a “litigation hold notice” — which I am told is a one-page standard letter — telling parties in law suits to preserve evidence – Skadden Arps charged TransPerfect a whopping $140,000. It is insane that Bouchard thinks he’s powerful enough and untouchable enough that he can just seem to rub corruption right in the face of the public by condoning what I see clearly as court-sanctioned theft. Below are a few of your recent responses that I have cut and pasted directly into this article. I have removed the last names to protect the individuals from possible reprisals by Bouchard, Pincus, Shannon, Strine and their powerful network of cronies: Here is how Delawareans feel about these recent events: 1) From Pete: For Bouchard to hold TransPerfect, et al in contempt only looks like a cover-up. This is corruption and it looks like these boys have a nice little act going. Skadden Arps is notorious for their iffy operation! Bouchard and Pincus are part of it! Thanks for your great work. -PETE 2) From Sarah: Thank you for your wonderful coverage of this. Bouchard must be investigated! Sarah 3) From Alfred: Judson, I believe there has to be an investigation by the Delaware Senate? Alfred 4) From Chris: This Judge Andre Bouchard has got to go! Thanks for keeping us informed! Chris 5) From Paul: Interesting commentary. I wonder if the Nevada Courts will come into conflict with the Delaware Courts and will the Chancery’s attempt at a Contempt charge be valid now that TransPerfect has moved its corporate headquarters? Regardless, the system is layered with back-covering throughout. 6) From John: Dear Jud, They apparently are all in it together. Nobody has ever addressed the Chancery Court’s operation like you have. We in Delaware always prided ourselves on a pristine state with positive economics and honest courts. These appearances of impropriety are shocking. Keep up the great work. JOHN 7) From Tom: Judson, It seems in life, if there are loopholes people always find them. If there are flaws in the law, they find a way to be corrupt. The integrity of the justice system must be upheld at all costs. This stuff is outrageous and very disturbing. Thanks for writing this. TOM 8) From Patty: Jud, Your great work is the talk of the town. This is amazing — you can’t make this stuff up. How does this guy Robert Pincus think he can get away with this? Bouchard must be so arrogant and comfortable in his position to operate the way he does. Who has the guts to do what is necessary??? Jud you are something else. LOL. All the best to you and keep it up. PATTY 9) From Dennis: VERY INTERESTING! 10) From Laurence: Hey Judson, How can this happen? It seems logical that TransPerfect’s lawyers need to start talking to the AG’s office?? 11) From Richard: Remember the old saying, you can’t beat city hall. It is such a shame that we now have to be suspicious of an institution that was once so respected. I feel sorry for Mr. Shawe to have to go through this BS. Thanks for all you do. All the best, Dick 12) From Doug: Judson, This is scary stuff when the people we have to go to receive justice, could be corrupt. I won’t incorporate in Delaware anymore. Doug 13) From Laurie: An amazing and thorough expose of something that needs to be exposed. What a story—there is a movie in this for sure. We wait for the outcome. Keep up the great work. Laurie 14) From Sally: Judson, My first time responding to you in quite a while. This is heavy stuff. It seems that Bouchard is attempting to use every angle to maintain control and cover his tracks. The only way change will be made in the judicial system is for Delaware to make political change. You have done an excellent job bringing this to light. Keep up the good work. I ask you, folks, who are seeing what’s happening here, could Andre Bouchard actually be attempting a cover-up? Will the Nevada courts rule in favor of TransPerfect? Can Chancellor Andre Bouchard actually and legally withhold evidence on the un-itemized and unexplained invoices in the amounts of millions of dollars submitted by the law firm of Skadden Arps? The appearances of impropriety are mounting and you the citizens of Delaware are demanding action! I appreciate your interesting feedback; please keep your responses coming! We are making a difference! Respectfully Yours, JUDSON Bennett-Coastal Network

OPINION

Dear Friends,

Folks, more developments are happening with the Skadden Arp’s law firm and Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchard, who in my view, are working collaboratively to continuously bilk TransPerfect, nearly two years after the case!

What happens when you demand to see Skadden Arps’ bills after being Court-Ordered to pay the Chancellor’s friends millions blindly? Well, if you demand it in a fair forum like Nevada, what happens? Suddenly Skadden Arps — seemingly to hide their bills and deflect from allegations of massive over-billing — runs to their “never-lose-a-motion” buddy Bouchard, in what I see as a home-court advantage, that in my book violates every principle on which United States Justice is based.

