United States Third Circuit

In a suit brought by Chrysler shareholders alleging fraud, misrepresentation, and other violations of federal securities laws in connection with the merger of Daimler-Benz and Chrysler, a judgment and rulings for defendants in the action and a post-trial decision imposing sanctions on defendants for discovery violations are affirmed as: 1) because a nonsignatory agent of a signatory corporation may invoke a contractual jury waiver provision; 2) and defendant did not commit inexcusable delay by filing its motion to strike plaintiff's jury demand after the close of discovery; 3) consequently, an order striking the jury demand as to all defendants is affirmed; 4) no written misrepresentations occurred in a proxy solicitation; 5) no other misrepresentations occurred with regard to the proxy solicitation; and 6) there was no abuse of discretion in the discovery sanctions.

Appellate Information

• Decided 09/18/2007
• Published 09/18/2007

Judges

• Before:  RENDELL, CHAGARES and ROTH, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Third Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Natalie J. Haskins, Esquire, Alan J. Stone, Esquire, Jay N. Moffitt, Esquire, Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, Wilmington, DE, Terry N. Christensen, Esquire (Argued), Mark G. Krum, Esquire, Eric P. Early, Esquire, Christensen, Miller, Fink, Jacobs, Glaser, Weil & Shapiro, LLP, Los Angeles, CA, Julie E. Kamps, Esquire, William G. McGuinness, Esquire, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, LLP, New York, NY, for Appellant/Cross-Appellee Tracinda Corporation., Thomas J. Allingham, III, Esquire, Robert S. Saunders, Esquire, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, Wilmington, DE, Jonathan J. Lerner, Esquire (Argued), Lea H. Kuck, Esquire, Joseph N. Sacca, Esquire, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP, New York, NY, for Appellees/Cross-Appellants DaimlerChrysler AG, Daimler-Benz AG, Jurgen Schrempp and Manfred Gentz., Jeffrey A. Barist, Esquire (Argued), Douglas W. Henkin, Esquire, Josh Porter, Esquire, Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP, New York, NY, for Defendant/Appellee Hilmar Kopper.