On Tuesday, November 18, 2014, Judge Mary Walrath of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware granted Defendant AE Liquidation’s (formerly known as Eclipse Aviation) motion for summary judgment thus dismissing Plaintiff Annette Varela’s multimillion dollar Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN) claims.

Pursuant to the WARN Act, employers with 100 or more employees must provide their employees notification of plant closings or mass layoffs 60...

On Friday, March 6, 2015, several members of Cooch and Taylor will ride at the national indoor cycling fundraiser Cycle for Survival. The team rides to raise awareness and support for research into rare cancers. One hundred percent of all funds raised through Cycle for Survival goes to research performed at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. To learn more about the Cooch and Taylor team's efforts with Cycle for Survival, please visit Cooch and Taylor Cycle For Survival. To watch a...

On June 1, 2015, the United States Supreme Court issued an opinion in Bank of America, N.A. v. Caulkett, 575 U. S. ____ (2015), holding a debtor in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding may not void a junior mortgage under 11 U.S.C. §506(d) even if the debt owed on a senior mortgage exceeds the present value of the property.

On July 27, 2015, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware issued a final decree closing the Chapter 7 case of In re: Newgen Results Corporation, for which Jeoffrey L. Burtch served as the Chapter 7 Trustee.

 Upon the filing of its Chapter 7 case, Newgen disclosed scheduled assets of only $280,000 against liabilities of $4.3 million.  During his administration of the Chapter 7 estate, Trustee Burtch negotiated settlements with the largest claimholders and...

Matthew P. D’Emilio will be a featured speaker at the upcoming 2015 Delaware Trust Conference, October 26^th & 27^th, at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, DE.  Mr. D’Emilio will appear as part of the presentation titled “Trust Portability:  Using Nonjudicial Settlement Agreements, Mergers and Decantings to Move Trusts.”  This year’s conference, the 10^th annual, will feature the theme: Vintage Wealth...

In a majority opinion, the Delaware Supreme Court recently refused to apply the doctrine of equitable subrogation in a dispute over the proceeds of a mortgage foreclosure sale between a creditor who first recorded its lien against the property and a creditor who recorded its lien as part of a later refinancing. The dissenting opinion argued that the doctrine of equitable subrogation has been and should be applied liberally and that the facts at bar warranted its application. Opinion...

The Delaware Supreme Court has accepted an interlocutory appeal of the Delaware Superior Court’s denial of Defendant Genuine Parts Company’s (“GPC”) motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction.  GPC argued that the Court lacked personal jurisdiction, under the United States Supreme Court’s recent holding in Daimler AG v. Bauman.  In denying GPC’s request for the Superior Court to certify an interlocutory appeal, the Superior Court concluded that it had merely applied well settled...

On December 4, 2015, the Delaware Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s judgment upholding the jury’s verdict in favor of Cooch and Taylor’s client, Professional Investigating and Consulting Agency (“PICA”), and against Hewlett Packard.

Cooch and Taylor’s Blake Bennett argued the appeal on December 2, 2015, and the Supreme Court issued their order within only 48 hours.  The Order upholds the jury of 12 Delawaraeans’ $6,518,000 verdict following a three week trial in October of...

Main Case: In re: CWC Liquidation Inc. (f/k/a Coldwater Creek, Inc.) et al.; Bankr. Case No. 14-10867 (BLS)

Plaintiff: Peter Kravitz, as Liquidating Trustee of the CWC Creditors’ Liquidating Trust

On March 15, 2016, Peter Kravitz, as Liquidating Trustee (“Liquidating Trustee”) of the CWC Creditors’ Liquidating Trust filed 74 actions (the “Avoidance Actions”) pursuant to Sections 544, 547, 548 and 550 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United...

Cooch and Taylor attorneys Christopher Lee and Blake Bennett obtained a $180,000 jury verdict on Thursday, October 6, 2016 after four days of trial on behalf of four homeowners who brought suit against their builder for negligent construction.

