Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400 (3d Cir. 1978). · Go Syfert
Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400 (3d Cir. 1978). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
106 citation events (3 in the last 25 years) across 26 distinct courts.
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Cited for
At page 402 Director's subjective intent not actionable without external deeds56 citing casesdefendants not liable for failure to disclose "true purpose" behind their activities2 citing courts put it this way · 52 listed here
  • Flake v. Hoskins, 55 F. Supp. 2d 1196 (D. Kan. 1999).published
    “The failure to disclose the motive behind a director’s decision is not actionable unless accompanied by objective and external deeds or omissions.” Craftmatic Securities Litigation v. Kraftsow, 890 F.2d 628, 638 (3d Cir.1989) (citing Bies…
  • Wishnefsky v. Addy, 969 F. Supp. 953 (E.D. Pa. 1997).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Gandolfo v. U-Haul Int'l, Inc., 978 F. Supp. 558 (D.N.J. 1996).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Kelly v. Borough of Sayreville, 927 F. Supp. 797 (D.N.J. 1996).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3rd Cir.1978).
  • Gannon v. Cont'l Ins., 920 F. Supp. 566 (D.N.J. 1996).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978) (“appellants are stating that the failure to disclose the breach of fiduciary duty is a misrepresentation sufficient to constitute a violation of the Act.
  • F.R.Y. v. UAL Corp., 895 F. Supp. 1018 (N.D. Ill. 1995).published
    (concluding “[I]n effect, appellants are stating that the failure to disclose the breach of fiduciary duty is a misrepresentation sufficient to constitute a violation of the Act. We refuse to adopt this approach, which w…)
  • Delaware Health Care, Inc. v. MCD Holding Co., 893 F. Supp. 1279 (D. Del. 1995).published
    In the context of a Rule 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the Court must limit its consideration to the well-pleaded facts alleged by plaintiff in its complaint, Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978), and accept them as true,…
  • Johnson v. State of New Jersey, 869 F. Supp. 289 (D.N.J. 1994).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Sisco ex rel. Boisseau v. Shalala, 860 F. Supp. 185 (D.N.J. 1994).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Erie City Retirees Ass'n v. City of Erie, 838 F. Supp. 1048 (W.D. Pa. 1993).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
Show 42 more citing cases
  • Ciro, Inc. v. Gold, 816 F. Supp. 253 (D. Del. 1993).published
    Litigation v. Kraftsow, 890 F.2d 628 , 638-40 (3d Cir.1989); Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978) (“In effect, appellants are stating that the failure to disclose the breach of fiduciary duty is a misrepresentation suffi…
  • Lewis v. Chrysler Corp., 949 F.2d 644 (3d Cir. 1991).published 4 cites
    “The unclean heart of a director is not actionable, whether or not it is ‘disclosed’, unless the impurities are translated into actionable deeds or omissions both objective and external”
  • Cooper Dev. Co. v. First Nat'l Bank, 762 F. Supp. 1145 (D.N.J. 1991).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Dubowski v. Dominion Bankshares Corp., 763 F. Supp. 169 (W.D. Va. 1991).published
    (CCH) 92,979 at p. 94,808, 1986 WL 198 (W.D.Wash.1986) (citing Biesenback v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978)).
  • Mendell v. Greenberg, 927 F.2d 667 (2d Cir. 1991).published
    (defendants not liable for failure to disclose "true purpose" behind their activities)
  • Mendell v. Greenberg, 927 F.2d 667 (2d Cir. 1990).published
    (defendants not liable for failure to disclose “true purpose” behind their activities)
  • In re Midlantic Corp. Shareholder Litig., 758 F. Supp. 226 (D.N.J. 1990).published
    In Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978), the Court of Appeals “stated that the failure to disclose the motive behind a directors decision is not actionable unless accompanied by objective and external deeds or omissions.…
  • Vt Investors v. R & D Funding Corp., 733 F. Supp. 823 (D.N.J. 1990).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978); see supra Section A(l).
  • First Am. Bank & Trust by Levitt v. Frogel, 726 F. Supp. 1292 (S.D. Fla. 1989).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3rd Cir.1978).
