This quarter’s issue of Inside the Courts An Update From Skadden Securities Litigators includes summaries and associated court opinions of selected cases principally decided in.
Court of Chancery Orders Production of Emails, Denies Production of Privileged Communications in Books and Records Action
Emps.’ Ret. Sys. of R.I. v. Facebook, Inc.,
C.A. No. 2020-0085-JRS (Del. Ch. Feb. 10, 2021)
In a post-trial opinion, Vice Chancellor Joseph R. Slights III granted a stockholder’s request to inspect directors’ nonprivileged electronic communications, including emails, concerning settlement negotiations for the purpose of investigating whether Facebook overpaid in the settlement to protect its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, from substantial personal liability.
In July 2019, in connection with a data breach, Facebook agreed to pay $5 billion to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in exchange for the release of claims against the company and Mr. Zuckerberg personally. Facebook stockholder Employees’ Retirement System of Rhode Island (ERSRI) sought books and records to investigate whether Facebook spent corporate assets to protect Mr. Zuckerberg. Facebook produced so