Plaintiffs Christopher Dolfi, Sarah Christensen, John and Ann Yahraes and Jack and Donnamarie Weaver all began noticing leaks in their townhomes in the Villas at West Shore community in Smyrna, Delaware between 2011 and 2013.  Cooch and Taylor...

U.S. News & World Report has recognized Cooch and Taylor as one of the 2017 “Best Law Firms” in the Delaware metropolitan area. The Firm is ranked as a Tier 1 firm in the areas of Trusts and Estates, and in Family Law.  In addition the Firm is recognized for its expertise in Commercial Litigation and in Real Estate Law.

Rankings are based on an evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and a...

Main Case: In re: Seal123, Inc (f/k/a Wet Seal); Bankr. Case No. 15-10081 (CSS)
Plaintiff: The Seal123, Inc. Liquidation Trust, By and Through Its Liquidation Trustee

On December 15 through 22, 2016, META Advisors LLC, as the Liquidation Trustee (the “Liquidation Trustee”) of the Seal123, Inc. Liquidation Trust (the “Liquidation Trust”),  filed approximately 70 actions pursuant to Section 547 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”.) The Seal123, Inc....

Main Case: In re: Quicksilver Resources, Inc.; Bankr. Case No. 15-10585 (CLSS)
Plaintiff: Eugene I. Davis, as Liquidation Trustee of the KWK Liquidation Trust

Starting March 15, 2017, Eugene I. Davis, as Liquidation Trustee (the "Trustee") of the KWK Liquidation Trust (the "Liquidation Trust") filed 98 complaints (so far) pursuant to Section 547 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”.) Quicksilver Resources, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (the "Debtors...

Chandlee Johnson Kuhn, Esquire will be leaving us April 30, 2017.  She has been appointed to the position of Director of Work-Based Learning in the Office of the President at Delaware Technical Community College.  “We will miss Chandlee here at Cooch and Taylor and wish her well in her new role.  She will be a huge asset to DelTech and the citizens of Delaware.” Scott Reese

In her new position Ms. Kuhn will create a comprehensive work-based learning program for Delaware students as...

The Firm is pleased to announce that Bruce McNew has joined its litigation department.  Mr. McNew’s practice is focused on litigation representing the rights of investors and on other complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts nationwide, including in the Delaware Court of Chancery. He regularly represents plaintiffs in class actions and derivative suits and has represented plaintiffs in other complex litigations in the areas of securities law, environmental law, insurance law,...

Matthew P. D’Emilio for his work in Trusts and Estates, Douglas M. Hershman for his work in Real Estate, Thomas Uebler for his work in Trusts and Estates Litigation, and James W. Semple for his work in Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 24^th Edition of  The Best Lawyers in America.

Main Case: In re: Samson Resources Corporation., et al.,, Bankr. Case No. 15-11934
Judge: Hon. Brendan Linehan Shannon
Plaintiff:  Peter Kravitz, as Settlement Trustee of the Samson Settlement Trust

List of Adversary Proceedings

Starting September 12, 2017 and likely continuing through September 16, 2017, Peter Kravitz, serving as the appointed Settlement Trustee (the “Trustee”) of the Samson Resources Corporation Settlement Trust (the “Settlement Trust”) in the...

Alfred (Fred) Tarrant, Jr., a member of the Firm for more than 50 years, died Sunday, December 17, 2017 at the age of 82.  He grew up in Wilmington and received his undergraduate degree at Washington & Lee University in 1957 and his master's degree in 1959 from the University of Delaware.  He continued his education in law and received his degree from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1961. The National Academy of Family Law Attorneys recognized him as a top ten family law...

On May 30, 2018, Vice Chancellor Slights approved the proposed settlement of John Solak v. Clovis Oncology Inc.  The Vice Chancellor recognized that the action filed by Cooch and Taylor had helped secure upwards of $10 million of benefits for the Clovis Oncology stockholders, noting that the "plaintiff has achieved significant benefits for Clovis and its stockholders." 

Cooch and Taylor, with its co-counsel Newman Ferrara LLP, filed the action in May 2017, alleging that the company's...