Skadden Arps, Bob Pincus, and Andre Bouchard appear to be desperately trying to deflect attention from what I’ve seen as the real issue all along: Skadden Arps, show your bills!!! To the public, to the payor TransPerfect, to someone, anyone?

If you did the work you say you did, why engage in a deception and deflection, “Contempt” motion? Just show your ordered and itemized bills. It’s obvious to this journalist and my confirmed opinion, that your buddy Bouchard gave you a blank check and you possibly misused it!

In my opinion, TransPerfect should not have to defend a “Contempt” motion, being made so Skadden and Bouchard can divert attention from the real issue: Ordering TransPerfect to pay Skadden Arps millions after the Custodian retired, with apparently no explanation whatsoever.

Folks, it is my belief that Bouchard’s Chancery Court reeks of rampant appearances of impropriety with disconcerting suspicions of collusion and corruption.

Something must be done and I see from the onslaught of feedback you’ve been generously sending, it’s resonating with you as well. I’ll share the excellent feedback with you soon. Keep it coming! Together we can do something important here and bring about change in Delaware’s Court of Chancery.

Please stay tuned because yours truly will keep investigating and sharing with you frequently.

Respectfully yours,

JUDSON Bennett-Coastal Network

OPINION Dear Friends, My sources have told me that after taking only 15 minutes to examine the motion, Bouchard has now granted a new motion clearly encouraging the Infamous Skadden Arps law firm, who I believe is acting in coordination and on behalf of the Chancery Court, to further retaliate against TransPerfect (now a Nevada Corp), Philip Shawe, and Shirley Shawe (79-year-old senior citizen). How? Through a “Contempt of Court” motion? Outrageous and Absurd! Why? Because after still being looted by Pincus and Skadden Arps more than 1-year after the case, TransPerfect was forced to seek the protection of the Nevada Courts. Can you blame TransPerfect for wanting to litigate in a fair forum?! For years Bouchard has made his buddies rich and now that TransPerfect is in Nevada, he needs a way to keep TransPerfect under his control and to keep the gravy train going. This comes after the world’s longest series of arbitrary and capacious rulings, all coincidentally against TransPerfect and the Shawes and ALL FOR THE BENEFIT of his former law partners (Pincus, Lamb) and his best friend for 20 years, Kevin Shannon. $250 million was spent with lawyers and Bouchard’s friends, and sealed documents prevent the public from knowing why? Want more proof that they are in cahoots? My understanding from folks I’ve talked to about this is that Pincus is contractually bound NOT to say bad things publicly about TransPerfect and Shawe — that’s one of the things Shawe paid for with his $385 million in Bouchard’s rigged auction — but now Bouchard has granted an extra-long motion for Pincus to basically do an end-run around his contractual guarantees not to talk negatively about TransPerfect or Philip Shawe. Mark my words, Bouchard granted this unusually large extension motion, purposefully so he could aid and abet Pincus’ continued, and in my view, illegal, disparaging, defaming and looting of TransPerfect. In my opinion folks, Delaware’s Skadden office and their thinly-veiled coordination with Bouchard are a form of incestuous, organized crime. How else does it look, I ask? Watch for what I think will happen based on conversations with a few of my attorney friends: Former appointed Custodian Robert Pincus writes a nasty motion with false claims and then illegally leaks it to the press — so that the Chancery Court can further retaliate against TransPerfect, Phil Shawe, and Shirley Shawe. OUTRAGEOUS FOLKS ! This is exclusive coverage brought to you by the Coastal Network! I have worked hard to cultivate sources inside the organization, who spoke with me under the strict condition of anonymity — out of fear of reprisal from Bouchard. Sound American? Not to this journalist! Stay tuned! Your comments are welcome and appreciated. Yours truly, JUDSON Bennett-Coastal NetworkDear Friends, Finally, a lawsuit has been brought against Robert Pincus of Skadden Arps! The case has been brought by TransPerfect Global, which has spent over a million dollars in fees since the completion of the company’s sale, and yet they still don’t know what they’re spending all of that money on. The bills, as you may recall, are under seal by Andre Bouchard, Chancellor of Delaware’s Chancery Court. Pincus was appointed as a custodian at TransPerfect Global, in essence, to break all ties between the company’s founders as they battled in court. Meanwhile folks, a referee is no longer needed! The case has long been solved and Pincus is still sending up to $90,000 in monthly invoices for undisclosed work to a company that no longer requires his services and has since moved its headquarters 2,500 miles across the country. How absolutely ludicrous this man apparently is, thinking that he has the right to still be drawing funds from this company! What gives, Chancellor Bouchard?! If money is still being siphoned out of the company coffers, at least Mr. Bouchard, please have the leadership to let this company, which is no longer under your jurisdiction, know exactly what it’s paying for! Folks, TransPerfect is apparently still paying bills (all unexplained or un-itemized and hidden) which have been imposed by Delaware’s Chancery Court even after the company has officially moved to Nevada, even after the sale is over, and even after I have been beating this drum and telling this heinous story for years now! Frankly, all this is significant and amazing to this investigative reporter! Would Andre Bouchard keep paying a car payment for his Bentley to the car dealership, long after he had sold the car to his neighbor? I think not. Would he continue to pay for landscapers to cut the acres and acres of land at his estate if he had sold the place? You bet he would not! The apparent audacity and arrogance of Andre Bouchard is simply astounding. As I see it, not only are the rules of the Chancery Court ancient and outdated, but this man presides over his court with personal and subjective decisions not based on previous law or logic. Well guess what folks, TransPerfect Global has filed suit against Robert Pincus and frankly, in my humble opinion, it is about time. I see it as refreshing to see some light finally shining on the situation and hopefully Robert Pincus’ and Chancellor Bouchard’s suspicious ways will be exposed by this lawsuit. Read the story below and let me know what you think! As always your comments are welcome and appreciated. Respectfully yours, JUDSON Bennett-Coastal Network

