This appeal in a California court involved a dispute over an appraisal of the plaintiffs’ 15% interest in a grocery store the defendant operated. The plaintiffs alleged that the award of the superior court was obtained by fraud and that the arbitrator prejudiced their rights.
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Sultan v. Malik
Appeals court upholds trial court’s valuation of accounting firm based on asset approach where prevailing expert added goodwill value as intangible; court says intrinsic standard of value does not mandate use of income approach for service-based entity.
Court Approves of Adding Goodwill as Intangible in Asset-Based Valuation of Accounting Practice
Appeals court upholds trial court’s valuation of accounting firm based on asset approach where prevailing expert added goodwill value as intangible; court says intrinsic standard of value does not mandate use of income approach for service-based entity.
Reynolds American Inc. v. Third Motion Equities Master Fund Ltd.
In appraisal action involving merger of public (tobacco) company, court, guided by key Delaware court decisions, says deal price best reflects fair value and represents upper limit; contemporaneous valuations based on comparable companies, precedent transactions, and DCF support use of deal price.
North Carolina Court Says Deal Price Represents Upper Limit of Tobacco Company’s Fair Value
In appraisal action involving merger of public (tobacco) company, court, guided by key Delaware court decisions, says deal price best reflects fair value and represents upper limit; contemporaneous valuations based on comparable companies, precedent transactions, and DCF support use of deal price.
Magarik v Kraus
In buyout dispute, court rejects departing shareholder’s valuation based on income and market approach, where DCF model relied on company projections used for a bank loan that were never realized and, based on evidence, were “not accurate”; court says market approach used “incorrect comparables.”
Court Discredits Valuation Based on Unrealistic Projections and Incorrect Comparables
In buyout dispute, court rejects departing shareholder’s valuation based on income and market approach, where DCF model relied on company projections used for a bank loan that were never realized and, based on evidence, were “not accurate”; court says market approach used “incorrect comparables.”
Binghamton Precast & Supply Corp. v Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co.
In dispute over business interruption insurance coverage, appellate court says plaintiff showed actual loss of business income within meaning of controlling policy; court rejects defendant’s argument that plaintiff had to show lost sales, saying this is not a reasonable interpretation of policy.
Court Affirms Plaintiff’s Showing of Loss of Income Pursuant to Business Interruption Policy
In dispute over business interruption insurance coverage, appellate court says plaintiff showed actual loss of business income within meaning of controlling policy; court rejects defendant’s argument that plaintiff had to show lost sales, saying this is not a reasonable interpretation of policy.
5th Circuit Upholds Tax Court’s Characterization of Interest and Discount Rulings
5th Circuit affirms Tax Court’s ruling that decedent’s transferred interest is limited partner, not an assignee, interest; appeals court says estate’s related challenge to Tax Court’s valuation reflects disagreement with characterization of interest, not value computation; valuation holds up.
Estate of Streightoff v. Commissioner (II)
5th Circuit affirms Tax Court’s ruling that decedent’s transferred interest is limited partner, not an assignee, interest; appeals court says estate’s related challenge to Tax Court’s valuation reflects disagreement with characterization of interest, not value computation; valuation holds up.
Business Interruption Claim Raises Triable Issue as to Viability of New Business, Court Finds
In business interruption case, court denies insurer’s summary judgment motion, finding plaintiff’s breach of contract suit raises many issues of material fact, including whether plaintiff’s fledgling business was ever viable and, but for insurer’s refusal to pay claim, could have resumed operations.
Optical Works & Logistics, LLC v. Sentinel Ins. Co.
In business interruption case, court denies insurer’s summary judgment motion, finding plaintiff’s breach of contract suit raises many issues of material fact, including whether plaintiff’s fledgling business was ever viable and, but for insurer’s refusal to pay claim, could have resumed operations.
