Delaware Case Commentaries

Reindictment After Nolle Prosequi (Before Jeopardy Attaches) Does Not Offend Double Jeopardy or “Judicial Manipulation” Absent Improper State Purpose

Date: Jan 10, 2026

Reindictment After Nolle Prosequi (Before Jeopardy Attaches) Does Not Offend Double Jeopardy or “Judicial Manipulation” Absent Improper State Purpose Case: Fayton v. State Court: Supreme Court of...

Quiet Title in Delaware: “Clear and Convincing” for Title Strength, but “Preponderance” for Lineage Facts; Laches Requires Prejudice

Date: Jan 8, 2026

Quiet Title in Delaware: “Clear and Convincing” for Title Strength, but “Preponderance” for Lineage Facts; Laches Requires Prejudice 1. Introduction In Chavez T. Williams v. Cynthia H. Hall (Del....

Swanson v. State: Rule 12 Waiver Bars Plain-Error Review of Untimely Fourth Amendment Suppression Claims Absent Cause

Date: Jan 2, 2026

Swanson v. State: Rule 12 Waiver Bars Plain-Error Review of Untimely Fourth Amendment Suppression Claims Absent Cause Court: Supreme Court of Delaware | Date: December 31, 2025 | Disposition:...

Delaware Consumer Fraud Act Excludes Post-Transaction Communications; No Jury-Trial Right for CFA Administrative Penalties Absent a Common-Law Fraud Analogue

Date: Jan 2, 2026

Delaware Consumer Fraud Act Excludes Post-Transaction Communications; No Jury-Trial Right for CFA Administrative Penalties Absent a Common-Law Fraud Analogue Case: Blue Beach Bungalows DE, LLC v. The...

Rule 613(b) Sequencing Flexibility and No Sua Sponte Limiting-Instruction Plain Error: Reid v. State (Del. 2025)

Date: Jan 2, 2026

Rule 613(b) Sequencing Flexibility and No Sua Sponte Limiting-Instruction Plain Error: Reid v. State (Del. 2025) Court: Supreme Court of Delaware (en banc) | Date: December 30, 2025 | Disposition:...

Wood v. State (Del. 2025): Indictment Mis-Citation, Continuous Sexual Abuse, and the Limits of “Illegal Sentence” under Rule 35(a)

Date: Dec 26, 2025

Wood v. State (Del. 2025): Indictment Mis-Citation, Continuous Sexual Abuse, and the Limits of “Illegal Sentence” under Rule 35(a) I. Introduction In Wood v. State, No. 518, 2024 (Del. Dec. 22,...

Wood v. State (Del. 2025): Indictment Citation Errors as “Form” When Essential Facts Provide Notice; Rule 35(a) Limits and CSAC/Rape Double-Jeopardy Separation

Date: Dec 23, 2025

Wood v. State (Del. 2025): Indictment Citation Errors as “Form” When Essential Facts Provide Notice; Rule 35(a) Limits and CSAC/Rape Double-Jeopardy Separation 1. Introduction In Wood v. State...

Rescission, Status Quo Ante, and Nominal Damages: The Delaware Supreme Court’s Remedial Turn in In re Tesla, Inc. Derivative Litigation

Date: Dec 22, 2025

Rescission, Status Quo Ante, and Nominal Damages: The Delaware Supreme Court’s Remedial Turn in In re Tesla, Inc. Derivative Litigation I. Introduction The Delaware Supreme Court’s en banc decision...

Limiting the Domestic‑Violence Custody Presumption to Custody Cases: Harris v. DSCYF and Due Process in Delaware Termination of Parental Rights Proceedings

Date: Dec 22, 2025

Limiting the Domestic‑Violence Custody Presumption to Custody Cases: Roy Harris v. DSCYF and Due Process in Delaware Termination of Parental Rights I. Introduction The Delaware Supreme Court’s order...

Limits on Delaware’s Long-Arm Jurisdiction Over Out-of-State Auto Insurers in First-Party UIM Claims: Commentary on James E. Berry v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company

Date: Dec 22, 2025

Limits on Delaware’s Long-Arm Jurisdiction Over Out-of-State Auto Insurers in First-Party UIM Claims: Commentary on James E. Berry v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company I. Introduction...

