Case Citation
Legal Case Name

SKOURAS v. ADMIRALTY ENTERPRISES, INC. Case Brief

Court of Chancery of Delaware, New Castle County1978
386 A.2d 674

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Case Brief Summary & Legal Analysis

General Brief
4 min read

tl;dr: A minority shareholder sought to inspect corporate records of a family-owned shipping company and its subsidiaries, alleging mismanagement. The court granted inspection of the parent company’s records, finding a proper purpose, but denied inspection of subsidiaries’ records, respecting their separate corporate identities.

Legal Significance: Reinforces a stockholder’s right to inspect corporate books for a “proper purpose” (e.g., investigating mismanagement) under 8 Del.C. § 220, even with secondary motives, and clarifies limits on inspecting subsidiary records absent fraud or alter ego findings.

SKOURAS v. ADMIRALTY ENTERPRISES, INC. Law School Study Guide

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Case Facts & Court Holding

Key Facts & Case Background

Plaintiff Plato A. Skouras, holding between four and five percent of Admiralty Enterprises, Inc.’s common stock, sought to inspect its books and records, as well as those of its subsidiaries (World Wide Tankers, PSS Steamship Co., and Prudential Lines). Admiralty was a closely held family shipping corporation. Plaintiff’s stated purpose, under 8 Del.C. § 220, was to investigate suspected mismanagement, including improper self-dealing by officers and directors, excessive personal expenses charged to the company, and questionable financial transactions. Admiralty, the parent, owned 100% of World Wide Tankers and a controlling interest in PSS, which wholly owned Prudential. Plaintiff was a former director of Admiralty. Defendant Admiralty argued the demand was not for a proper purpose but intended to harass the company and compel a buyout of plaintiff’s shares at a premium, citing plaintiff’s past offers to sell his stock and accusatory letters. Plaintiff’s formal demand was partially under oath, with further details in an accompanying unsworn letter.

Court Holding & Legal Precedent

Issue: Did the plaintiff establish a proper purpose reasonably related to his interest as a stockholder to inspect the books and records of Admiralty Enterprises, Inc., and its subsidiaries, as required by 8 Del.C. § 220, despite allegations of harassment and an imperfectly executed demand?

Yes, as to Admiralty Enterprises, Inc.’s records; no, as to the subsidiaries’ Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur

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IRAC Legal Analysis

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Legal Issue

Did the plaintiff establish a proper purpose reasonably related to his interest as a stockholder to inspect the books and records of Admiralty Enterprises, Inc., and its subsidiaries, as required by 8 Del.C. § 220, despite allegations of harassment and an imperfectly executed demand?

Conclusion

This case underscores that a stockholder's right to inspect corporate books and Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sun

Legal Rule

Under 8 Del.C. § 220(b), a stockholder has the right to inspect Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lor

Legal Analysis

The court determined that plaintiff's primary purpose for seeking inspection—investigating suspected mismanagement, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis au

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Flash Summary

  • A stockholder’s primary purpose of investigating mismanagement is proper under §
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore

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