Below are some of Davis & Cannon’s recent case results:
H&P Advisory Limited, a United Kingdom private limited liability company v. Randgold Resources Limited, a Jersey corporation, and Barrick Gold Corporation, a Canada corporation.
Wyoming Supreme Court
Decision June 12, 2020
Representing Appellee Barrick Gold Corporation incident to its $18 billion merger with Randgold Resources Limited, our firm won an appeal before the Wyoming Supreme Court of our successful motion to dismiss a finder’s fee based on the lack of personal jurisdiction.
In this case, the Appellant claimed he was entitled to a $ 18 million fee for helping broker a merger between the world’s two largest gold company, and he further claimed jurisdiction was proper in Wyoming because of personal meetings concerning merger and the fee that occurred among the CEOs of the principals and the claimant at one of the CEO’s homes in Jackson. Despite physical presence in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in negotiations, the Wyoming Supreme Court held there were insufficient contacts with Wyoming for the state to have jurisdiction over the case.
Not every multimillion dollar business deal negotiated in Jackson gives rise to jurisdiction in Wyoming. In making the decision, the Wyoming Supreme Court considered several nonexclusive factors: the residency of each party at the time of the contract; the location of future performances under the contract; whether the defendants owned property in Wyoming; whether they incurred obligations in Wyoming; and whether the defendants have offices, property, agents or employees in Wyoming.
Four B Properties, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Ranch 10, LLC, a Wyoming limited liability company v. The Nature Conservancy, a District of Columbia non-profit corporation.
Wyoming Supreme Court
Decision February 21st, 2020
Representing the Appellee, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), in an action brought challenging the interpretation of a Conservation Easement by the owners of two large tracts along the Snake River opposite the Teton Range, the firm successfully defended the Conservation Easement which limits the number and nature of residential and other structures on the property.
The Appellants argued that they had the right to build multiple ARUs (“Associated Residential Units”), including guesthouses and caretaker’s quarters, under the terms of the Teton County LDRs (“Land Development Regulations”). Appellants further argued that the “plain meaning” of the Conservation Easement was altered by TNC’ s prior statements and decisions. The Court held that inconsistent actions and statements do not alter the meaning of the Conservation Easement. The claims for breach of contract damages and equitable estoppel against TNC were also dismissed.
This case, upholding the integrity of the Conservation Easement when challenged by landowners with extraordinary resources, is an example of the real estate and land use litigation that the firm has done throughout Wyoming, but particularly in Teton County. This case will stand as one of the most important decisions on Conservation Easements in the United States.
Alexander Reed Mantle and Marjorie M. Mantle (Appellants) vs. North Star Energy & Construction LLC, et al. (Appellees)
Wyoming Supreme Court
2019 WY 29
Decision March 12, 2019
This case arose from the failed leveraged buyout of an energy services company called North Star Energy & Construction LLC (“North Star”) by its then president, Alexander Mantle.
Appellants filed suit against North Star’s member entities (and the individual principals of those member entities) asserting claims for unjust enrichment, bad faith, fraudulent conveyance of real estate, fraudulent conveyance of personal property, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, actual fraud, securities violation, and veil piercing. In response, Appellees filed a counterclaim against Alexander Mantle alleging breach of contract for failure to abide by the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding previously executed by the parties to the leveraged buyout.
Kim D. Cannon and Codie D. Henderson of Davis & Cannon, LLP, representing three (3) of the Appellees, succeeded in getting the claims for unjust enrichment, bad faith, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, actual fraud, and securities violation dismissed on summary judgment. The firm also defeated Appellants motion for summary judgment as to the breach of contract counterclaim.
The case proceeded to trial on August 7-15, 2017, on the remaining claims. At trial the firm successfully defeated the claims for fraudulent conveyance of real estate and veil piercing.
Appellants were awarded a small judgment of $250,000 against one of the firm’s three (3) clients for a fraudulent conveyance of personal property. However, the firm succeeded on the breach of contract counterclaim and received a 6.11 million dollar judgment against Appellant Alexander Mantle.
On appeal, the firm successfully defended the summary judgment ruling and the judgment obtained at trial. The Wyoming Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s decision in all respects, including the 6,110,000.00 million dollar judgment on the counterclaim.
Catherine F. Mahoney (Appellant) vs. City of Gillette (Appellee)
On March 6, 2019, Amanda F. Esch and Leah C. Schwartz obtained a victory for the City of Gillette, Wyoming in front of the Wyoming Supreme Court. The City terminated Catherine Mahoney, a police dispatcher, after she disclosed confidential department information to a City Council member as part of her on-going complaints about her supervisor. Due to her violation of several City policies, Mahoney was terminated. Mahoney was ultimately denied unemployment at the City’s request, as the City argued she committed misconduct, thus disqualifying her from benefits under Wyoming law. Ms. Mahoney appealed this decision, arguing she did not commit misconduct because she was advocating for the safety of the public, and in any event, her disclosure was protected free speech under the First Amendment. The City obtained judgment from the District Court on both issues, and that decision was upheld by the Wyoming Supreme Court.
Stanley E. Thomas (Appellant) vs. JLC Wyoming, LLC (Appellee)
Wyoming Supreme Court
2019 WY 14
Decision: January 31, 2019
Appellant Stanley E. Thomas was a co-obligor, with his single member LLC, on a mortgage note and Wyoming judgment. The co-obligor LLC was partially discharged of the debt by the bankruptcy court. The Court held that Appellant Thomas, who was not a party to his co-obligor’s bankruptcy, was not entitled to the benefit of the partial discharge of debt granted to the co-obligor by the bankruptcy court.
The Wyoming Supreme Court held that partial discharge of a debtor in bankruptcy does not relieve a bankrupt’s co-debtor, not a party to the bankruptcy, from his joint and several liability under a mortgage note and Wyoming judgment. The Supreme Court also ruled that the appropriate standard of review for a mortgage deficiency judgment is a de novo review.
John R. Tozzi (Appellant) vs. J. Denny Moffett and Jeff Wilkinson (Appellees)
Wyoming Supreme Court
2018 WY 133
Decision: December 3, 2018
Representing an accountant and judicially appointed conservator, the firm successfully defended a prior summary judgment ruling in the client’s favor. The case involved claims of professional negligence and professional malpractice in a divorce that allegedly resulted in $30,000,000 in damages.
Susan W. Sullivan (Appellant) vs. The Pike and Susan Sullivan Foundation (Appellee)
Wyoming Supreme Court
2018 WY 19
Decision: February 22, 2018
Representing a charitable foundation incorporated as a public benefit nonprofit corporation, the firm successfully defended a prior summary judgment ruling in favor of the client. The Wyoming Supreme Court held that claims against the client by a disgruntled director struggling to control the foundation can only be brought as a derivate action. The victory on appeal avoided judicial dissolution of the foundation on the basis of deadlock.