Skadden Partner Who Ran Transperfect Sale Hit With Fee Dispute

Mike Leonard – Bloomberg Law Aug. 15, 2019 A former partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom was hit with a lawsuit challenging the fees he wants for serving as tiebreaking director of Transperfect Global Inc. and running its forced sale after a controversial court ruling. A Delaware judge in 2015 appointed Robert B. Pincus custodian of the translation company and ordered it sold at auction, finding that co-founders Liz Elting and Phil Shawe were incapable of running it after breaking off their romantic relationship. A divided Delaware Supreme Court upheld the appointment in a 2017 ruling, rejecting the argument that the judge exceeded his authority by ordering a profitable company sold based solely on a leadership deadlock. The case attracted widespread attention, both for its tabloid-ready details and for the novel legal issues it raised. Shawe subsequently bought out Elting at a “modified auction” and moved the company’s headquarters from Delaware to Nevada. Pincus’s bills for his work in the matter came to between $58,000 and $90,000 each month from May to July this year, according to the partly redacted complaint Transperfect filed in Nevada’s Clark County District Court. Those bills contained misrepresentations, including a request covering time spent as a witness that’s “not properly chargeable to the custodianship,” Transperfect says. The judge “unwittingly” granted Pincus’s fee requests without realizing Transperfect hadn’t seen them, the suit says. Because those reports were filed under seal, Transperfect doesn’t have specific information about what work was done, who did it, how long it took, or what the hourly rate was, the Aug. 12 complaint claims. Absent that information, the company can’t “assess the reasonableness of the amount of fees,” it says. Skadden has demanded the money from Transperfect rather than taking it from an escrow fund established to pay Pincus’s fees, and has responded to questions by citing sealed court documents Transperfect can’t access, according to the complaint. Skadden and Pincus didn’t immediately respond to Aug. 15 requests for comment. Transperfect is represented by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP and Kruzhokov Russo PLLC. The case is Transperfect Global Inc. v. Pincus, Nev. Dist. Ct., No. A-19-800185-B, complaint filed 8/12/19.

I have sensed for years that something was rotten in the state of Delaware’s Court of Chancery, in general, but also specifically as it relates to the TransPerfect case and the missing $250 million in legal, custodian and consultant related fees. I promised my loyal readers that I would find and pull on every loose thread of this case until my perceived web of corruption that belongs to Andre Bouchard becomes totally unraveled for all to see.

This new discovery is going to floor you, and what I believe is the attempted cover up will floor you even more!

