I’ve been using my column as a soapbox to complain about Chancery Court Chancellor, Andre Bouchard, and what I view as the lame nonsense and bullying coming from his bench over the past few years, specifically from the TransPerfect case, among other things, which have been, in my opinion, levels of corruption, too hard to believe. His ties to law firm giant, Skadden Arps, have been well documented here and elsewhere over the past few years.
Well, folks, now we’re seeing what I think is a new low for even this group, new facts have come to light, according to the press release below that, Jennifer Voss, who is a partner in the Skadden Arps’ Wilmington office, was “purported to act on behalf of the Delaware Judiciary when she attempted to silence the advocacy group, Citizens for Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD).” The group is founded by TransPerfect employees and Delaware residents and is looking to help create transparency, accountability and diversity in Delaware courts. So why is Voss seemingly trying so hard to silence this group, in coordination with the Chancery Court? Is it because they’ve been critical of her colleague Robert Pincus? Something isn’t right here, folks.
As we all are, this Citizens group is protected by the First Amendment and no matter how hard attorney Voss tries, that isn’t going to change. Thank goodness our founding fathers created a Constitution that is designed to protect all of us, including free speech, which is one of the things that sets this country apart from others and makes America great! Authoritarian and corrupt people in all walks of life will attempt to skew the law and ignore the Constitution if you let them get away with it. The appearances of impropriety continue to be rampant, in my view, with what I further believe, between such law firms, the state’s courts, and the Bar Association.
Founder Chris Coffey doubled down on the group’s commitment to pursuing these changes and will continue to strive for these goals. Citizens for Pro-Business Delaware are willing to put their money where their mouths are. He said the group will be spending half-a-million dollars this year to put a spotlight on failures in Delaware’s courts while continuing their battle for reform.
He even plans to create a political action committee, dedicated to electing candidates at every level of Delaware’s government. As someone who has deeply cared about and influenced Delaware politics for years, I think that’s a perfectly good idea! No doubt with the dedication and capital this organization is willing to commit, Citizens for Pro-Business Delaware will be an effective political operation! Call me, Mr. Coffey, anytime. I’d be happy to advise you and your group on the ways of Delaware politics and how to get things done in America’s First State! I am happy to promote the changes you advocate because things are not right in Delaware these days in my opinion!
I think Ms. Voss’s attempts to silence Citizens is downright unconstitutional. The First Amendment, this Citizen’s Group, and our great state won’t go down so easily!
Let me know what you think about this, folks! Delaware is Rising!
May 07, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time
WILMINGTON, Del.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Following a series of recent filings in the Delaware Court of Chancery, new facts were released publicly that Jennifer Voss, a partner in Skadden Arps’ Wilmington office, was purported to act on behalf of the Delaware Judiciary when she attempted to silence the advocacy group, Citizens for Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD). CPBD, a grassroots organization founded by TransPerfect employees, advocates for transparency, accountability and diversity in the Delaware Judiciary has been subject to threats and hate mail from some of Delaware’s elite law firms.
“If Voss and Skadden would like to engage in a meaningful conversation about how to end corporate corruption and cronyism, and the overwhelming lack of diversity in the Delaware Chancery Court, we’ll meet them anytime and anywhere – we’re in this fight for the long haul.”
During a heated exchange of attorney correspondence, Voss is alleged to have publicly posted privileged settlement communications between attorneys representing TransPerfect and Skadden Arps in violation of ethical canons. The substance of the emails revealed that Voss sought to silence the CPBD movement by disallowing any public discourse that casts a negative light on Custodian Robert Pincus, Skadden Arps, the Chancery Court system, and the State of Delaware.
Said Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Campaign Manager Chris Coffey, “Our organization is made up of more than 5,000 Delawareans working to increase accountability, transparency, and diversity not just in the state’s judiciary, but the entire government. The First Amendment clearly protects our right to call out injustice where we see it. It’s unfortunate that Skadden would try to dictate the actions of our members without actually talking to us directly. But what we want to see happen should come as no surprise to anyone, as we have relentlessly advocated for our platform for increased judicial transparency, accountability, and diversity for the better part of a year. To demonstrate our commitment to stay in Delaware for the long haul, we will be spending over $500,000 this year to highlight the failures of transparency and diversity in Delaware’s courts and advocating for reforms to fix the broken status quo, and we’re planning to declare a political action committee dedicated to electing candidates at every level of the state government who support our cause.