On August 22, 2018, David White, Esq. of McCarter & English issued an arbitration award and opinion in the matter of Nicole Bustamante v. Preferred Construction Inc. awarding Mrs. Bustamante the full amount of damages she was seeking as a result of Preferred Construction's negligent renovation of her historic Old New Castle row home.

In addition to the cost to make repairs to the home, which Mr. White determined was $80,841.00, Mrs. Bustamante was also awarded legal fees,...

Merit Management Group, LP v. FTI Consulting, Inc., 138 S.Ct. 883 (2018)

On February 27, 2018, Justice Sotomayer delivered the opinion for the Supreme Court in a 9-0 decision, that rejected an 11 U.S.C. § 546(e)[1] safe harbor limitation on a trustee’s Section 548 fraudulent conveyance avoidance powers. Merit Management Group, LP v. FTI Consulting, Inc., 138 S.Ct. 883 (2018). 

Chapter 5 of the Bankruptcy Code grants a trustee certain avoidance powers under Sections 544, 547,...

Robert Watkins "Bob" Crowe passed away peacefully at Kendal-Crosslands Retirement Community on Friday, March 15, 2019, at the age of 80.

Bob was born March 6, 1939, in Wilmington, DE to Walter Watkins Crowe and Pauline White Crowe. Bob attended Wilmington Friends School and earned a bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College and a law degree from Dickinson Law School. He joined Cooch & Taylor in Wilmington, DE in 1965 as the fourth lawyer in the young firm, and he enjoyed a...

Christopher Lee, Cooch and Taylor’s Managing Director, writes article on “Remedies in Non-Compete Cases” for publication in 2019 Fall Edition of USLaw Journal.

Jeffrey S. Goddess, has joined Cooch and Taylor

Jeff Goddess focuses is practice almost exclusively trial work, involving both jury and bench trials concerning contract, business and intra-entity disputes, trust disputes, as well as casualty matters and occasional related insurance coverage disputes. He also serves as local, liaison counsel in both individual and class action proceedings where his extensive trial experience may be of benefit to out-of-town lead counsel.

Become a part of one of Delaware’s best and most respected law firms.
At Cooch and Taylor, we believe in doing all that we can to help our clients located here in Delaware and across the country. Our attorneys strive to raise the legal bar of excellence, and one way we do this is by recruiting well-qualified, hard-working individuals who fit our culture and share our values to join our team of professionals. Our team of legal professionals grows as the needs of our clients grow....

At Cooch and Taylor, we believe that listening, understanding, and believing in the goals of our clients are the keys to delivering results in litigation. Our respected practice has been based on personal relationships for nearly 60 years. Whether it’s acting as Delaware counsel partnering with out of state firms or representing businesses and individuals based right here in Delaware, we understand you need representation you can trust, and you’ll find it in our rigorous...

The Brandywine Building
1000 West Street, 10th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801

Google Map Directions

Take Interstate 95 North to Wilmington Exit 7 marked "Route 52, Delaware Avenue." From the right lane, take Exit 7 onto Adams Street. At the third traffic light on Adams Street, turn right onto 11th Street (52 South, Business District). At the Delaware Avenue...

By accessing this website, you are agreeing to be bound by these website Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and agree that you are responsible for compliance with any applicable local laws. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using or accessing this site. The materials contained in this website are protected by applicable copyright and trade mark law.

Cooch and Taylor, P.A., one of Wilmington’s older and most respected law firms, was founded in 1960 by Edward W. Cooch, Jr. and Donald C. Taylor. Throughout its distinguished history, the firm has assisted a wide variety of clients in both transactional and litigation matters. Today, the firm’s primary focus is on assisting clients embroiled in complex litigation. We are proud to be the “go to” trial firm for many clients in complex or bet-the-company cases.

At Cooch and...

The firm represents businesses, government entities, and individuals in all levels of construction law disputes, including owners (public and private), homeowners, condominium associations, developers, design professionals (architects and engineers), general contractors, construction management firms, trade contractors, subcontractors, and material and equipment suppliers. 

The firm has considerable experience representing clients in...