Three law firms, from my view, made out like bandits when Bouchard started ordering TransPerfect Global and CEO Phil Shawe’s personal money be paid around to his friends and former law partners like a feudal lord in mid-evil times — and remember folks, no witnesses testified against either Shawe or TransPerfect. These three firms benefited to the tune of millions of dollars whose uncanny “coincidences” and connections to Bouchard warrant a State and Federal investigation of Bouchard and his Cronies:

1. Skadden Arps – The former partner at Skadden, custodian Bob Pincus, whose personal friendship I recall Bouchard bragged about when appointing him. Also, this is where outgoing Chief Justice Strine started in law, as Bouchard’s intern.

2. Potter Anderson – Perhaps, who I believe is the dirtiest attorney in Delaware, Kevin Shannon, who seems to win cases without providing evidence by attending tax-payer financed boondoggles with Strine and Bouchard (who I hear from reliable sources that he golfed with and additionally, traveled to New Orleans with, during critical points in the case!!!)

3. Kramer Levin – Whose seemingly outrageous lies to the Delaware Supreme Court were called out in a nationally televised advertisement. What was their penalty for all of this? A victory. What’s the Bouchard connection? Kramer, Bouchard, and Kevin Shannon all worked together on the infamous Walt Disney case years ago, where they argued against shareholder interests. I have heard from reliable sources, that Gary Naftalis is a named partner at Kramer Levin who comes down to hob nob with Strine and Bouchard; sometimes he’s the only non-Delaware lawyer in attendance at a Delaware conference?

4. Paul Weiss – The fourth firm who made out like John Dillinger — and had no apparent connection to Bouchard…UNTIL NOW!!!

The Fourth Firm—HERE IS THE RUB FOLKS :

This firm, which no one has spoken about until now, in August of 2016, as reported in the New York Law Journal, Chancellor Bouchard ordered Shawe to pay Elting’s lawyers an outrageous and unconstitutional fine of $7.1 million — an order un-related to any “harm” or “compensation” in the case, as the law requires — and the largest such sanction ever in U.S. history. Bear in mind: Shawe denies all claims and has maintained his innocence at all times. All witnesses testified for Shawe–clearly stating that there was no wrong-doing of any kind. How did Paul Weiss win? Keep reading.

Paul Weiss benefits immensely — and no one made the connection before now. Why? Perhaps an orchestrated cover-up on a grand scale?

Who was the most Senior Paul Weiss lawyer in Delaware at the time? Who gained the most in the Paul Weiss DE office? You won’t believe it when I tell you: Former Chancellor Steven Lamb. Bouchard’s first firm, when he left Skadden Arps (if he ever really left – it appears to me he still might have a financial interest in their success), take a seat before reading the next line: Bouchard’s very first firm of his own was: BOUCHARD AND LAMB!!!!

You may not believe me that this is the truth, because it boggles honest minds. Folks, I have done hours of digging and digging to establish the only remaining connection of Bouchard to all the law firm benefactors of the crazy decisions in the TransPerfect case. Irrefutable proof of the Bouchard-Lamb connection is in the link:

The Business of Law: Meet the New Leader of the Court of Chancery

So many dots are connected here. Andre Bouchard has, in my opinion, hit for the proverbial “corruption” cycle ( a baseball term for those of you who don’t know) by helping 4 different law firms, all of which he is intimately connected to! He helped them make millions upon millions of dollars by his seemingly biased decisions from the TransPerfect Global case.

The Cover-Up!!!

Chancellor Bouchard prior to his appointment to the Chancery Court was partners with Stephen Lamb! Stephen Lamb after serving on the Chancery Court himself then moved back into private practice with the law firm of Paul Weiss. Fast forward to the TransPerfect case in 2016 and Kramer Levin hires the Paul Weiss firm to work on the case representing Shawe’s former partner at TransPerfect– Liz Elitng. Specifically, they were hired to work on the allegation that Shawe spoliated evidence which, according to the testifying employees, were NOT able to prove in any way, shape, or form. The bottom line is that nobody needs proof if Bouchard’s court is corrupt and rigged for his cronies to win?

Yet when all the papers were served on behalf of Elting by Paul Weiss, absolutely no mention was made of former Chancellor Lamb’s name. It wasn’t until I was doing some research and saw an article where Paul Weiss was claiming victory, did I notice that one of the attorneys taking credit for the victory was Stephen Lamb! No other public document I can find anywhere even lists LAMB on the TransPerfect case!!! Another coincidence?? In Bouchard’s court, there seems to be a lot of coincidences. Yet, we know from this evidence he was on the team taking Shawe’s and TransPerfect’s money with Bouchard’s help.

