OPINION
Twice Proclaiming Himself Conflicted, Chief Justice C.J. Seitz Faces Decision in TransPerfect Case
After 3 Judges Split on Alleged Skadden Arps Fee Gouging, the Delaware Supreme Court Plans to Go to All 5 Judges for a Decision
Will C.J. Seitz Again Sit on the TransPerfect Appeal Panel After Admitting Under Oath That He Was Conflicted?
Dear Friends,
Latest Delaware Supreme Court News, as I wrote this week: C.J. Seitz – who has twice said he is conflicted in the now famous TransPerfect case – may again sit on the TransPerfect appeal panel of 5 judges. This comes after, as I understand it from court sources, 3 Delaware Supreme Court judges were split on alleged fee gouging by Robert Pincus, of law firm Skadden Arps.
Pincus, as you’ve undoubtedly read here many times, has in my estimation, gouged the hell out of the growing company, billing and bilking it for millions upon millions, for work that employees say was never done.
The looming question remains, folks: Can Seitz, who already declared himself indeed conflicted twice, sit on this panel of judges?
This is important, as justice mysteriously remains an elusive concept in Delaware, except for those with a Juris Doctor degree and a mansion in Greenville.
Please see the Slator story below from 2020. It’s about a letter co-signed by more than 1,000 TransPerfect employees, who demanded an inquiry into the mutually-beneficial relationship between Delaware’s beleaguered Chancery Court and the law firm of Skadden Arps. This nonsense with the Chancery Court living by its own rules has been going on for far too long.
Please send your feedback on this. It’s always welcome and appreciated.
Respectfully Yours,
Judson Bennett-Coastal Network
https://slator.com/press-releases/1000-transperfect-employees-demand-inquiry-into-chancery-court-skadden-arps-relationship/
1,000 TransPerfect Employees Demand Inquiry into Chancery Court-Skadden Arps Relationship
Press Releases · 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.”