November 21, 2011 - Wilmington, DE - In the latest round of protracted estate litigation involving an intra-family dispute, the Court of Chancery affirmed a decision favorable to Berger Harris's client. Vice Chancellor Travis Laster issued a ruling Monday affirming the report of Master Kim E. Ayvazian in favor of a Berger Harris client. The case, Keen v. Camac, C.A. No. 3492-MA, involved a challenge brought in the Court of Chancery to the conveyance of a 21-acre parcel of undeveloped land in New Castle County. 

Plaintiffs charged that Berger Harris’ client, the youngest child of the grantor of the property at issue, had unduly influenced her elderly mother to transfer the property solely to her to the exclusion of her siblings.  The plaintiffs sought the specific performance of an alleged oral promise to divide the parcel equally among the three siblings and the cancelation of the conveyance based on the undue influence claim.   After a four-day trial and extensive post-trial briefing by Berger Harris attorneys Jack Harris and David Anthony, Master Ayvazian issued a post-trial decision ruling in favor of Berger Harris’ client in all respects.

After conducting a de novo review of the factual and legal conclusions contained in Master Ayvazian's decision, Vice Chancellor Laster upheld the Master's findings and overruled all of the plaintiffs' objections.

Berger Harris attorneys have extensive experience in litigation in the Court of Chancery, the nation’s preeminent business litigation forum. Clients represented by Berger Harris attorneys range from Fortune 500 companies to private closely-held institutions to local, family-owned enterprises.