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1
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OPINION
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EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
CUSTODIAN DEFENDANTS PLAINTIFFS COURT SHAREHOLDERS STATUTE ELECTION MOTION DEMETRIOS APPOINTMENT APPOINT DELAWARE CORPORATION DEL ELECT CUMBERLAND FARMS STOCKHOLDERS STATUTORY INTERPRETATION WILMINGTON ELECT SUCCESSORS STATUTORY SCHEME AMENDED COMPLAINT SUMMARY JUDGMENT FAMILY DIRECTORS CONSTRUCTION ATTORNEYS CHANCELLOR RENEWED MOTION PROPOSALS |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATIE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
c:7
:-3 c-2
-z
c-l! ; : -
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES : 7. .-
-,,1
::. 2.;
and CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC., :: -F `*
: ,cI, ;:`* ?
-2 -1
Plaintiffs, c
CA. No. 17223 -k
.- ,.ci-4 Ln
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES and
GEORGE HASEOTES,
Defendants.
OPINION
Date Submitted: February 10,200O
Date Decided: March 6, `iXQQ
Jesse A. Finkelstein, Catherine G. Dearlove and Janine M. Salomone, Esquires, of
RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware; Attorneys for
Plaintiffs
Judith Nichols Renzulli, Esquire, of DUANE, MORRIS & HECKSCHER LLP,
Wilmington, Dellaware; and Robert J. Valihura, Jr., IEsquire, of ROBERT J.
VALIHURA, JR., P.A., Wilmington, Delaware; and William F. Griffin, Jr., Esquire,
of DAVIS MALM & D'AGOSTINE P.C., Boston Massachusetts; Attorneys for
Defendants
JACOBS, VICE: CHANCELLOR
A d
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2
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PLAINTIFFS REPLY BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF A CUSTODIAN
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EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
DEFENDANTS STOCKHOLDERS CUSTODIAN COURT DIRECTORS DEADLOCK RELIEF APPOINTMENT INTERPRETATION ELECTION SUCCESSORS ELECT FACTS HASEOTES MOTION DEMETRIOS CUMBERLAND FARMS STATUTORY DISCOVERY DISCRETION SUMMARY JUDGMENT DEMONSTRATED AMPLE FACTS GIURICICH SECOND SUPP INDEPENDENT CUSTODIAN STATUTORY PREREQUISITES PROVISION BOARD SEATS PUBLIC POLICY |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES, and )
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.,
;
Plaintiffs,
i C.A. No. 17223
V.
t
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES, and
GEORGE HASEOTES, 1
Defendants.
PLAINTIFFS' REPLY BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF
THEIR MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF A CUSTODIAN
r:i.,.- . ..'
Jesse A. Finkelstein
Catherine G. Dearlove 1 -- .~
Janine M. Salomone --' - __._
Richards, Layton & Finger, P./k: -,J
One Rodney Square
P.O. Box 551
Wilmington, DE 19899
(302) 654-6541
Attorneys for Plaintiffs Lily H. Bentas,
Byron Haseotes and Cumberland
Farms, Inc.
Dated: February 7, 2000
RLFl-2115057-l
SNIPPETS:
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3
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PLAINTIFFS OPENING BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF A CUSTODIAN
|
EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
COURT PLAINTIFFS HASEOTES CUMBERLAND FARMS APPOINTMENT DIRECTORS STOCKHOLDERS DEFENDANTS BENTAS DEL DELAWARE BYRON HASEOTES DEMETRIOS MOTION REMEDY GEORGE HASEOTES STOCKHOLDER DEADLOCK INTERPRETATION ELECT SUCCESSORS GENERAL CORPORATION LAW CORPORATION LAW DISSOLUTION ANNUAL MEETING DISCRETION GIURICICH SECOND SUPP STATUTORY ROSENMILLER AUTHORITIES |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES, and
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.,
Plaintiffs,
V.