HELLO — They brag about his specific role on the Paul Weiss website!?!?!

I will issue a challenge to all those mentioned, who have never denied these inferences: To Chancellor Bouchard, Former Chancellor Lamb, Kevin Shannon, various Kramer Levin attorneys, who in my opinion, boldly lied to the Delaware Supreme Court with no repercussions!

COASTAL NETWORK’S CHALLENGE: Prove to me there was no cover-up and no hidden agenda. Indeed, this is the appearance of impropriety. Show me one official court document other than the Paul Weiss Web Site, that mentions LAMB’s involvement in the TransPerfect case — and I will discontinue this line of inquiry. In my opinion, Bouchard had a legal duty to inform Shawe that he was formerly in business with Chancellor Lamb, He should have recused himself, but he did not! Folks, any reasonable man would see this as a serious conflict of interest.

This is the most damning evidence of corruption, in my opinion, an investigative reporter could find, as it proves to me that this coordinated group had the intent to hide their wrong-doing. There is no other explanation from my educated perspective. How long will we let this infamous boy’s club of incestuous characters operate by sucking the life out of Delaware’s corporations, Delaware citizens, and Delaware’s reputation?! On behalf of the Coastal Network and my 6,000 readers, I again call for a bi-partisan investigation of Chancellor Andre Bouchard by the General Assembly!

Would love to hear your thoughts on this stunning discovery. Your feedback is always welcome.

As I see it, TransPerfect & Shawe never had a chance at fair trial with this what I call “murder’s row” of Bouchard’s cronies…

Scroll down to read this article:

HTTPS://WWW.PAULWEISS.COM/PRACTICES/LITIGATION/LITIGATION/NEWS/DELAWARE-SUPREME-COURT-AFFIRMS-71-MILLION-SANCTIONS-AWARD-IN-FAVOR-OF-ELIZABETH-ELTING?ID=23702


FEBRUARY 13, 2017

Delaware Supreme Court Affirms $7.1 Million Sanctions Award in Favor of Elizabeth Elting

“The Delaware Supreme Court upheld the court-ordered sale of TransPerfect Global, Inc. and unanimously affirmed the $7.1 million sanctions award in favor of Paul, Weiss client Elizabeth Elting. Elting and Phillip Shawe are the co-founders and co-CEOs of Transperfect, one of the world’s largest document-translation and discovery-services companies. Since 2014, they have been in litigation in Delaware and New York over the control of the company. Elting is represented by Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel and Potter, Anderson & Corroon in the corporate-control battle.

In late 2014, Elting tapped Paul Weiss when Shawe revealed that he had secretly accessed Elting’s lawyer-client communications. Paul Weiss then uncovered that Shawe had attempted to destroy files on his laptop, had failed to safeguard and produce text messages on his cell phone, which he claimed was destroyed when it fell in a cup of Diet Coke, and had repeatedly lied under oath about his conduct. Paul, Weiss tried the two-day sanctions hearing and represented Elting in her successful post-hearing briefs and in defending against Shawe’s sanctions appeal.

The Paul, Weiss team included litigation partners Eric Stone, Robert Atkins and Stephen Lamb, of counsel Gerard Harper and counsel Robert Kravitz.”

OPINION Dear friends, Yet again, just in case anyone thinks the damage Chancery Court, Chancellor Andre Bouchard has done to Delaware’s reputation is confined to just Delaware or just the United States of America, you’d be incorrect. Here is yet another article from a Spanish newspaper. The article highlights and underscores exactly what I’ve said for months, if not years. There are many changes that need to be made to fix our Chancery Court. I hope we have the courage and conviction to take on the “good old boy’s club” who, in my view, could easily be profiting from corruption under the current system — of course those who might be profiting will resist change with every bit of wealth and power and close-door favors they can muster. The Super Bowl for court and government transparency in Delaware is about to begin. The battle lines are drawn and it’s almost kick-off time for the Citizens vs. Bouchard and his cronies. The Coastal Network promises to give my readers a front row seat on the 50-yard line. Please stay tuned and keep your feedback coming, it is always welcome. Respectfully yours, JUDSON Bennett-Coastal Network PLEASE SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE SPANISH ARTICLE https://cronicaglobal.elespanol.com/business/transperfect-lucha-sistema_265299_102.html

