Citizens attacks Skadden’s opaque billing practices
January 31, 2020,
Despite the TransPerfect case ending years ago, 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. Total legal fees have now climbed to over $14 million dollars.
In response to this insanity, lawyers from both sides of the TransPerfect dispute, Phil Shawe and Elizabeth Elting, have filed motions demanding a full, itemized disclosure of Skadden’s services so both sides can know how millions of their dollars are being spent.
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. 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?"
It’s time for the insanity to end and common-sense reforms to be implemented. In the wake of such damning behavior, we are renewing our calls for the Delaware legislature to advance a bill that would create a more transparent Chancery Court by requiring all custodian’s fees to be disclosed.
We hope you’ll join our fight to restore trust in the broken Delaware judiciary.
Best,
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
Dover Post: Citizens Rally for Diversity in Dover
January 17, 2020,
This week, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD) stood up and protested against Governor Carney’s nomination of Paul Fioravanti Jr. to replace Tamika Montgomery-Reeves on the Delaware Court of Chancery.
While Montgomery-Reeves’ promotion to the state Supreme Court was a historic step towards diversifying the Delaware court system, Governor Carney immediately undid that progress with Mr. Fioravanti’s nomination.
Rather than listen to the concerns of Delaware citizens and activists, however, the State Senate rushed through Mr. Fioravanti’s nomination, leaving the Chancery Court with zero justices of color once again.
Making matters worse, civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton was denied the opportunity to testify on the issue of diversity in the state's judicial system.
Rev. Dale Dennis II of Hoyt Memorial C.M.E said it best: “It is absolutely important for us to make sure that our courts are diverse. And it’s time for diversity now.”
While Delaware took a step back this week, we promise to carry on the fight to promote diversity, transparency, and accountability in the Delaware courts
Best,
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
Citizens Update: Sharpton Calls Out Skadden for Lack of Diversity
January 7, 2020,
Happy New Year to our blog fans and to our over 5,000 Citizens members! Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD) is starting 2020 with strong momentum and big plans to capitalize on that momentum.
First, we couldn’t help but notice this big news coming from Reverend Al Sharpton: He and Reverend Dale Dennis penned a strongly-worded letter to Skadden Arps, calling the large firm out for its lack of diversity, particularly in its Delaware office.
Reverend Sharpton’s letter revealed some woeful diversity numbers in Skadden’s Wilmington office. According to Skadden’s own reporting, of the 72 lawyers in the firm’s Wilmington office, exactly one Summer Associate is Black, while 9 of 10 partners are white. And of 49 full associates in the same office, just six are racial minorities.
Sharpton asks a poignant question in the letter: “how can we expect the judges in our courts to reflect the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the communities they represent if they do not gain the experience needed to rise to those positions?”
Rather than addressing the substance of Sharpton’s letter, however, Skadden chose to attack CPBD’s grassroots effort to advocate for diversity in the legal industry.
Citizens responded with another statement, arguing that “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."
On the hot topic of diversity, Citizens also issued statements in response to Tamika Montgomery-Reeves’ swearing-in as a Supreme Court Justice, and Governor Carney’s nomination of Paul Fioravanti Jr. to filll her seat on the Chancery Court. As Delaware’s first African-American Supreme Court Justice, Montgomery-Reeves’ oath of office marks a historic day, which comes after several months of advocacy by Citizens.
One Supreme Court appointee alone will not undo the systemic issues in the Delaware judicial system, and in another statement, Citizens criticized Governor Carney’s new Chancery Court nominee, Paul Fioravanti Jr. Rather than actually creating diversity in the Delaware courts, Governor Carney has disappointingly chosen to merely transfer diversity from one court to another.
Citizens urged Governor Carney to reconsider his nomination, and if he fails to do so, is committed to an aggressive campaign to urge the Delaware Senate to reject his nomination.
We’re fighting for more diversity in Delaware’s courts in 2020, and we will not be deterred. Please share this blog with others who are concerned about transparency, diversity and accountability in Delaware.
If you or anyone you know would like to join our cause, you can become a member of Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware here.
Best,
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
Our 2020 Resolutions
December 30, 2019,
Thank you for supporting all that Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware has accomplished in 2019. We cannot wait to continue building on our successes and continuing our fight for transparency, diversity, and accountability in Delaware in 2020.
Below are our 10 New Year’s Resolutions for 2020:
1. A Diverse Chancery Court Appointment:
A step in the right direction was taken with Tamika Montgomery-Reeves’ appointment to the Delaware Supreme Court. Next, we need to fill her seat on the Chancery Court with another Justice who represents Delaware’s diversity to ensure that there is an increase of diversity in Delaware’s judiciary, rather than a transfer of diversity from one court to another.