  • Polaroid Corp. v. Disney, 698 F. Supp. 1169 (D. Del. 1988).published
    Offerors have no duty to “publicly admit the culpability of their actions.” Warner Communications, Inc. v. Murdoch, 581 F.Supp. 1482, 1490 (D.Del.1984) (referring to Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978)).
  • In re Gen. Motors Class E Stock Buyout Sec. Litig., 694 F. Supp. 1119 (D. Del. 1988).published 2 cites
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Field v. Trump, 850 F.2d 938 (2d Cir. 1988).published 2 cites
    Bankshares, Inc., 796 F.2d 508, 513 (D.C.Cir.1986) (“plaintiff may not ‘bootstrap’ a claim of breach of fiduciary duty into a federal securities law claim by alleging that directors failed to disclose that breach of fiduciary duty”; “if th…
  • Pullman-Peabody Co. v. Joy Mfg. Co., 662 F. Supp. 32 (D.N.J. 1986).published
    In Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3rd Cir.1978), the 3rd Circuit clearly recited this principle, that an alleged failure to disclose the breach of fiduciary duty does not constitute a violation of the Securities and Exchange Ac…
  • Recchion v. Kirby, 637 F. Supp. 284 (W.D. Pa. 1985).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Nutis v. Penn Merchandising Corp., 615 F. Supp. 486 (E.D. Pa. 1985).published
    See, e.g., Panter v. Marshall Field & Co., 646 F.2d 271, 287-89 (7th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1092 , 102 S.Ct. 658 , 70 L.Ed.2d 631 (1981); Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978); Warner Communications, Inc. v. Murdoc…
  • Dist. Council 47 v. Bradley, 619 F. Supp. 381 (E.D. Pa. 1985).published
    In considering a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6) for failure to state a claim, the court must limit its consideration to the facts alleged in the complaint, Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir…
  • Williams v. Tansey, 610 F. Supp. 1083 (E.D. Pa. 1985).published
    See Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b); Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Nutis v. Penn Merchandising Corp., 610 F. Supp. 1573 (E.D. Pa. 1985).published 2 cites
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Marczinko V. Local 249, Gen. Teamsters Chauffeurs & Helpers, 630 F. Supp. 407 (W.D. Pa. 1985).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Recchion v. Westinghouse Elec. Corp., 606 F. Supp. 889 (W.D. Pa. 1985).published
    On a Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, such as that presented in this case, the Court must limit its consideration of the facts to those alleged in the complaint. 1 Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Hahn v. Breed, 587 F. Supp. 1369 (S.D.N.Y. 1984).published
    Stedman v. Storer, 308 F.Supp. 881, 887 (S.D.N.Y.1969), quoted with approval in Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Dofflemyer v. W.F. Hall Printing Co., 558 F. Supp. 372 (D. Del. 1983).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978); Fisher v. United Technologies Corp., 6 Del.J. of Corp.Law, 380, 386 (Del.Ch.1981). 5.The Rights of Hall Shareholders Opposing the Merger Finally, the complaint contains several alleg…
  • Appletree v. City of Hartford, 555 F. Supp. 224 (D. Conn. 1983).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978); Murray v. Amoco Oil Co., 539 F.2d 1385, 1387 (5th Cir.1976).
  • Bank & Trust Co. of Old York Road v. Hankin, 552 F. Supp. 1330 (E.D. Pa. 1982).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Gieringer v. Silverman, 539 F. Supp. 498 (E.D. Wis. 1982).published
    Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir. 1978).
  • Robert Staffin v. Joel W. Greenberg, Bluebird, Inc., Herbert Cook & N. Foods, Ltd., Donald L. Winderman v. Joel W. Greenberg, Robert Staffin v. N. Foods, Ltd., Bernard J. Gomberg v. Bluebird, Inc., Charles Heit v. Bluebird, Inc., Morris & Sally Leonard v. Joel W. Greenberg, 672 F.2d 1196 (3d Cir. 1982).published
    The unclean heart of a director is not actionable, whether or not it is 'disclosed,' unless the impurities are translated into actionable deeds or omissions both objective and external.' Lavin v. Data Systems Analysts, Inc., 443 F.Supp. 10…
  • Staffin v. Greenberg, 672 F.2d 1196 (3d Cir. 1982).published