No Forced Trade-Off Between Speedy Trial and Confrontation Rights: Commentary on Boykin v. State (Del. 2025)

Date: Dec 22, 2025

No Forced Trade-Off Between Speedy Trial and Confrontation Rights: A Commentary on Boykin v. State (Delaware Supreme Court, Dec. 17, 2025) I. Introduction The Delaware Supreme Court’s decision in...

Rescission Is Unavailable for a Fully Performed Controller-Conflicted Compensation Grant Absent Feasible Status-Quo Restoration; Plaintiff Bears the Burden and Remedy Defaults to Nominal Damages with Quantum-Meruit Fees

Date: Dec 20, 2025

Rescission Is Unavailable for a Fully Performed Controller-Conflicted Compensation Grant Absent Feasible Status-Quo Restoration; Plaintiff Bears the Burden and Remedy Defaults to Nominal Damages with...

Delaware Supreme Court: 13 Del. C. § 705A Domestic-Violence Custody Presumption Is Inapplicable in Termination-of-Parental-Rights Proceedings

Date: Dec 20, 2025

Delaware Supreme Court: 13 Del. C. § 705A Domestic-Violence Custody Presumption Is Inapplicable in Termination-of-Parental-Rights Proceedings Introduction In Roy Harris v. Department of Services for...

Delaware Long-Arm Statute Does Not Reach Out-of-State Insurers for First-Party UIM Claims Based Solely on a Delaware Accident

Date: Dec 19, 2025

Delaware Long-Arm Statute Does Not Reach Out-of-State Insurers for First-Party UIM Claims Based Solely on a Delaware Accident 1. Introduction James E. Berry v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance...

Boykin v. State — Confrontation Rights Do Not Convert Witness-Unavailability Continuances into Defendant-Caused Delay Under Barker

Date: Dec 18, 2025

Confrontation Rights Do Not Convert Witness-Unavailability Continuances into Defendant-Caused Delay Under Barker Case: Boykin v. State (Supreme Court of Delaware) Date: December 17, 2025 Disposition:...

Plain Error in Unsettled Law: NCIC Evidence, Anonymous Tips, and Second Amendment Challenges in Johns v. State (Del. 2025)

Date: Dec 17, 2025

Plain Error in Unsettled Law: NCIC Evidence, Anonymous Tips, and Second Amendment Challenges in Johns v. State (Del. 2025) I. Introduction The Delaware Supreme Court’s decision in Johns v. State...

Plain Error Requires Clear, Binding Guidance: Unobjected NCIC Testimony and Unraised § 1448 Challenges Will Not Be Reversed

Date: Dec 17, 2025

Plain Error Requires Clear, Binding Guidance: Unobjected NCIC Testimony and Unraised § 1448 Challenges Will Not Be Reversed Case: Johns v. State, Supreme Court of Delaware (Dec. 16, 2025)...

De Facto Arrests and Stationhouse Transports: Swanson v. State and the Limits of Terry Stops for Evidence Collection

Date: Dec 16, 2025

De Facto Arrests and Stationhouse Transports: Swanson v. State and the Limits of Terry Stops for Evidence Collection I. Introduction In Swanson v. State, decided on December 15, 2025, the Delaware...

Dilution and Diversion Claims "Travel" with Securities: Standing Lost Upon Sale Even for Direct Fiduciary Claims — Commentary on The Yosaki Trust v. Weber (Del. 2025)

Date: Dec 16, 2025

Dilution and Diversion Claims “Travel” with Securities: Standing Lost Upon Sale Even for Direct Fiduciary Claims Commentary on The Yosaki Trust v. Teresa S. Weber, No. 157, 2025 (Del. Supr. Dec. 15,...

Strict Limits on Interlocutory Appeals from Caremark Demand‑Futility Rulings: Commentary on Turner v. Brewer

Date: Dec 16, 2025

Strict Limits on Interlocutory Appeals from Caremark Demand‑Futility Rulings: A Commentary on John M. Turner, Jr. v. Katherine Richards Brewer I. Introduction This commentary examines the Delaware...