TransPerfect employees lead the fight against system bias

Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware was born as a result of the multinational’s case to defend workers’ interests against the possible sale of the company to vulture funds 30.07.2019 12:39 h . When many believed that the TransPerfect case was over, it seems that the struggle of the workers and former workers of the translation multinational has only just begun. Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware citizen platform has presented in Wilmington a proposal for legal reforms that aim to restore the prestige and neutrality of the Delaware judicial system. These were questioned following some controversial decisions by Delaware Supreme Court judge Andre Bouchard . Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware was born as a result of the TransPerfect case to defend the interests of workers against the possible sale of the company to vulture funds . It is currently made up of employees and former employees of the company, Delaware residents and people from the state’s business sector. All of them total more than 2,700 people. Once the shareholder conflict is resolved, the platform has now expanded its struggle and, beyond focusing on the TransPerfect case, wants to restore the neutrality and good practices of the Delaware judicial system. The organization is chaired by Miranda Wessinger, former director of global events at TransPerfect in Atlanta. The TransPerfect case The TransPerfect litigation that endangered more than 5,000 jobs worldwide, 500 of them in Barcelona, ended when Phil Shawe, current CEO and founder of the company, bought 50% of the shareholding . Until then it was in the hands of his ex-wife Elisabeth Elting . Shawe stayed that way with the entire company and regained its business strategy . However, the judicial process in which the company was involved called into question the reputation of the State of Delaware, where TransPerfect had the administrative headquarters before transferring it to Nevada for its disagreement with the state judicial system. During the judicial conflict, the State of Delaware led by Bouchard made decisions that cast doubt on its impartiality and hinted that several law firms could have made a profit with the consent of Judge Bouchard. This same judge made the decision to hide from the public the judicial file of the case once it had been concluded, thus incurring in an absolutely unusual decision and that left the judicial law according to several experts. Today, the file remains inaccessible to the public, something that has fueled suspicions about the judicial management of the case . Loss of neutrality In this context of disappointment and frustration on the part of the citizens of Delaware, the US Chamber of Commerce published a ranking of neutrality of the judicial systems of the country where Delaware dropped from first position to eleventh, leaving in evidence the latest decisions taken by the state. Despite adverse circumstances, Phil Shawe’s company continues to grow exponentially and the first three months of 2019 recorded revenues of more than 140 million euros, which implies an increase of more than 8% over the same period from the previous year.OPINION Dear Friends, Apparently, the article I wrote about Cindy Green (Sussex County, Delaware’s elected Register of Wills) has gone viral in Sussex County, and was even picked up by the County Communications Director, Chip Guy, and published in its Sussex County News Digest which is an internal memo to County employees—not to be distributed to the public. I heard about it through my sources and verified it. It is important to mention again that Cindy Green is directly responsible for upgrading this important office with computerization and electronic documentation. She is publicly supporting change in the Delaware Court of Chancery. The articles referenced about Bouchard and TransPerfect, which I wrote, are on the website, “Spotlight on Delaware”. Here’s a link to the website: https://spotlightondelaware.com Cindy Greens’s support for change is significant, because here we have an elected official advocating specific action. Her office is directly affected by Andre Bouchard, the Chancellor of the Chancery Court, which appoints the Chief Deputy of Cindy’s office. She told me last week that “The Chancery Court needs to be changed with clear transparency.” And when I inquired if she would like to see Bouchard not reappointed or removed from office, her response was calm and thoughtful, “Yes, he is not good for Delaware.” Please read for the first time, or read again my article below on Cindy Green which is having a strong impact. As Cindy Green is doing, please consider supporting the growing number of concerned citizens who recognize the need for reform in Delaware’s Court of Chancery! There is much more to come. Stay Tuned! Respectfully yours, JUDSON Bennett-Coastal Network Cindy Green – our Sussex County Register of Wills – A Great Elected Official in Delaware Advocating Chance!

Cindy Green, Our Sussex County Register of Wills, A Great Elected Official in Delaware Advocating Change!