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES, and
GEORGE HASEOTES,
Defendants.
PLAINTIFFS' OPENING BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MOTION
FOR APPOINTMENT OF A CUSTODIAN
Jesse A. Finkelstein
Catherine G. Dearlove
Janine M. Salomone
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
One Rodney Square
P.O. Box 551
Wilmington, DE 19899
(302) 654-6541
Attorneys for .Plaintiffs Lily H. Bentas,
Byron Haseotes and Cumberland
Farms, Inc.
Dated: January 17,200O
RLFI-2049361-I
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4
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DEFENDANTS MOTIN TO DISMISS 2ND AMENDED COMPLAINT AND OPPOSITION TO MOTION FOR APPOINTMENT OF CUSTODIAN
|
EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
STOCKHOLDER MOTION COURT CUSTODIAN DEFENDANTS APPOINTMENT DIRECTORS DEL HASEOTES DEADLOCK DISMISS AMENDED COMPLAINT CUSTODIAN PURSUANT MEETING CUMBERLAND FARMS BENTAS DISCRETION ELECT DEMETRIOS GEORGE HASEOTES SUMMARY JUDGMENT RELIEF EXERCISE DELAWARE RENEWED MOTION ELECTION OPPOSITION BYRON HASEOTES STATUTE |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES and )
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC., >>
Plaintiffs, >> C.A. No. 17223
V . >
>
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES and GEORGE >
HASEOTES, >1
Defendants. >
NOTICE OF MOTION
To: Jesse A. Finklestein, Esquire
Catherine G. Dearlove, Esquire
Richards, Layton & Finger
One Rodney Square
P.O. Box 551
Wilmington, Delaware 19899
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that Defendants Demetrios B. Haseotes and George Haseotes,
by their undersigned counsel, will present the attached Motion to Dismiss Second Amended
Complaint and Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for a Custodian at a time convenient to both
Court and counsel.
DUANE, MORRIS & HECKSCHER LLP
By:
P-0. Box 195
Wilmington, Delaware 19899
(302) 571-5550
Attorneys for Defendants
WLM\1134'78.1
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
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5
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MEMORANDUM OPINION
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EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
DEFENDANTS COURT CUMBERLAND FARMS CUSTODIAN MEETING HASEOTES DIRECTORS DEL SHAREHOLDER DEADLOCK APPOINTMENT DEMETRIOS GEORGE HASEOTES DELAWARE STOCKHOLDERS MEETING SHARES BYRON HASEOTES WILMINGTON SUMMARY JUDGMENT SIBLINGS FAMILY DIRECTORS FIRST CLAIM COURT-ORDERED SHAREHOLDERS MEETING INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS FAMILY MEMBERS ELECTION CHANCERY ATTORNEYS VALIHURA MASSACHUSETTS |
_" ,,'
/Il.
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE i--~- ">
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES :
and CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC., :
Plaintiffs,
C.A. No. 17223
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES and
GEORGE HASEOTES,
Defendants.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Date Submitted: October 26, 1999
Date Decided: November 5, 1999
Jesse A. Finkelstein, Catherine G. Dearlove and Janine M. Salomone, Esquires, of
RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER, P.A., Wilmington, Delaware; Attorneys for
Plaintiffs
Judith Nichols Renzulli, Esquire, of DUANE, MORRIS & HECKSCHER LLP,
Wilmington, Delaware; and Robert J. Valihura, Jr., Esquire, of ROBERT J.
VALIHURA, JR., P.A., Wilmington, Delaware; and William F. Griffin, Jr., Esquire,
of DAVIS MALM & D'AGOSTINE P.C., Boston, Massachusetts; Attorneys for
Defendants
JACOBS, VICE CHANCELLOR
This action, brought under 8 Del. C. § 226, seeks the appointment of a
custodian for Cumberland Farms, Inc. ((`the company"), a family-owned and
controlled Delaware corporation that owns or leases and operates convenience
SNIPPETS:
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6
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AMENDED COMPLAINT
|
EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
DIRECTORS CUMBERLAND FARMS PLAINTIFFS DEFENDANTS COURT HASEOTES GEORGE BUSINESS STOCKHOLDERS MANAGEMENT BYRON REORGANIZATION PLAN BENTAS VOTE INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS AMENDED COMPLAINT REQUIRED VOTE TRANSAMERICA BANKRUPTCY COURT ELECT SUCCESSOR ANNUAL MEETING ADVERSARY PROCEEDING MASSACHUSETTS COMMON STOCK VOTING COMMON STOCK OBLIGATIONS EXPIRATION APPOINTMENT DIVIDED RESPECTING |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES and )
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.,
;
Plaintiffs, > CA. No. 17223
V. ;
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES and
GEORGE HASEOTES,
Defendants.
AMENDED COMPLAINT
Plaintiffs Lily H. Bentas, Byron Haseotes and Cumberland Farms, Inc. (jointly, the
"Plaintiffs"), by and through their undersigned attorneys, upon knowledge as to their own conduct
and upon information and belief as to all other matters, allege for their Amended Complaint1 as
follows:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1. In this action, Plaintiffs seek appointment of a custodian or custodians
8 Del. C. 5 226(a) to manage the business and affairs of Cumberland Farms, Inc. ("Cumberland
Farms" or the "Company") whose (i) stockholders are equally divided and unable to elect successor
directors of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and (ii) Board is so divided respecting
the management of the business and affairs of the Company that the required vote for action of the
Board cannot be obtained and the stockholders are unable to terminate this division.
`This amended complaint is filed pursuant to the Court's oral ruling of October 26, 1999
granting plaintiffs leave to file their Amended Complaint. Pursuant to Chancery Court Rule 15(aa),
a blacklined version of this Amended Complaint indicating the changes from the original complaint
filed in this action is attached hereto as Exhibit B.
RLFl-2073968-l
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7
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PLAINTIFFS REPLY BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT
|
EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
COURT MOTION DIRECTORS CUMBERLAND FARMS DEFENDANTS SUMMARY JUDGMENT HASEOTES STOCKHOLDERS DEADLOCK PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT SUPPORT ANNUAL MEETING ELECT ELECTION GEORGE HASEOTES CUSTODIAN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS BENTAS AFF FAMILY DIRECTORS APPOINTMENT VOTING STOCKHOLDERS SHAREHOLDER DEADLOCK SUCCESSOR DIRECTORS CERTIFICATE AUTHORITIES GUIRICICH DEMETRIOS DAB AFFIDAVITS |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES and >
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.,
;
Plaintiffs,
i C.A. No. 17223
V.
I
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES and >
GEORGE HASEOTES,
,'
Defendants. >
PLAINTIFFS' REPLY BRIEF IN SUPPORT
OF THEIR MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Jesse A. Finkelstein
Catherine G. Dearlove
Janine M. Salomone
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
One Rodney Square
P.O. Box 55 1
Wilmington, Delaware 19899
Attorneys for Plaintiffs Lily H. Bentas,
Byron Haseotes and Cumberland
Farms, Inc.,
Dated: October 22, 1999
RLFl-2071900-1
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8
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ANSWERING BRIEF OF DEFENDANTS IN OPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFFS MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
|
EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