2. Transparency and Diversity PAC
Starting a Political Action Committee (PAC) that will support candidates who advocate for transparency and diversity in Delaware’s court system and state government.
3. Financial Disclosures:
Requiring financial disclosure by Delaware judges so the public can see the income they receive outside their judicial salaries, including investments, business interests, and charitable gifts & affiliations. We need total financial transparency from Delaware’s judges.
4. Accountability of Costs:
Requiring any custodian or receiver appointed by the Delaware Chancery Court to itemize and make public a complete list of costs incurred because of acting in that capacity. Companies deserve to know the reasoning behind bills they are forced to pay to court-appointed custodians.
5. Cameras in the Courtroom:
Allowing cameras in the Chancery Court to ensure that a public record exists of court actions. Citizens and good government groups should be able to audit the court's actions and deliberations to make sure they honor justice and transparency.
6. Wheel-spin in the Chancery Court:
Requiring wheel-spin in the Chancery Court so that its Chancellors cannot select cases based on their own self-interest.
7. End the Revolving Door between Delaware’s Public Courts and Private Law Firms:
Passing a new law making judges wait at least two years before arguing cases in front of their old court. This will end the so-called “revolving door” between Delaware’s highest courts and Delaware’s most prestigious law firms and ensure that judges don’t improperly leverage their former connections to enrich themselves.
8. Fair Review Process:
Establishing an independent office of Inspector General with oversight over the Chancery court, which would ensure a rigorous and regular review process for Chancery court decisions.
9. End the Good Old Boys’ Club:
Putting a stop to favoritism where court judges or judicial officers give business to former colleagues or those they favor for political or other reasons.
10. Balanced Chancery Court:
We saw Leo Strine step down as Chief Justice of the Delaware Supreme Court after serving half of his term. We'd be happy to see Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchard follow in his footsteps and step down with half of his term remaining to someone who embraces balance, transparency, accountability, and diversity.
We are committed to reaching new heights in 2020, as we build on our 2019 momentum to bring transparency, accountability, and diversity to the Delaware courts.
Here's to 2020! Happy New Year!
Best,
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
Citizens 2019 Year in Review
December 27, 2019
As the year draws to a close, we are looking back at all we accomplished in 2019, a year that will always be special to us. In July, Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware announced a new platform to dramatically improve ethics, transparency, and accountability in this State's Government and Chancery Court.
We've taken so many steps in the months since we launched our platform and we're deeply proud of the momentum we gained thanks to you. We've introduced legislation, kicked off door-to-door canvassing efforts, and in meeting people where they live and work and listening to their concerns about Delaware Courts, we’ve signed up more than 5,000 new members across the state.
We’ve also spent nearly $1 million in TV, radio and print ads to amplify our calls for accountability and transparency in the Chancery Court. We have not hesitated to take action and lead the fight for long-needed reforms to the Delaware Courts.
We released a statewide poll demonstrating broad public support for a number of our calls for reform, including calls for transparency, diversity and accountability in Delaware Courts. In fact, 78 percent of Delawareans believe the state's court system should be more transparent, while 74 percent believe the state legislature should consider reforms promoted by Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware. Our message resonates with Delawareans, and we are excited to continue spreading it.
We penned an open letter to the Delaware State Bar Association as they resisted calls for transparency and accountability measures in Delaware Courts. Rather than letting the Bar dull our momentum with their unfounded objections, we responded with clarity of purpose and continued our calls for transparency and diversity.
Our diversity efforts were rewarded in October when civil rights activist Reverend Al Sharpton held a press conference at Ezion-Mount Carmel United Methodist Church in Wilmington to praise Delaware Governor Carney for his appointment of Court of Chancery Vice Chancellor Tamika Montgomery-Reeves to the Delaware Supreme Court, the first person of color ever named to the State's highest court. We agree with Reverend Sharpton that “we must repair the institutional neglect of people of color in Delaware’s judiciary.”
And just this month, we doubled down on calling for more progress in diversifying Delaware's courts. Until the appointment of Montgomery-Reeves, Delaware was one of 18 states that had never had an African American justice on their high court and was one of 13 since 1960 that had never had a non-white Supreme Court justice. With Montgomery-Reeves moving to the Supreme Court, it is vital that her seat is filled with another Justice who reflects the diversity of Delaware citizens.
We know progress is happening as a result of our efforts, and our membership is growing stronger as our calls for change are being heard around the state.
