purely legal claim (Delaware) · Go Syfert
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purely legal claim in Delaware

6 Delaware opinions name it 2 courts 1938–2025 3 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Delaware courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (4)

CaseFollowedCited
Federal United Corp. v. Havendergreen
del · 1940 · cited in 1 Delaware opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025United Corp. v. Havender, 11 A.2d 331, 343 (Del. 1940)). 27 Adams v. Jankouskas, 452 A.2d 148, 157 (Del. 1982) (“Knowledge and unreasonable delay are essential elements of the defense of laches. . . .

11
Adams v. Jankouskasgreen
del · 1982 · cited in 1 Delaware opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025United Corp. v. Havender, 11 A.2d 331, 343 (Del. 1940)). 27 Adams v. Jankouskas, 452 A.2d 148, 157 (Del. 1982) (“Knowledge and unreasonable delay are essential elements of the defense of laches. . . .

11
Reid v. Spaziogreen
del · 2009 · cited in 1 Delaware opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025No. 2024-0668-MTZ June 26, 2025 Page 7 of 34 resulting prejudice to that party.26 The defendant’s “[c]hange of position” is a “factor[] of supreme importance.”27 “[I]mplicit in the concept of laches is the requirement that there be a causal relationship between the delay [by a plaintiffs] and the alleged prejudice [to a defendant].”28 Only the defendant, or one in privity with her, has standing to complain of her prejudice caused by the plaintiff’s delay in suing her.29 Similarly, for a purely legal claim, only a defendant can wield a statute of limitations defense to preclude the plaintiff’s

11
Keystone Driller Co. v. General Excavator Co.green
scotus · 1933 · cited in 1 Delaware opinions naming this issue, 2022–2022
1 sentence

2022Excavator Co., 290 U.S. 240, 245-46 (1933) (“[The Court applying unclean hands is] not bound by formula or restrained by any limitation that tends to trammel the free and just exercise of discretion.”). 212 Nakahara, 718 A.2d at 522 . 213 NASDI Hldgs., LLC v. N. Am.

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Delaware. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (6)

CaseCitedYears
Security Trust Co. v. Spruance green
ohioctapp · 1934
2 sentences

1969Security Trust Co. v. Spruance, 20 Del.Ch. 195 , 174 A. 285 ; Rissman v. Krenn & Dato Const. Co., 22 Del.Ch. 309 , 2 A.2d 128 .

1969Security Trust Co. v. Spruance, 20 Del.Ch. 195 , 174 A. 285 ; Rissman v. Krenn & Dato Const. Co., 22 Del.Ch. 309 , 2 A.2d 128 .

21938–1969
Old Time Petroleum Co. v. Turcol green
delch · 1931
1 sentence

2024Mem. 10 (citing Old Time Petroleum Co. v. Turcol, 156 A. 501 (Del.

12024–2024
Nakahara v. NS 1991 American Trust green
delch · 1998
2 sentences

2022As an initial matter, the doctrine of unclean hands does not apply to the plaintiffs’ legal claims seeking declaratory judgments. “[A] party may not assert an equitable defense against a purely legal claim, even when the legal claim is pending in a court of equity.”213 The doctrine could apply only to the plaintiffs’ request for equitable remedies.214 210 Nakahara, 718 A.2d at 523 . 211 Id. at 522 ; see Keystone Driller Co. v. Gen.

2022As an initial matter, the doctrine of unclean hands does not apply to the plaintiffs’ legal claims seeking declaratory judgments. “[A] party may not assert an equitable defense against a purely legal claim, even when the legal claim is pending in a court of equity.”213 The doctrine could apply only to the plaintiffs’ request for equitable remedies.214 210 Nakahara, 718 A.2d at 523 . 211 Id. at 522 ; see Keystone Driller Co. v. Gen.

12022–2022
Getty Refining & Marketing Co. v. Park Oil, Inc. green
delch · 1978
1 sentence

1992Getty Ref. & Marketing Co. v. Park Oil, Inc., Del.Ch., 385 A.2d 147 (1978), aff'd, Del.Supr., 407 A.2d 533 (1979).

11992–1992
Park Oil, Inc. v. Getty Refining & Marketing Co. green
del · 1979
1 sentence

1992Getty Ref. & Marketing Co. v. Park Oil, Inc., Del.Ch., 385 A.2d 147 (1978), aff'd, Del.Supr., 407 A.2d 533 (1979).

11992–1992
Rissman v. Krenn & Dato Construction Co. neutral
delch · 1938
2 sentences

1969Security Trust Co. v. Spruance, 20 Del.Ch. 195 , 174 A. 285 ; Rissman v. Krenn & Dato Const. Co., 22 Del.Ch. 309 , 2 A.2d 128 .

1969Security Trust Co. v. Spruance, 20 Del.Ch. 195 , 174 A. 285 ; Rissman v. Krenn & Dato Const. Co., 22 Del.Ch. 309 , 2 A.2d 128 .

11969–1969

Where else courts name it

IL 59 (1917–2026) OH 14 (1993–2025) CA 14 (2008–2026) TX 10 (1991–2016) WA 10 (2005–2024) MD 10 (1989–2015) DE 6 (1938–2025) PA 6 (2002–2023) AL 5 (1912–1998) WI 5 (1987–2001) IA 5 (2022–2024) VA 4 (1852–2019) FL 4 (1937–2019) OR 3 (1922–1985) KS 3 (2020–2020) TN 2 (1975–1990) MS 2 (1999–2002) MI 2 (1920–2006) DC 2 (1995–2023) NY 2 (2015–2015) GA 2 (1928–1959) NM 2 (2009–2010) NJ 2 (2001–2005) NV 2 (2016–2016)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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