    The unclean heart of a director is not actionable, whether or not it is ‘disclosed,’ unless the impurities are translated into actionable deeds or omissions both objective and external.’ Lavin v. Data Systems Analysts, Inc., 443 F.Supp. 10…
  • Issen v. GSC Enter.., Inc., 508 F. Supp. 1278 (N.D. Ill. 1981).published
    The unclean heart of a director is not actionable, whether or not it is ‘disclosed,’ unless the impurities are translated into actionable deeds or omissions both objective and external.” Stedman v. Storer, 308 F.Supp. 881, 887 (S.D.N.Y.196…
  • Bertoglio v. Texas Int'l Co., 488 F. Supp. 630 (D. Del. 1980).published
    The unclean heart of a director is not actionable, whether or not it is “disclosed,” unless the impurities are translated into actionable deeds or omissions both objective and external. *651 Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Ci…
  • Swin Resource Sys., Inc. v. Lycoming Cnty. ex rel. Lycoming Cnty. Solid Waste Dep't, 883 F.2d 245 (3d Cir. 1989).published 2 cites
    See Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978).
  • Charles Kademian & Stan Janes v. Ladish Co., a Wisconsin Corp., Stan Janes v. Ladish Co., a Wisconsin Corp., William Dixon, Jane Schennum & Robert Eisele v. Ladish Co., a Wisconsin Corp., 792 F.2d 614 (7th Cir. 1986).published 2 cites
    Accord Atchley v. Qonaar, 704 F.2d 355, 358 (7th Cir.1983); Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978); Golub v. PPD Corp., 576 F.2d 759, 765 (8th Cir.1978); Issen v. GSC Enterprises, Inc., 508 F.Supp. 1278, 1290 (N.D.Ill.1981…
  • Kademian v. Ladish Co., 792 F.2d 614 (7th Cir. 1986).published 2 cites
    Accord Atchley v. Qonaar, 704 F.2d 355, 358 (7th Cir.1983); Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978); Golub v. PPD Corp., 576 F.2d 759 , 765 (8th Cir.1978); Issen v. GSC Enterprises, Inc., 508 F.Supp. 1278, 1290 (N.D.Ill.198…
  • Shamrock Assocs. ex rel. Gelbach v. Moraga Corp., 557 F. Supp. 198 (D. Del. 1983).published
    See Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (C.A.3, 1978).
  • Rodman v. Grant Found., 608 F.2d 64 (2d Cir. 1979).published
    In the absence of some ulterior wrongful design hinging upon so-called “entrenchment”, the directors were not required to put forth in the proxy materials an analysis of their otherwise obvious interest in company control. 5 Stedman v. Sto…
  • Fed. Sec. L. Rep. P 97,143, 608 F.2d 64 (2d Cir. 1979).published
    In the absence of some ulterior wrongful design hinging upon so-called "entrenchment", the directors were not required to put forth in the proxy materials an analysis of their otherwise obvious interest in company control. 5 Stedman v. Sto…
  • Cement & Concrete Workers Dist. Council Pension Fund v. Hewlett Packard Co., 964 F. Supp. 2d 1128 (N.D. Cal. 2013).published
    See also Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 402 (3d Cir.1978) (quoting Bavin v. Data Systems Analysts, Inc., 443 F.Supp. 104 (E.D.Pa.1977) (“The unclean heart of a director is not actionable, whether or not it is “disclosed,” unless the…
  • Merino Vinas v. Merino-Calenti, 24 F.3d 335 (1st Cir. 1994).published
  • Warner Commc'ns, Inc. v. Murdoch, 581 F. Supp. 1482 (D. Del. 1984).published
  • Five Smiths, Inc. v. Nat'l Football League Players Ass'n, 788 F. Supp. 1042 (D. Minn. 1992).published
  • Hackford v. First Sec. Bank of Utah, N. A., 521 F. Supp. 541 (D. Utah 1981).published
  • Sanders v. Thrall Car Mfg. Co., 582 F. Supp. 945 (S.D.N.Y. 1983).published
  • Van De Walle v. Salomon Bros., 733 A.2d 312 (Del. Ch. 1998).published
At page 401 cited at this page1 citing case
  • Hauptmann v. Wilentz, 570 F. Supp. 351 (D.N.J. 1983).published
    Conley, supra, 355 U.S. at 45-46 , 78 S.Ct. at 102 ; Biesenbach v. Guenther, 588 F.2d 400, 401 (3d Cir.1978).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
Ginn BIESENBACH, Joseph Levin, Henry Sharman, Lisa B. White
v.
John H. GUENTHER, Jr., A. T. Consoli, Richard E. Hunter, Fred Parquitte, Leon Prince, Heidelberg, Inc.
No. 78-1487.
Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Dec 4, 1978.
Published opinion
588 F.2d 400
1978 U.S. App. LEXIS 7315
Bruce K. Cohen, Meredith, Cohen & Kepler, Philadelphia, Pa., for appellants., Jeffrey R. Lerman, Thomas N. O’Neill, Jr., Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads, Philadelphia, Pa., for appellees.
Rosenn.
Cited by 65 opinions  |  Published

OPINION OF THE COURT

ROSENN, Circuit Judge.

This appeal involves the scope of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b) (1976) (Act), and Rule 10b-5, 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5 (1977), in view of the recent Supreme Court decision in Santa Fe Industries, Inc. v. Green, 430 U.S. 462, 97 S.Ct. 1292, 51 L.Ed.2d 480 (1977). Plaintiffs’ federal claims, brought in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, were dismissed for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6). As a result, plaintiffs’ pendent state law claims were also dismissed. See United Mine Workers v. Gibbs, 383 U.S. 715, 86 S.Ct. 1130, 16 L.Ed.2d 218 (1966).

Plaintiffs, minority shareholders of Heidelberg, Inc., brought suit both derivatively and on behalf of all shareholders, against individual defendants constituting a majority of the Board of Directors of Heidelberg. The facts alleged by plaintiffs, which are accepted as true for the purpose of this appeal, center on two loans made by the defendants to Heidelberg. The first was in the amount of $500,000 and was secured by a second lien on corporate property. By use of their control of the Board of Directors, defendants arranged the terms of the loan so that they would receive interest at a rate of 10% in cash, land, or shares of Heidelberg, and 10% of the principal would be repaid in stock of the corporation. Subsequently, the defendants, over the objections of minority shareholders, raised the interest charges to 4% over the prime rate.

The second loan, in the amount of $226,-270, called for a 15% interest rate payable in cash, land, or shares and 15% of the principal repayments to be in Heidelberg stock. In pursuit of their goal of gaining complete control of the corporation and eliminating opposition, defendants reduced the membership of the Board of Directors from 19 to 7. In addition, they authorized the issuance of 1,000,000 new shares after notifying shareholders of an intent to authorize 500,000. Plaintiffs allege that these activities constituted a fraud and deceit upon Heidelberg.[1]

The district court held that the complaint failed to allege the use of “any manipulative or deceptive device or contrivance in contravention” of the rule of the Securities and Exchange Commission within the meaning of the Act. Appellants do not challenge the district court’s determination that the complaint contained no allegation which could be construed as a manipulation. See Santa Fe Industries, Inc. v. Green, supra, 430 U.S. at 476-77, 97 S.Ct. 1302. It is alleged, however, that the court erred in its failure to find allegation of deception.

The appellants contend that paragraph 30 of the amended complaint was sufficient to defeat a motion to dismiss:

At all times the individual defendants told shareholders that the aforesaid transactions were in the best interests of the shareholders and were designed to[*402] protect shareholders’ financial interests. Said statements were false and misleading in that these transactions were not in the best interests of the shareholders nor were they designed to protect shareholders’ financial interests.

The district court concluded that “the plaintiffs have alleged violations of the individual defendants’ fiduciary duties as directors of the corporation. As such these allegations might well support a cause of action under the laws of Pennsylvania. However, since the Supreme Court’s pronouncements in Santa Fe such allegations standing alone do not state a cause of action under Section 10b [10(b)] of the Act, or Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.” We agree.

Santa Fe made clear that absent deception, misrepresentation, or nondisclosure a breach of fiduciary duty does not violate the statute or Rule. 430 U.S. at 476, 97 S.Ct. at 1302. Appellants believe that the misrepresentations and omissions that occurred in this case were: 1) the misleading statements by defendants that the transactions were in the best interests of the shareholders and 2) the defendants’ failure to disclose the true purpose behind the activities. In effect, appellants are stating that the failure to disclose the breach of fiduciary duty is a misrepresentation sufficient to constitute a violation of the Act. We refuse to adopt'this approach which would clearly circumvent the Supreme Court’s holding in Santa Fe. As Judge Higginbotham has reiterated:

[I]t is bemusing, and ultimately pointless, to charge that directors perpetrated a “material omission” when they failed to (a) discover and adjudged faithless motives for their actions and (b) announce such a discovery in reporting the products of their managerial efforts and judgment. The securities laws, while their central insistence is upon disclosure, were never intended to attempt any such measures of psychoanalysis or reported self-analysis. The unclean heart of a director is not actionable, whether or not it is “disclosed,” unless the impurities are translated into actionable deeds or omissions both objective and external.

Lavin v. Data Systems Analysts, Inc., 443 F.Supp. 104 (1977) quoting from Stedman v. Storer, 308 F.Supp. 881, 887 (S.D.N.Y.1969); see Golub v. PPD Corp., 516 F.2d 759 (8th Cir. 1978).

In an attempt to buttress their allegation that the district court erred in dismissing this action, appellants point to deposition testimony which in their view indicates that defendants failed to disclose that they were discouraging bids from prospective purchasers of the corporation. We need not decide whether this would constitute a violation of the Act in light of the fact that the allegation does not fall within the ambit of the amended complaint. The complaint makes no reference to the possibility of a sale of the corporation or its assets, nor were any affidavits presented to the district court setting forth these contentions. On a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss, the district court must limit its consideration to the facts alleged in the complaint. Murray v. Amoco Oil Co., 539 F.2d 1385, 1387 (5th Cir. 1976); Grand Opera Co. v. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp., 235 F.2d 303, 307 (7th Cir. 1956).

The appellants allege further that the district court erred in granting the motion to dismiss without holding oral argument. This contention is without merit. There was no oral argument because neither party requested it. Local Rule 36 of The Eastern District of Pennsylvania provides:

Oral argument shall be dispensed with unless specifically required by an interested party. In any case, the Court may decline to hear oral argument and may dispose of [motions] without further hearing or argument.

Failure to request argument constitutes waiver of the right to complain that it was not held.

Finally, appellants argue that the district court abused its discretion in dismissing the complaint without permitting the opportunity to amend. This was not[*403] error. Appellants could have sought leave to amend if they had so moved, 3 Moore’s Federal Practice ¶15.07[2] at 855, but instead they chose to bring this appeal. Appellants have further requested that if we affirm, that we allow the district court to entertain an application to amend the complaint. However, appellants have amended the complaint once and decided to appeal rather than attempt further amendment. In view of plaintiffs’ suit in the state court, the remedy for the wrongs alleged in this case is in that forum.

The judgment of the district court will be affirmed. Costs taxed against the appellants.

1

Plaintiffs do not appeal the district court determination that they lack standing to assert a claim on their own behalf because they neither bought nor sold any securities in connection with the alleged fraudulent transactions. See Blue Chip Stamps v. Manor Drug Stores, 421 U.S. 723, 95 S.Ct. 1917, 44 L.Ed.2d 539 (1975).