“If Voss and Skadden would like to engage in a meaningful conversation about how to end corporate corruption and cronyism, and the overwhelming lack of diversity in the Delaware Chancery Court, we’ll meet them anytime and anywhere – we’re in this fight for the long haul.”
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware fight for commonsense and modern-day reforms to the archaic Chancery Court system, and for more diverse representation in courts, and government and in law. It supports the following legislative initiatives:
1. Establishing an independent Office of Inspector General with a degree of jurisdiction over the Chancery Court, which would ensure a rigorous and regular review process for auditing the Chancery Court’s decisions.
2. Ensuring that Delaware’s courts reflect the ‘broad diversity’ of Delaware’s citizenry.
3. Introducing transparency to the judicial nomination process by making public the members of the judicial nominating commission and the names of the candidates they put forward to the Governor.
4. Building awareness of the lack of diversity in Delaware’s legal industry and advocating for a diverse pipeline to Delaware’s elite law firms.
5. Ensuring that appointed Members of Courts can’t serve on the Court of Judiciary, which has the power of judicial review.
6. Ensuring that if a Justice of the Chancery Court appoints a custodian or a receiver to any Firm, Corporation or Officer of the Court for whom they were previously employed or shared business interests with, this conflict must be disclosed and consented to by both parties.
7. Requiring that any custodian or receiver appointed by the Delaware Chancery Court itemize and make public a complete list of costs incurred because of acting in that capacity.
8. Allowing a camera in the Chancery Court to ensure that a public record exists of the Court’s actions, allowing citizens and good government groups to audit the Court’s actions and deliberations to make sure they honor justice and transparency.
9. Requiring ‘wheel spin’ in the Chancery Court so that Chancery Court
Chancellors cannot select cases based on their own self-interest.
10. Requiring financial disclosure by Delaware’s judges so the public can see the income they receive outside their judicial salaries, including investments, business and charitable affiliations and gifts.
Here’s a quick update, folks, on the Delaware front, regarding Delaware Governor John Carney. There are 1,000 TransPerfect employees requesting the relationship between Chancellor Andre Bouchard and law firm Skadden Arps be investigated. I have one question, what has taken so long?
It’s time for Governor John Carney to take a leadership role and clean up our shameful old boy’s club in Delaware. As I see it, folks, this case, and this court-ordered looting is a sham that hurts workers and hurts Delaware, and it has gone on long enough!!
Please read the article below, and let me know your thoughts.
By TransPerfect
On April 14, 2020
Wilmington, DE – Today, a letter co-signed by more than 1,000 TransPerfect Global, Inc. employees was sent to Delaware Governor John Carney, demanding an inquiry into the close, mutually-beneficial relationship between Delaware’s beleaguered Court of Chancery and the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
The letter comes following several recent motions filed by TransPerfect in the Delaware Court of Chancery alleging that the law firm of Skadden Arps has billed the translation services company for upwards of $14 million in undisclosed legal fees since being appointed the company’s custodian, causing significant financial harm to the company’s employees.
According to recent court documents, in the over two years since the TransPerfect sale process was complete, the company’s Chancery Court-Appointed custodian, Skadden Partner Robert Pincus, has continued to bill the company every month for undisclosed services, including his own $1,475 an hour fee. According to one recent motion by TransPerfect, Pincus’ responsibilities remain unclear, and any efforts to ascertain the substance of his work on behalf of TransPerfect have been met with silence. The Chancery Court has kept all invoices and description of services under seal – allegedly to protect the sale process, which ended over two years ago.
In their call to action for Delaware Governor John Carney, the employees wrote, the “actions of Robert Pincus and his Skadden partner, Jennifer Voss, have hurt TransPerfect. For the first time ever, this spring we will not receive raises. Even worse, many of us who work hourly have had our hours reduced or been furloughed entirely. We are asking for your office to open an inquiry to scrutinize both the cozy relationship between Chancellor Bouchard and his former firm, as well as the Chancery Courts complete lack of transparency and Skadden’s questionable billing practices. These actions and to end this Court-sanctioned looting of TransPerfect. It’s hurting us in irreparable ways. Enough is enough, we need you to step up and investigate this matter immediately.”