Indeed, our membership climbed over 5,000 in the past year and we're growing stronger with each passing day as our ideas are being embraced by diverse and passionate Delawareans.
Thank you for all your support in 2019, as it has been a monumental year for our movement. We can’t wait to keep our momentum up as we move into 2020, and pledge to continue carrying the banner for transparency, accountability, and diversity in Delaware’s courts.
Best,
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware
Fighting for a “Revolving Door” Law in our Delaware News Journal Ad
In addition to increased diversity, we see that Delaware’s courts also need transparency and accountability to regain the trust of Delaware citizens. In another recent ad that ran in the Delaware News Journal, we called for a new law making judges wait at least two years before arguing cases in front of their old court. This will end the so-called “revolving door” between Delaware’s highest courts and Delaware’s most prestigious law firms, and ensure that judges don’t improperly leverage their former connections to enrich themselves.
This new law will be a strong first step to restoring trust in the State’s judiciary, and we will fight to pass it in the next Delaware legislative session. This law, and the entirety of our platform for transparency and accountability, will ensure that all Delawareans can have faith that their judiciary is acting in their best interests.
We have accomplished so much in 2019, but it’s just the beginning. As we move toward 2020, we appreciate your support for reform throughout Delaware.
There’s more to come in 2020, so set a bookmark to this page for more updates from CPBD.
Please share with others who are concerned about transparency, diversity, and accountability.
If you or anyone you know would like to join our cause, you can become a member of Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware here!
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Welcomes 5,000 New Members
December 10, 2019
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware wishes you a happy holiday season.
Please join us in celebrating at Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD) as we have now signed up more than 5,000 new members in the past 3 months. We’re been meeting new members on the streets of Delaware; we are listening to your feedback and concerns about Delaware and letting you know the changes we’re bringing to a Delaware court system full of flaws.
What we’re hearing from you is your lack of confidence in the state’s judiciary. We’re addressing your concerns head-on by advocating for legislative reforms which will help clean up the court system.
We won't rest until changes are made and we’re glad to know that you are spreading our message throughout Delaware!
Citizens members set up yard signs in over 300 lawns across Delaware
Over the past few months, we have been putting signs up in yards all over Delaware as many of our new members have been happy to display their support for our cause by publicly demonstrating their desire for change in our state.
Many new Citizens are excited to show their passion for change in our state. In the past few months, over 300 signs have been brought to homeowners who asked for an additional way to show their support. Send us an email at CitizensforaProBusinessDE@gmail.com if you or someone you know would like a yard sign!
And if you or anyone you know would like to join our cause, you can become a member of Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware here! Please share with your fellow Delawareans who care about transparency, diversity and accountability in the Delaware court system.
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware: Fighting for Reform in the Delaware Courts
December 4, 2019
Welcome to the Citizens blog. At Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD), we have been fighting for reform in the Chancery Court and all Delaware courts since the 2016 TransPerfect case. We are 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. While our primary goal of saving the company has been accomplished, we are committed to the relentless pursuit of transparency, diversity, and accountability in the Delaware court system.
Let’s get right to it some news from the past week. With the Delaware Supreme Court's unprecedented and unjust decision in Almond v. Glenhill, we’re taking a stand and denouncing judicial overreach. Unfortunately, this case has dealt yet another blow to Delaware’s once-proud credibility.
It’s a straightforward breach of contract case which somehow yielded a remarkable outcome, as the Court ignored the contract's plain terms and, instead, chose to rewrite those terms.
"Sadly, this decision is just the latest in a string of baffling court decisions that have dealt decisive blows to Delaware's judicial credibility,” said Chris Coffey, Citizen’s for Pro-Business Delaware Campaign Manager. "This decision is an affront to all standards of judicial accountability and a symptom of the corrosion of the American justice system.”
“How can we rely on Delaware courts,” he added, “when we cannot rely on them to enforce the fundamental right to contract?”
That strikes at the heart of the issues we care about here at Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware (CPBD): unreliable and unaccountable Delaware courts. Simply put, judicial overreach and lack of transparency are plaguing Delaware's court system, and we will shine a light on this system until our common-sense reforms are instituted.
Here’s a link to learn more about this latest assault on justice by the Delaware “old boys’ network” of irresponsible judges.
There’s more to come, so come back to this page for more updates from CPBD, and follow along on Twitter. Please share with others who are concerned about transparency, diversity and accountability in Delaware.
If you or anyone you know would like to join our cause, you can become a member of Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware here!
Sincerely,
Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware