October 4, 2012
Dismissed: Three More Cases Related to Failed Say-on-Pay
– Broc Romanek, CompensationStandards.com
Mark Poerio of Paul Hastings reports: Last week, the application of Delaware law principles has led courts in Colorado (Janus Capital), North Carolina (Dex One), and California (Hewlett-Packard) to dismiss shareholder challenges based on alleged disconnects between pay and performance, failed say-on-pay votes, and alleged waste through payment of $53 million of severance. In each case, the underlying complaints failed to excuse a pre-suit demand because none of the allegations created a reasonable doubt that the questioned transaction was entitled to protection under the business judgment rule.