Qualcomm Directors and Officers Win Dismissal of Shareholder Derivative Suit Related to Purported FCPA Violations
June 16, 2017
On June 16, 2017, the Delaware Court of Chancery dismissed a stockholder derivative lawsuit brought against current and former directors and officers of Qualcomm Incorporated alleging, among other claims, that defendants breached their fiduciary duties by allegedly failing to prevent purported FCPA violations by the company. In granting the dismissal, Vice Chancellor Tamika R. Montgomery‑Reeves held that the complaint did not plead sufficient facts to infer that the individual defendants had acted in bad faith or that the directors faced a substantial likelihood of personal liability such that plaintiffs’ failure to make a demand on the board to bring a suit was excused.
The Cravath team, which represented the directors and officers, included partner Rachel G. Skaistis, who argued the motion to dismiss, and associate Darnell Stanislaus. The case is In re Qualcomm Inc. FCPA Stockholder Derivative Litigation, No. 11152‑VCMR (Del. Ch.).
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