BY JUDSON BENNETT ON JULY 30, 2019 I was extremely pleased to see Cynthia (Cindy) Green of Sussex County earlier this month. She’s Republican and Sussex County, Delaware’s elected “Register of Wills.” We saw one another at a press conference, held in front of the Court House in Wilmington on July 10th, sponsored by “Citizens for Pro Business Delaware”, an advocacy group that is promoting transparency and reform in the Delaware Court of Chancery. Interestingly, Cindy Green is indirectly responsible for why I started covering Andre Bouchard, before the infamous TransPerfect case even began. She is a lifelong Sussex Countian and resident of Greenwood, Delaware. Unlike most politicians, who from my perspective don’t keep their promises, Cindy Green has and does! After being elected in 2010 on a platform — promising to advocate for low taxes, keeping the government closer to the people and maintaining local control of the “Register of Wills” office, while bringing this important office into the 21st Century by computerizing the whole system, installing modern software, and upgrading the office to modern standards. Cindy Green has surely kept her promises! She also fought at Legislative Hall in Dover against a bill advocated by Andre Bouchard to take over control of all three county offices which would have increased the Chancellor’s power, but would have decreased the efficiency and operation of estate settlements, creating another, unruly, state bureaucracy. Cindy fought against it and the bill didn’t pass. The fact that Bouchard was there, and actually lobbying, was yet another violation of the Delaware “Cannons”, designating judicial behavior, which I will address soon in this article. One of the rubs that got my attention about Chancery was the absurd rule granting the Chancellor power to appoint the Chief Deputy of the “Register of Wills” office. It is traditional and indeed prudent for the Chancellor to receive recommendations from the Registrar (Cindy Green), and make the appointments accordingly. Instead of honoring Cindy’s recommendation of someone who already worked in the office and was truly the most qualified for the job, Bouchard appointed one political, incompetent or unqualified person after another that compromised the efficiency of the office. I wrote my opinionated allegations of his misconduct directly to Bouchard and he wrote me back a letter attempting to defend himself by explaining that the law gave him unfettered rights to appoint whomever he wants, regardless of the qualifications. This was my first experience with Bouchard’s suspect decisions, high tolerance for his own appearances of impropriety, and hubris that apparently prompts him to operate with impunity. Later, Bouchard, in my opinion, violated “Cannon 4, Rule 4.1 Political and Campaign Activities of Judges and Judicial Candidates” — when he appeared before a political committee at Legislative Hall to lobby for the passage of a bill affecting the Register of Wills offices in an attempt to take them over. Cindy Green objected, but the power of the “good old boy’s club” prevailed and Bouchard lobbied away, directly violating ethical rules that govern a Judge’s conduct. Canon 4 – “A judge should refrain from political activity inappropriate to the judge’s judicial office. Rule 4.1 Political and Campaign Activities of Judges and Judicial Candidates.” Thankfully, Bouchard did not profit from his misconduct, his bill didn’t pass, and Cindy Green retained her leadership position. Cindy Green agreed to speak with me on the record for this article and I was able to ask her about “The Citizens” movement for transparency and reform in the Chancery Court. She replied, “I support their activities 100%. What they are doing is much needed. The Chancery Court needs to be changed with clear transparency.” I further asked her if the Chancellor should be removed from the process of appointing the Chief Deputy to her office. Cindy responded, “Yes. I was elected by the people to run that office. I know who the best employees are, what is needed and who should work on my team. I don’t need a political judge to tell me who should work in my office. It is absurd. Time for a change. Perhaps, ‘Citizens for Pro Business Delaware’ will get this law changed along with other needed changes,” she said. I further inquired if she would like to see Bouchard not reappointed or removed from office. Her response was calm and thoughtful, “Yes, he is not good for Delaware.” Folks, I believe Cindy Green is a remarkable woman. She serves the people of Sussex County with dedication and resolve. She is what I call “GOOD PEOPLE”. Indeed she did all of these things, despite legal and administrative difficulties brought on by Chancellor Bouchard. Having worked in family care, prior to running for office, Cindy is well aware of the trauma and stress that occurs when people die and the dire need for immediate access to wills and important estate records. In the not so distant past, the whole antiquated system of the “Register of Wills” office was done by hand and paper. Now, it is streamlined and efficient, serving the people as it should. All estate records are now being kept electronically, thanks to Cindy Green. All of this happened because of Cindy and I cannot say enough about the courage of this kind, conservative, Christian woman who constantly and humbly works to improve her office and serve the people of Sussex County properly and efficiently. On behalf of all Delawareans who have benefited from your hard work, I thank you Cindy Green! You have clearly demonstrated your dedication to the smooth operation of your office! As always your comments are welcome and appreciated. Respectfully yours, JUDSON Bennett-Coastal Network