TITLE 6

Commerce and Trade

SUBTITLE II

Other Laws Relating to Commerce and Trade

CHAPTER 17. Limited Partnerships

Subchapter X. Derivative Actions

§ 17-1001. Right to bring action.

A limited partner or an assignee of a partnership interest may bring an action in the Court of Chancery in the right of a limited partnership to recover a judgment in its favor if general partners with authority to do so have refused to bring the action or if an effort to cause those general partners to bring the action is not likely to succeed.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  1732;  59 Del. Laws, c. 105, §  163 Del. Laws, c. 420, §  165 Del. Laws, c. 188, §  171 Del. Laws, c. 340, §  17

§ 17-1002. Proper plaintiff.

In a derivative action, the plaintiff must be a partner or an assignee of a partnership interest at the time of bringing the action and:

(1) At the time of the transaction of which the plaintiff complains; or

(2) The plaintiff’s status as a partner or an assignee of a partnership interest had devolved upon the plaintiff by operation of law or pursuant to the terms of the partnership agreement from a person who was a partner or an assignee of a partnership interest at the time of the transaction.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  1732;  59 Del. Laws, c. 105, §  163 Del. Laws, c. 420, §  165 Del. Laws, c. 188, §  170 Del. Laws, c. 186, §  171 Del. Laws, c. 340, §  18

§ 17-1003. Complaint.

In a derivative action, the complaint shall set forth with particularity the effort, if any, of the plaintiff to secure initiation of the action by a general partner or the reasons for not making the effort.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  1732;  59 Del. Laws, c. 105, §  163 Del. Laws, c. 420, §  165 Del. Laws, c. 188, §  1

§ 17-1004. Expenses.

If a derivative action is successful, in whole or in part, as a result of a judgment, compromise or settlement of any such action, the court may award the plaintiff reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees, from any recovery in any such action or from a limited partnership.

6 Del. C. 1953, §  1732;  59 Del. Laws, c. 105, §  163 Del. Laws, c. 420, §  165 Del. Laws, c. 188, §  169 Del. Laws, c. 258, §  46