United States First Circuit

In a suit brought by a well-known novelist, her spouse and her corporation against their former business managers, alleging negligent performance of professional services, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty, the District Court's decision to reverse a jury's $51 million award is: 1) affirmed in part where a) plaintiffs have not made the case that the District Court erred in the choice-of-law analysis it performed in rejecting the Chapter 93A claim, b) the District Court did not err in denying their post-trial petition for an award of equitable forfeiture, and c) the Court did not abuse its discretion in denying portions of plaintiffs' Rule 50(b) motion; and 2) reversed in part where the District Court erred in accepting the defendants' argument that any statements they made to the DOJ regarding Cornwell's campaign contributions were subject to a qualified privilege and thus could not support the claim of fiduciary breach.

Appellate Information

• Published 2016/07/18

Judges

• BARRON

Court

• United States First Circuit

Counsel