Ryan v. Ocean Twelve, Inc.
Delaware Chancery Court, Sussex County
316 A.2d 573 (1973)
John Ryan, the owner of an eight-unit condominium building, and several residents (plaintiffs) sued the building's developer, Ocean Twelve, Inc. (defendant), in Chancery Court, alleging breach of warranty and seeking specific performance after Ocean Twelve failed to complete construction repairs it had agreed to finish before transferring title to the units. The plaintiffs claimed they had relied on Ocean Twelve's express representation that a list of deficiencies would be timely completed, and each had received an Agreement of Warranty guaranteeing against defective material and workmanship. Ocean Twelve moved to dismiss the complaint for lack of jurisdiction.
Whether, in Delaware, a court of equity will assume jurisdiction over a matter where compensatory damages to cover the costs of correcting the wrongs can bring about the same relief and where there are no special circumstances that would render money damages inadequate.