Said Chris Coffey, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware’s Campaign Manager, “From day one of being appointed TransPerfect’s custodian, Robert Pincus and Skadden Arps have been taking advantage of the company and its thousands of employees by billing them millions of dollars without saying why or what for. These Skaddenomics are so shady, it’s become increasingly clear that Governor Carney needs to step in and scrutinize Chancellor Bouchard, who has been violating his own court’s rules and effectively funneling over $14 million dollars to friends at his old law firm. We’ve called on the Court to put an end to the secrecy, and we’ve called on the state legislature to advance the bill before them that would create a fairer and more transparent Chancery Court by requiring all custodian’s fees to be disclosed. Now we’re calling on the governor to open an inquiry. These thousand employees and our members deserve to have their voices heard. Enough is enough.”
Without a doubt in my mind, the Delaware Court of Chancery under the auspices of Chancellor Andre Bouchard is seemingly engaged in some very irregular activity. Chancellor Bouchard has apparently ordered and approved the billing of millions in unexplained invoices from his former business partner Robert Pincus, who was Bouchard’s appointed Custodian in the TransPerfect case.
I see this as being outrageous, especially considering the case has been closed for years. According to my sources at the company, the Custodian did little to justify his nearly $1,500 per hour fees! For the record, Bouchard, Pincus, and former Chief Justice Leo Strine all were former members of the infamous law firm of Skadden Arps, which has been sanctioned in the past by the Federal Government.
Folks there is indeed the appearance of impropriety in the Chancery Court. It appears to me that Bouchard is filling the pockets of his buddies. I am sick to death of perceived corruption not only in Ukraine but in our Delaware as well. It presents a terrible picture of what Delawareans expect in the way of justice and equity.
So what is next? I have learned that TransPerfect is now going back to Court, filing a new motion in the Court of Chancery, seeking an explanation ONCE AGAIN?? The thing that blows me away is that this apparent and incessant suspicious activity is directly in our faces.
Delaware’s once-respected Chancery Court, I believe, has lost its honor and its objectivity. I believe Bouchard is corrupt, unfair; not objective. I demand an investigation into this situation. It is clearly untenable. I believe the impeachment of Andre Bouchard is in order ASAP.
Please read the article below and send me your ideas and feedback on this horrendous inequity. Hopefully, this crazy impeachment debacle of our President will be over soon, and we the people can get back to local issues in Delaware. Thank you kindly.
Scroll down to read the article :
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/court-motion-reveals-skadden-arps-has-charged-10-million-in-undisclosed-legal-fees-as-custodian-of-transperfect-while-hiding-behind-obscure-chancery-court-order-citizens-for-a-pro-business-delaware-renews-call-for-reform-300991682.html
Jan 22, 2020, 16:25 ET
WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Following a court motion filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery today by TransPerfect Global, Inc. revealing that the law firm of Skadden Arps has billed the translation services company for upwards of $10 million in undisclosed legal fees since being appointed the company’s custodian, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD) is renewing its call for reforms to the opaque business court.
Among the much-needed reforms is legislation, introduced to the Delaware State Legislature, that would bring much-need transparency to the Chancery Court, requiring appointed custodians to itemize and publicly disclose a complete accounting of the costs they’ve passed on to the companies under their control so that the public, and the companies themselves, know how their money is being spent. The legislation follows Delaware Chancery Court Chancellor Bouchard’s abuse of court rules, as he appointed his last employer, Skadden Arps, and ruled that TransPerfect – which is incorporated in Delaware and has nearly 4,000 employees globally – should be sold as a result of an internal dispute between the company’s ownership. Since, Skadden Arps has received a significant amount of the $250 million that was spent on the case.