DEFENDANTS COURT DIRECTORS MOTION CUSTODIAN STOCKHOLDER DEL APPOINTMENT MEETING AFF STOCKHOLDER DEADLOCK FAMILY DIRECTORS ELECTION HASEOTES SUMMARY JUDGMENT CERTIFICATE DEMETRIOS CUMBERLAND FARMS REORGANIZATION AFFIDAVITS LILY BENTAS INCORPORATION OPPOSITION BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS PROPOSALS GEORGE HASEOTES MANAGEMENT UNSECURED CREDITORS DEFENDANTS DISPUTE |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES and )
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC., >>
Plaintiffs, >1 C.A. No. 17223
v. ) ,-
TV :
>
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES and GEORGE >
HASEOTES, > i I,
>
Defendants. . _
> Cd :;
; . I
. .r-`\>
- -we
ANSWERING BRIEF OF DEFENDANTS
IN OPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFFS' MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
DUANE, MORRIS & HECKSCHER LLP
Judith Nichols Renzulli, Esquire
1201 Market Street, Suite 1500
P.O. Box 195
Wilmington, Delaware 19801-o 195
(302) 571-5550
Attorneys for Defendants
Demetrios B. Haseotes and
George Haseotes
Dated: October 8, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I. NATURE AND STAGE OF PROCEEDINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SNIPPETS:
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9
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REPLY BRIEF OF DEFENDANTS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MOTION TO DISMISS
|
EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
MEETING DEL STOCKHOLDERS DIRECTORS SUPPORT MOTION ALLEGE IRREPARABLE HARM DISMISS ELECT DIRECTORS ALLEGATIONS COMPLAINT COURT VALIHURA BOSTON DEFENDANTS WILMINGTON INSUFFICIENT APPOINTMENT CUSTODIAN DEADLOCK CONCLUSORY KILBURN ROAD DAVIS MALM NATURE MOLD PROCESS DEFICIENT ELECTION SUCCESSOR DIRECTORS |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE :'
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES and )
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC., >>
Plaintiffs, >> C.A. No. 17223
V . >
>
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES and GEORGE >
HASEOTES, >
Defendants. 1
REPLY BRIEF OF DEFENDANTS
IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MOTION TO DISMISS
DUANE, MORRIS & HECKSCHER LLP
Judith Nichols Renzulli, Esquire
1201 Market Street, Suite 1500
P.O. Box 195
Wilmington, Delaware 19801-o 195
(302) 571-5550
Attorneys for Defendants,
Demetrios B. Haseotes and
George Haseotes
Of Counsel:
ROBERT J. VALIHURA, JR., P.A.
Robert J. Valihura, Jr.
7 18 Kilburn Road
Wilmington, DE 19803
(302) 477-0437
Of Counsel:
DAVIS MALM & D'AGOSTINE P.C.
William F. Griffin, Jr.
One Boston Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 367-2500
Dated: September 13, 1999
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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10
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PLAINTIFFS ANSWERING BRIEF IN OPPOSTION TO MOTION TO DISMISS & OPENING BRIEF IN SUPPORT OF CROSS-MOTOIN FOR PARTIAL SUMM. JUDGMENT
|
EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
DEFENDANTS MOTION FACTS CUSTODIAN COURT SUMMARY JUDGMENT APPOINTMENT STOCKHOLDERS MEETING DISMISS DIRECTORS DEL DEADLOCK SUPPORT COMP CUMBERLAND FARMS BENTAS AFF COMPLAINT PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT DEMETRIOS ELECT SUCCESSOR DIRECTORS IRREPARABLE HARM ADEQUATELV ANNUAL MEETING MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES PETROWSKI AFF AFFIDAVITS MATERIAL FACT |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES, and >
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC., >>
Plaintiffs, >> C.A. No. 17223
V. >
>
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES, and >
GEORGE HASEOTES, >>
Defendants. >
PLAINTIFFS' ANSWERING BRIEF IN OPPOSITION TO DEFENDANTS'
MOTION TO DISMISS AND OPENING BRIEF IN SUPPORT
OF THEIR CROSS-MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Jesse A. Finkelstein
Catherine G. Dearlove
Janine M. Salomone
Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A.
One Rodney Square
P.O. Box 551
Wilmington, DE 19899
(302) 654-6541
`4ttorneys for Plaintiffs Lily H. Bentas,
Byron Haseotes and Cumberland
Farms, Inc.