Court Agrees Market Approach Generates Most Accurate Value of Plaintiff’s Interest
In business dispute alleging breach and fraud, court adopts plaintiff expert’s methodology to value contested interest by way of the market approach; court notes expert well explained why the income approach was not available and the asset approach was too limited to provide an accurate valuation.
Edelson v. Cheung
In business dispute alleging breach and fraud, court adopts plaintiff expert’s methodology to value contested interest by way of the market approach; court notes expert well explained why the income approach was not available and the asset approach was too limited to provide an accurate valuation.
Defendants’ Force Majeure Defense Related to Hurricane Devastation Does Not Excuse Breach of Contract
In rent payment dispute, court rejects defendant restaurant’s force majeure claim that devastating hurricane was act of God that interfered with restaurant’s use of property and excused performance where lease did not contain force majeure provision and rent payments stopped before storm.
Bayou Place Limited Partnership v. Alleppo’s Grill, Inc.
In rent payment dispute, court rejects defendant restaurant’s force majeure claim that devastating hurricane was act of God that interfered with restaurant’s use of property and excused performance where lease did not contain force majeure provision and rent payments stopped before storm.
Grieve v. Commissioner
In gift tax dispute, Tax Court rejects IRS expert’s valuation of noncontrolling, nonmarketable interests in two LLCs; expert proposed valuation theory and method were intended to lower opposing experts’ minority and marketability discounts but lacked support in facts, case law, or among peers.
Tax Court Rejects IRS’ Value Analysis, Finding It Assumes Additional Actions Not ‘Reasonably Probable’
In gift tax dispute, Tax Court rejects IRS expert’s valuation of noncontrolling, nonmarketable interests in two LLCs; expert proposed valuation theory and method were intended to lower opposing experts’ minority and marketability discounts but lacked support in facts, case law, or among peers.
DOL Processing Agreement Contains Stringent Rules on Controlling Interest Transactions, Indemnification
Under new processing agreement between DOL and specific ESOP trustee, trustee is bound by strict rules on how to handle controlling-interest acquisitions and indemnification issues; trustee must ensure ESOP plan acquires a series of specified rights before approving payment of a control premium.
Scalia v. Farmers National Bank of Danville & Weddle Bros. Const. Co.
Under new processing agreement between DOL and specific ESOP trustee, trustee is bound by strict rules on how to handle controlling-interest acquisitions and indemnification issues; trustee must ensure ESOP plan acquires a series of specified rights before approving payment of a control premium.
Great Hill Equity Partners IV, LP v. SIG Growth Equity Fund I, LLP
Court rejects plaintiff’s damages calculation related to sweeping fraud and contract breach allegations where plaintiff submitted expert report before court’s liability rulings and failed to offer revised expert report after liability trial; damages were not sufficiently tied to proven wrongs.
Plaintiff’s Overbroad Damages Calculation Prompts Court Not to Grant Award for Proven Wrongdoing
Court rejects plaintiff’s damages calculation related to sweeping fraud and contract breach allegations where plaintiff submitted expert report before court’s liability rulings and failed to offer revised expert report after liability trial; damages were not sufficiently tied to proven wrongs.
Court Finds Delayed Disclosure of Expert’s Complete Report ‘Substantially Justified’
Court denies defendants’ Rule 37 motion to exclude opposing expert’s report and testimony; court notes reason for expert report’s ...
Wright v. Old Gringo, Inc.
Court denies defendants’ Rule 37 motion to exclude opposing expert’s report and testimony; court notes reason for expert report’s lateness was defendants’ litigation strategy, including efforts to thwart production of financial information vital for valuation of company and damages calculation.
DOL’s Valuation-Related Claims Against Individual Actors Survive Motion to Dismiss
Court denies individual defendants’ motion to dismiss DOL’s claims that defendants breached duties as co-fiduciaries, violated a duty to monitor the co-defendant trustee, and knowingly participated in the trustee’s breaches; DOL’s complaint states sufficient facts to support claims, court finds.