OPINION
Dear Friends,
Here are some predictions from Citizens for Pro-Business Delaware “OVER THREE YEARS AGO” in Reuters. This was back when Delaware’s business rating was still number #1. We are now not even in the Top 10 any more?!?
If legislators had stepped in to limit the Chancellor’s power and addressed what I, and thousands of others, view as corruption in the Chancery Court, perhaps Delaware wouldn’t be #11. We can’t change the past, but we can sure as hell change the future.
Former Delaware, Chief Supreme Court Justice, Leo Strine has stepped down. The Puerto Rican Governor is stepping down. Perhaps it’s time for
Andre Bouchard to step down and let the Chancery Court modernize, move forward, and return to its former glory?!
As always your comments are welcome and appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
JUDSON Bennett-Coastal Network
JUNE 6, 2016 / 6:51 PM / 3 YEARS AGO (Reuters)
Unusual Media Blitz Rips Top Judge of Delaware’s Corporate Court
Tom Hals
(Reuters) – A bitter boardroom battle has prompted an unusual media blitz in Delaware that warns residents that the state’s nationally renowned corporate court is on the cusp of destroying Delaware’s pro-business reputation.
The ads by employees of TransPerfect Global Inc stem from a ruling in August that was aimed at breaking years of deadlock between the translation services company’s co-owners, Elizabeth Elting and Philip Shawe.
Elting convinced the Court of Chancery to order the company sold, a move opposed by Shawe. Last month, employees of New York-based TransPerfect wrote to the judge, Chancellor Andre Bouchard, saying they feared for the survival of TransPerfect, which despite years of dysfunction, had grown to have $500 million in annual sales and 4,000 staff.
As Bouchard prepares to issue a final order any day detailing the sale process, radio and print ads, a website and 20,000 flyers have been sent to Delaware residents blasting the judge for his “stunning act of governmental overreach.”
“Tell Chancellor Bouchard to leave our company alone and our business is our business,” said the flyers, which included the direct phone number for Bouchard’s chambers. “Chancellor Bouchard is turning Delaware into a bad place for business.”
The state prides itself for being friendly for business, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has named the Court of Chancery as the nation’s best for more than a dozen years.
Judson Bennett
Author
Captain A. Judson Bennett was a life- long resident of Lewes, DE. He served the maritime industry for 33 years, primarily as a Delaware River Pilot, guiding large ships to the Port of Philadelphia. Captain Bennett has been an active and consistent entrepreneur over the years.
He was elected as a Lewes City Councilman for 6 years. Afterwards he ran for the Sussex County Council as a Republican, and with 20 thousand people voting, lost Delaware’s closest election by 3 votes to an 8 year incumbent. Abandoning his personal political ambitions, he became the Republican District leader, advocating conservative values. Captain Bennett became a lobbyist in the state legislature advocating among many ideas, financial literacy concepts in education. He managed several political campaigns, including one for Governor of Delaware and one for the US Senate against VP Joe Biden. He is now the owner, operator, and writer for the Coastal Network which communicates regularly with over 6000 people throughout the State of Delaware.
Captain Bennett is a graduate of St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, DE (where the movie “The Dead Poet’s Society was filmed) and also graduated “Magna Cum Laude” from the University of Delaware with a BA in Criminal Justice and an MA in Liberal Studies.
He is now a Widower, living in West Palm Beach, Florida. Captain Bennett has one son, three grandchildren, and one great grand-daughter, all who live in Richmond, Virginia.