Said Chris Coffey, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware’s Campaign Manager, “The Skaddenomics that Chancellor Bouchard has enabled in his Chancery Court by violating the court’s rules to direct millions of dollars to friends at his old law firm are unacceptable, and exactly the sort of behavior that our over 5,000 members are committed to fighting. The Delaware State Legislature should take a long look at this motion and consider the legislation before them to create a fairer and more transparent Chancery Court. When you eat a meal at a restaurant, you get a receipt with a breakdown of the charges. Why shouldn’t the Chancery Court be required to do the same for companies they’re forcing to pay millions in legal fees?”
According to TransPerfect’s motion, over two years after the TransPerfect case was settled in 2015, the custodian in the case, Robert Pincus, has continued to bill the company every month for undisclosed services, including his own $1,475 an hour fee. According to TransPerfect’s motion, his responsibilities remain unclear, and any efforts to ascertain the substance of his work on behalf of TransPerfect have been met with silence. The Chancery Court has kept all invoices and description of services under seal – allegedly to protect the sale process, which ended over two years ago.
As Delaware dropped 10 spots to number 11 according to the Chamber of Commerce in its judicial rankings last year, CPBD announced a new platform to dramatically improve ethics, transparency, and accountability in the State’s Government and Chancery Court.
How ridiculous is this? See the nutty story below for a story that’s not to be believed! It appears to me that the people at Skadden Arps are trying to blame TransPerfect because this law firm has too few attorneys of color in their Wilmington office. I wonder how ignorant Skadden and their former workers Andre Bouchard and Robert Pincus think the pubic is?
The TransPerfect case is still sealed up, two years after it ended and Skadden is still billing them! In my educated opinion, folks, this appears to be an attempt to hide and to divert attention away from their endless money-grab from this company by saying that TransPerfect is somehow responsible for Skadden having not being diverse enough? I don’t understand what’s up with the incessant billing, nor can I get an explanation from anybody on why it is still going on?
Look, at the end of the day, I’m an old guy set in my ways and diversity is not on my agenda of problems to solve in the world. I believe that you hire the person you feel is best suited for the job, regardless of color, race, religion or sexual orientation. As I see it, everyone should be somewhat suspicious of Skadden Arps and those Limousine Liberals that cruise around our justice system.
I’ve been watching this BS for a few years now and in my opinion, it seems they do not NOT value what they say they value. So whether it’s the non-stop money faucet from this company or playing favorites with former Skadden folks, who have moved on to positions of power in the Delaware court system, or it’s diversity in their own workplace, these guys, in my view, are not upfront.
What’s good for these guys is what’s good for them and no one else, as far as I’m concerned. They have a not-so-great track-record, not just in the U.S., but around the world. You think they’re worried about diversity in Delaware? I think they’re worried about money and cronyistic behavior. In my opinion, they’re counting on no one peeking too hard in on little-ole Delaware, while they have their way with court appointments, finances and running the show from Wilmington to Dover and everywhere in between??
I’ve been keenly aware of Skadden Arps because many of its former and current employees were involved in the TransPerfect case, which I have written about over the past few years. This law firm once employed Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchard and former Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court Leo Strine and of course the court-appointed custodian in the case, Robert Pincus.
The firm has doubled-down on that arrogance, in my opinion, by going after advocacy group Citizens for Pro-Business Delaware, after being faced with racism allegations from Reverend Al Sharpton last week. For the record, I can’t stand Al Sharpton! Regardless, Skadden issued a statement saying, while they are open to addressing “this systemic issue,” and they “reject attempts by Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware” the statement says, “a group comprised primarily of employees of TransPerfect—to co-opt the conversation of diversity and inclusion in Delaware as a means to further their vendetta against our firm and former partner, who we represent in his capacity as the court-appointed custodian who oversaw the sale of TransPerfect.”
So, in my view, they cast blame and accuse wrongdoing while not taking on any blame or admitting any wrongdoing on their part. How about taking responsibility?
The Citizens group fought back, you’ll see in the story below. As far as Skadden is concerned, in my view, this is all shameful. Frankly , this diversity crap is ridiculous from both sides. I have felt that TransPerfect, Philip Shawe, and his mother Shirley Shawe all got a raw deal. Considering the conflicts of interest and in my view, continuing appearances of impropriety, is the real rub here!
By Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
Published Jan 7, 2020 at 8:00 am | Updated Jan 7, 2020 at 4:02 pm
WILMINGTON, Del., Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ —
Following Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates’ response to Reverend Al Sharpton’s recent call for top law firms, including Skadden, to increase diversity and inclusion efforts, CPBD Campaign Manager Chris Coffey has released the following statement:
“It’s not shocking in the least that the same firm responsible for suppressing the voices of those advocating for basic human rights in Ukraine would now shift its focus towards slinging mud at a 5,000-member grassroots organization seeking to improve diversity in the historically white and male Delaware court system. We spent over $1 million advocating for diversity in Delaware last year. What have they done?
Instead of addressing the fact that out of 72 lawyers in Delaware, Skadden has barely a handful of African American lawyers in a state that’s almost 30% black. Meanwhile, despite hollow promises to change their legacy on this, and be ‘steadfast in their efforts to build a diverse workforce,’ just one of their summer associates in Delaware – home to the nation’s busiest corporate courts – was black.
Skadden should take a long look at themselves and what they can do to be better, more honest, and more inclusive leaders in the legal community before throwing mud at those trying to break the status quo. It’s 2020 and it’s time legal industry leaders like Skadden Arps acted like it.”
My onsite coverage of the “Citizens for Pro Business Delaware” 100+ person press conference has paid off for Coastal Network readers. From an anonymous source, I have obtained a video of the entire July 10 event held right in front of Bouchard’s Chancery Court in Wilmington, Delaware.
It was an energetic and well-attended press conference, presided over by anti-corruption activist Chris Coffey, the campaign manager of “Citizens for Pro Business Delaware.” Others spoke too, including Donna White, an African-American woman who was terminated from her job at the Chancery Court for sending an email asking if Mark Zuckerburg would look at her App!!?? Meanwhile Kevin Shannon and Chancellor Andre Bouchard golf together during the case, travel to New Orleans together during the case, and I believe decided this case at the Country Club. It certainly wasn’t decided in the court room with no witnesses appearing for Shannon’s side, folks. That’s how I clearly see it.
As Coffey puts it, Bouchard and his cronies in the Delaware Old Boys Club “get away with murder” each and every day compared to what Donna White did, yet she was escorted out of the building and treated like a criminal–given only 10 minutes to collect her belongings and to say goodbye to co-workers of 7 years!?!
The double standard, hypocrisy, and potential racism here only rivals the ageism, sexism and contempt that Chancellor Bouchard and 4 out of 5 justices on the Supreme Court (all the male judges) showed litigant Shirley Shawe in the TransPerfect debacle. How could it be that female, senior citizen, Shirley Shawe’s only victory in the first 5 years of this entire case was from a woman jurist, Delaware Supreme Court Justice Valihura? It’s mathematically impossible that this is a coincidence, as the Good Ole Boy cronies would have us believe. They are making millions off innocent shareholders with their back-room Country Club deal, scratching each other’s backs, and trading favors with their rich and powerful friends. And what happens to Chancery’s real life victims like Donna White? She has been denied health insurance and unemployment benefits! I’m telling you folks, I believe Andre Bouchard is not only corrupt, but also sadistic–and, in any case, lacks any shred of the ethical fiber required to fill the Chancellor position. The great state of Delaware deserves better. Listen to the press conference, where Donna takes the podium and tells her story here…
I asked a question of Coffey during the press conference, which I wrote about in my last column. You will see that here, as well as other suggested anti-corruption reforms that appear like common sense to this journalist. The Delaware Citizens group now fighting for reform has 2,700 members which includes TransPerfect employees who were negatively impacted by Bouchard’s decisions along with other concerned Delawareans.
By the way, I commend the Delaware Business Times for covering the major events of July 10th, and I wonder which Ole Boys Club member or creepy Skadden Arps friend of Bouchard called the News Journal to get them to kill the story? Brent Celek from the Philadelphia Eagles and Colin Jost from Saturday Night Live came to Wilmington and joined those calling for Chancery reform at the Hotel DuPont. How is it you can Google the News Journal’s entire site, and read nothing about this important day at the Chancery Court? Mark my words, Bouchard and the “Limousine Liberals” who run this state and prey on its citizens are powerful, so powerful, they are dangerous to Delaware, to anyone who incorporates here. But fear not, the Coastal Network cannot be intimidated into killing stories or masking the truth–stay tuned here folks, for coverage on Chancery actions and other injustices in Delaware.