Dated: September 1, 1999
RI.Fl-2046749-1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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11
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OPENING BRIEF OD DEFENDANTS IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MOTION TO DISMISS
|
EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
DEL COMPLAINT DEADLOCK IRREPARABLEHARM COURT PLAINTIFFS DIRECTORS MEETING PLAINTIFFS ALLEGE CHANCERY DELAWARE BUSINESS DEFENDANTS CUMBERLAND FARMS ELECT SUCCESSOR DIRECTORS IRREPARABLE HARM ALLEGATIONS CUSTODIAN WRITTEN CONSENT PROCEEDING MANAGEMENT DIVIDED RESPECTING VOTING STOCKHOLDERS STRATEGIC PLAN IMMINENT IRREPARABLE HARM ANNUAL MEETING APPOINTMENT SUFFERING CONCLUSORY ALLEGATIONS |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES and )
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC., >>
Plaintiffs, >> C.A. No. 17223
V . >
>
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES and GEORGE >
HASEOTES, >>
Defendants. > _ I
OPENING BRIEF OF DEFENDANTS
IN SUPPORT OF THEIR MOTION TO DISMISS ; :
DUANE, MORRIS & HECKSCHER LLP
Judith Nichols Renzulli, Esquire
120 1 Market Street, Suite 1500
P.O. Box 195
Wilmington, Delaware 19801-o 195
(302) 571-5550
Attorneys for Defendants
Demetrios B. Haseotes and
George Haseotes
Dated: August 18, 1999
TABL,E OF CONTENTS
TABLEOFCITATIONS . . .._..................................................
NATURE AND STAGE OF THE PROCEEDING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ALLEGATIONS OF THE COMPLAINT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ARGUMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I. There Has Been No Meeting Or Other Effort To Elect Successor Directors
and No Resulting Stockholder Deadlock Under 8 Del. C. 8 226(a)(l) . . . . . .
II. The Allegations of Plaintiffs' Complaint Fail to Show That the Directors
Are Deadlocked and That, As a Result, The Company Is Threatened With
IrreparableHarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SNIPPETS:
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12
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COMPLAINT
|
EXTRACTED KEY WORDS
DIRECTORS CUMBERLAND FARMS PLAINTIFFS COURT HASEOTES DEFENDANTS GEORGE BUSINESS MANAGEMENT STOCKHOLDERS REORGANIZATION PLAN BYRON BENTAS INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS AFFAIRS REQUIRED VOTE BANKRUPTCY COURT TRANSAMERICA ATTORNEYS CUSTODIAN ELECT SUCCESSOR MASSACHUSETTS ADVERSARY PROCEEDING COMMON STOCK AGREEMENT EXECUTIVES OBLIGATIONS EXPIRATION DIVIDED RESPECTING |
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF
IN AND FOR NEW CASTLE COUNTY
LILY H. BENTAS, BYRON HASEOTES, and
CUMBERLAND FARMS, INC.,
Plaintiffs,
V.
DEMETRIOS B. HASEOTES and GEORGE
HASEOTES,
Defendants.
COMPLAINT
Plaintiffs Lily ,H. Bentas, Byron Haseotes and Cumberland Farms, Inc. (jointly, the
"Plaintiffs"), by and through their undersigned attorneys, upon knowledge as to their own conduct
and upon information and belief as to all other matters, allege for their Complaint as follows:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1. In this action, Plaintiffs seek appointment of a custodian or custodians pursuant
8 Del. C. 0 226(a) to manage the business and affairs of Cumberland Farms, Inc. ("Cumberland
Farms" or the "Company") whose (i) stockholders are equally divided and unable to elect successor
directors of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and (ii) Board is so divided respecting
the management of the business and affairs of the Company that the required vote for action of the
Board cannot be obtained and the stockholders are unable to terminate this division.
PARTIES
2. Plaintiff Cumberland Farms is a corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the State of Delaware. The Company's principal executive offices are located at 777 Dedham
RLFl-145777-S
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