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.
View Case Digest View CaseFairness Opinion Triggers Viable Aiding and Abetting Claim Against Financial Advisor
In dispute over related-party transaction, court upholds aiding and abetting claim against financial advisor; plaintiffs produced enough facts to show fairness opinion ignored most relevant precedent transaction and other valuation metrics indicating the buyer was overpaying for contested asset.
Medtronic, Inc. v. Commissioner (II)
8th Circuit says Tax Court failed to do the required comparability analysis between selected uncontrolled license arrangement and contested intercompany licenses, making it impossible to say whether CUT was the best method for calculating arm’s-length royalty rates in transfer pricing case.
Court Looks to Owner’s ‘Proportionate’ Share in Business to Quantify Appreciation in Value
In quantifying marital portion of appreciation of owner spouse’s separate property, trial court relies on owner’s “proportionate” share in company but also considers expert testimony as to third parties’ efforts and owner’s role in generating revenue; court rejects passive factor analysis.
Herbert v. Joubert
In quantifying marital portion of appreciation of owner spouse’s separate property, trial court relies on owner’s “proportionate” share in company but also considers expert testimony as to third parties’ efforts and owner’s role in generating revenue; court rejects passive factor analysis.
Expert’s Detailed Risk Analysis Bolsters Use of Deep Discount in Law Firm Valuation
In buyout dispute over law firm interest, court credits firm’s expert, noting his extensive relevant experience, his taking care to value interest under fair market value standard, as required by the partnership agreement, and his detailed risk analysis to support a deep discount.
Fredericks Peebles & Morgan LLP v. Assam
In buyout dispute over law firm interest, court credits firm’s expert, noting his extensive relevant experience, his taking care to value interest under fair market value standard, as required by the partnership agreement, and his detailed risk analysis to support a deep discount.
Lack of Facts and Data Render Expert’s Fair Value Balance Sheet Not Helpful
Bankruptcy Court excludes as unreliable and irrelevant expert’s solvency opinion and balance sheet; court says expert lacked the facts and data necessary to enact his chosen method and “failed in numerous ways” to reliably apply the facts and data in accordance with the selected method.
Weinman v. Crowley (In re Blair)
Bankruptcy Court excludes as unreliable and irrelevant expert’s solvency opinion and balance sheet; court says expert lacked the facts and data necessary to enact his chosen method and “failed in numerous ways” to reliably apply the facts and data in accordance with the selected method.
In re Marriage of Preston
In divorce case, appellate court upholds valuation based on opinion of husband’s expert using MUM method to separate total goodwill value into personal and enterprise components; court also upholds use of small marketability discount where owner spouse is the sole owner of the company.
Court Favors MUM Method for Goodwill Allocation in Illinois Divorce Case
In divorce case, appellate court upholds valuation based on opinion of husband’s expert using MUM method to separate total goodwill value into personal and enterprise components; court also upholds use of small marketability discount where owner spouse is the sole owner of the company.
In re Appraisal Solera Holdings, Inc.
In an appraisal proceeding, the Chancery finds the deal price minus synergies provides the best evidence of fair value; court says there was an efficient market and the sales process, though not perfect, was able to deliver the value generated in an arm’s-length transaction.
Delaware Chancery Says Reasonably Sound Sales Process Delivered Fair Value
In an appraisal proceeding, the Chancery finds the deal price minus synergies provides the best evidence of fair value; court says there was an efficient market and the sales process, though not perfect, was able to deliver the value generated in an arm’s-length transaction.
Blueblade Capital Opportunities LLC v. Norcraft Cos.
Chancery rejects deal price as indicator of fair value, citing problematic sales process, and rejects use of unaffected trading price, citing company’s lack of trading history; court instead relies on its own DCF analysis, drawing on the most credible aspects of each expert’s analysis.
Flawed Sales Process Has Chancery Revert to DCF to Determine Fair Value
Chancery rejects deal price as indicator of fair value, citing problematic sales process, and rejects use of unaffected trading price, citing company’s lack of trading history; court instead relies on its own DCF analysis, drawing on the most credible aspects of each expert’s analysis.
Power Integrations, Inc. v. Fairchild Semiconductor Int’l, Inc.
Federal Circuit clarifies EMVR applicability in calculating reasonable royalty related to a multicomponent, infringing product that contains other valuable nonpatented features; court explains how the patent holder must show that the patented feature was the sole driver of consumer demand.
Federal Circuit Sharpens EMVR Test Applicable to Multicomponent Products
Federal Circuit clarifies EMVR applicability in calculating reasonable royalty related to a multicomponent, infringing product that contains other valuable nonpatented features; court explains how the patent holder must show that the patented feature was the sole driver of consumer demand.
‘Lady Liberty’ Stamp Costs USPS Millions in Copyright Infringement
Court finds USPS’s unauthorized use of image of Las Vegas Lady Liberty on stamps infringed creator’s copyright and awards damages resulting from a hypothetical mixed license; USPS’s unique licensing history does not limit damages under applicable fair market value measure of damages.
Davidson v. United States
Court finds USPS’s unauthorized use of image of Las Vegas Lady Liberty on stamps infringed creator’s copyright and awards damages resulting from a hypothetical mixed license; USPS’s unique licensing history does not limit damages under applicable fair market value measure of damages.
Louisiana Appeals Court Affirms Use of Discounts in LLC Valuations
Appeals court supports trial court’s decision to value departing member’s minority interest on fair market value basis pursuant to state statute rather than method specified in some existing corporate documents; appeals court affirms lower court’s discretion to apply post-Cannon discounts.
Wall v. Bryan
Appeals court supports trial court’s decision to value departing member’s minority interest on fair market value basis pursuant to state statute rather than method specified in some existing corporate documents; appeals court affirms lower court’s discretion to apply post-Cannon discounts.
Athlon Sports Communications, Inc. v. Duggan (II)
Court overrules precedent requiring exclusive use of Delaware block method to determine fair value in dissenting shareholder cases; trial courts may use other, more “modern” methods, including forward-looking DCF analysis, state high court says and remands for reevaluation of earlier ruling.
Delaware Block Method No Longer Mandatory in Tennessee Fair Value Proceedings
Court overrules precedent requiring exclusive use of Delaware block method to determine fair value in dissenting shareholder cases; trial courts may use other, more “modern” methods, including forward-looking DCF analysis, state high court says and remands for reevaluation of earlier ruling.
Appeals Court Validates Trial Court’s Reliance on Calculation of Value
Appeals court rejects claim that expert’s value determination pursuant to a calculation engagement rather than a valuation engagement was unreliable; trial court properly considered limitations inherent in a calculation engagement when crediting expert’s value estimate, appeals court says.
Rohling v. Rohling
Appeals court rejects claim that expert’s value determination pursuant to a calculation engagement rather than a valuation engagement was unreliable; trial court properly considered limitations inherent in a calculation engagement when crediting expert’s value estimate, appeals court says.
Hebert v. Cote
In appreciation in value case, court excludes nonowner spouse’s valuation testimony under Daubert, finding expert’s calculation of “minimum marital component” is not a methodology approved under the applicable SSVS for determining fair market value and also violated other SSVS requirements.