As of press time, I know of no other media outlet who has obtained this tape. Enjoy watching the coverage and share it with folks who may want to see it.
Apr 11, 2019
WILMINGTON, Del., April 11, 2019 /PRNewswire/ –18 months after the historic TransPerfect case was settled, the custodian in the case, Robert Pincus, has continued to bill TransPerfect every month for undisclosed services, including what his own $1,475 an hour role entails. His responsibility remains unclear, and any efforts to ascertain his work on behalf of TransPerfect has been met with silence. The Chancery Court has kept all invoices and description of services under seal – allegedly to protect the sale process, which ended in late 2017. The custodian’s spending is a matter of public record and public concern and employees deserve answers. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom has received a sizable amount of the 250 million that was spent on the case. Chief Justice Andre Bouchard previously worked at Skadden before joining the Chancery Court in 2015.
“Why these records are still under seal is a perpetual mystery for our members. Pincus and his company has spent over $1M on secret services since the company changed ownership and the case ended,” said Chris Coffey, Campaign Manager for Citizens for Pro-Business Delaware. “This means fewer resources for TransPerfect employees in the form of income and benefits. To have those records under seal is arbitrary and capricious and you can only get away with that kind of rubber stamping in the secretive boys’ club that is the Chancery Court and its network of cronies. We need transparency at long last.”
CPBD will begin an ad campaign this Spring to highlight efforts to get to the bottom of this secret spending. The efforts may also include a push for legislation to increase transparency at the Chancery Court in cases similar to this one. Indeed, TransPerfect has continued to set records for growth despite the factual inaccuracies spread by the Court about the health of the company. The campaign will include digital ads, billboards, polling, and the hiring of a lobbyist. David Walsh has been engaged in the work.
About Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware is a group made up of more than 2,700 members including employees of the global translation services company TransPerfect, as well as concerned Delaware residents, business executives and others. They formed in April of 2016 to focus on raising awareness with Delaware residents, elected officials, and other stakeholders about the issue.
While their primary goal of saving the company has been accomplished, they continue their efforts to defend the TransPerfect employees and fight for more openness in the Delaware Chancery Court. For more information on Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware or to join the cause, visit DelawareForBusiness.org.
By Alex Vuocolo March 5, 2019
Delaware Business Times
Citizens for a Pro Business Delaware (CPBD), the lobbying group that successfully fought to stop the break up of TransPerfect by the Court of Chancery, delivered the keynote address at the translation services company’s annual sales conference.
CPBD Campaign Manager Chris Coffey spoke to upwards of 300 employees about what he calls the “existential threat” posed by the Court of Chancery.
“Existential threats are threats beyond typical business competition that put successful businesses at risk, such as through government actions or hostile takeover attempts,” Coffey said. “Our organization stopped both types of efforts.”
In the address, Coffey outlined the history of the legal battle, which began in 2016 when the Chancery decided to break up the company following an irreconcilable dispute between its founders. A group of senior managers later approached Coffey, a New York-based consultant, about taking up their cause.
“We may have won the biggest battle over TransPerfect in Delaware, but if history has taught us anything – it’s that the same court agents and lawyers who made millions of dollars coming after TransPerfect are not going to stop now,” Coffey said. “That is why our members have asked us to keep organizing and fighting and that’s what we intend to do.”
“From meeting with elected officials to educating the public through a new campaign, we will ensure the Delaware government cannot be used to improperly occupy successful companies against the wishes of a majority of shareholders,” he added.
Paranoia reigns in the mind of the Delaware Chancery Court-appointed Custodian, Robert Pincus. He is seeking — through a Court order — to find out who is leaking information that shows just how insidious his administration of TransPerfect Global actually is! In my opinion, Custodian Pincus is using a false premise to go after employees because he’s embarrassed by Skadden Arps’ outrageous fees being made public, and things being said about him in the news. He’s a court-appointed receiver folks — his bills should be public. The way Bouchard is letting Pincus hide his bills in darkness is similar to what he did for his old friend, Elting’s attorney Kevin Shannon at Potter Anderson — making TransPerfect and/or Philip Shawe pay legal bills with no ability to challenge the reasonableness of the fees. His fees should be public. Instead, Pincus is conducting a witch-hunt for employees, which is exactly what he promised employees he wouldn’t do. Plus, Pincus has not made good on his promise to let employees bid for their company. And, my sources say the custodian could stymie the quarterly press release, which has been a stellar publication, quarter over quarter, for years now. Folks, there is only one way I see this, Pincus is dirty, and he’s trying to mask the truth by silencing employees and sealing everything possible under a court order, with the nefarious help from his former business partner and crony of the Delaware Chancery Court, Chancellor Andre Bouchard (who adjudicated the most heinous and inequitable decision in U.S. business history). Pincus’ rate of $1,425 per hour is three times the rate of most court-appointed receivers. Bouchard has managed to let his buddy fleece TransPerfect out of millions of dollars. It is the opinion of this writer that Pincus has illegitimately taken advantage of his position. Why should this Custodian be allowed to get rich off the back of this prosperous company and its employees who have helped build the company to what it is? And then not allow them to bid on ownership of the company in order to save their jobs? I’m hearing speculation from employees that Lionbridge (a competitor) could very well buy the company and possibly outsource many American jobs. Employees should not be silenced by the courts in stating the truth. This is America! And, as disappointing as it may be to Bouchard and Pincus, Free Speech is guaranteed by the Constitution. Please read the article below from “Delaware Business Now” about this sensational saga, that is now before a New York Court where hopefully some real justice might transpire in contrast to the Kangaroo Chancery Court in Delaware! I am going to beat this drum until justice is served and these wrongs are righted. Read below folks. Sincerely Yours, JUDSON Bennett-Coastal NetworkJudson Bennett Please note new e-mail address, [email protected] Please note new Twitter account, https://twitter.com/Judson_BennettCustodian seeks info on employee ‘leakers’ in disputed TransPerfect sales effort
By Delaware Business Now – August 25, 2017 The battle over the sale of translation service TransPerfect now extends to the public relations effort from an employee group. Tusk Strategies and Chris Coffey of Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware have asked a New York court to quash the nonparty subpoenas and for a protective order. The custodian working to effect a sale of the company claims leaks from employees are hampering the process of selling the company. “The Subpoenas that Petitioners challenge are designed to chill civil discourse on a matter of public importance,” Chris Coffey stated. “This court-ordered sale is unprecedented. It is the first time a Delaware court has forced the sale of an ongoing and profitable Delaware company without stockholders’ consent. The forced sale has potentially significant implications for the future of TransPerfect’s employees’ jobs.” Coffey continued, “Throughout the sale process, Citizens has tried to draw attention to its members’ concerns about the sale process and its implications. To that end, in late July 2017, Citizens ran (1) a press release referencing concerns that one potential bidder might move their jobs offshore, and (2) another press release and advertisement that listed the fees charged by the Custodian and the many advisors he has hired to assist him in selling the company, collectively totaling more than $20 million over an 18-month period. In response to these two press releases and advertisement by Citizens, the Custodian claims he needs to identify any TransPerfect employees who allegedly disclosed this information – notwithstanding that much of this information was already public.” Coffey concluded, “The Subpoenas are vastly overbroad and duplicative, and they are nothing more than an attempt to cause ‘unreasonable annoyance, expense, embarrassment, disadvantage, or other prejudice’ to Tusk and Coffey – and, by association, Citizens — as a consequence for the assistance they provided to TransPerfect employees and Delaware citizens in voicing their concerns regarding the Delaware court’s unprecedented actions.” Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware has been running advertisements and issuing press releases opposing the sales process. Citizens has drawn the ire of the custodian, members of the corporate bar and some legislators for its advertisements and press releases that indicate the dispute will harm the state’s incorporation business, a key source of tax and fee revenues. The sale process comes after co-owners Philip Shawe and Elizabeth Elting have been unable to come up with an agreement to sell the company.