Unico Commodities, LLC v. Lofty Links, LLC

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

UNICO COMMODITIES, LLC, )
)
Plaintiff, )
)
v. ) C.A. No.: N22C-08-436 SPL
)
LOFTY LINKS, LLC, )
)
Defendant. )

Submitted: December 6, 2024
Decided: February 25, 2025

DECISION AND ORDER
AFTER TRIAL

R. Karl Hill, Esq., SEITZ, VAN OGTROP & GREEN, P.A., Kevin J. Lennon, Esq.,
LENNON, MURPHY & PHILLIPS, LLC, Attorneys for Plaintiff Unico Commodities,
LLC.

Neil R. Lapinski, Esq., and Madeline R. Silverman, Esq., GORDON, FOURNARIS &
MAMMARELLA, P.A., Attorneys for Defendant Lofty Links, LLC.

LUGG, J.
INTRODUCTION

In the fall of 2021, Lofty Links, LLC (“Lofty”) contracted to purchase

commodities from Refineria di Korsou (“RDK”). Alone, Lofty lacked the resources

and funding to fulfill its obligations under the contract, so it obtained a partner to do

what Lofty could not. That partner disappeared, and Lofty maneuvered to fill the

void. Lofty connected with Unico Commodities, LLC (“Unico”) and recast its

contractual dilemma as a partnership opportunity. Lofty sought to have Unico

finance and transport the commodities it – Lofty – contractually agreed to purchase

from RDK. Lofty also sought to reap a return from this transaction and to forge a

more lucrative partnership going forward. Alas, that did not occur.

Moving commodities – here, over 100,000 barrels of fuel – is not an easy task.

Among the sundry responsibilities, ships must be chartered, insurance arranged, and

approvals obtained. Compounding the complexity, the barrels subject to sale were

sanctioned; the seller, RDK, acquired the fuel commodities following legal

proceedings against Venezuelan entities who defaulted on obligations and simply

left them behind. United States companies, of course, are keenly focused on

complying with any such restrictions.

Against this backdrop, Lofty needed a partner to pay for and transport the

barrels it agreed to purchase from RDK. And they needed to find a partner quickly.

The initial window afforded Lofty less than a month – from November 2, 2021, to

1
November 20, 2021 – to meet the terms of the contract. Lofty convinced Unico to

assist in resolving Lofty’s immediate dilemma and then partnered with Unico on two

subsequent commodities contracts with RDK. To extend the soon-closing window

on the Lofty-RDK contract, Unico provided Lofty funds to be paid to RDK as a sign

of good faith dealing. In the end, no product was lifted by Lofty or Unico from RDK

under any of the contracts. Unico demanded the return of its money from Lofty, and

Lofty refused. This litigation commenced.

Unico filed suit for the return of the $380,000.00 it directed to Lofty. Lofty

counterclaimed seeking recovery of sums it contends it earned or which Unico, due

to its failure to lift the product, prevented it from earning. Following a two-day

bench trial and post-trial briefing, the Court finds the evidence supports Unico’s

claim for the return of its funding. The evidence does not support all but the last of

Lofty’s counterclaims; to the extent the evidence establishes expenditures for testing

related to the Unico-Lofty venture, those expenditures are addressed in Lofty’s

quantum meruit claim. In the end, the Court directs the entry of a judgment in

Unico’s favor in the amount of $338,397.10 plus prejudgment interest. The Court

rejects the parties’ claims for attorneys’ fees.

2
BACKGROUND

A. The Parties

Unico is a limited liability company organized under Texas law.1 Since 2019,

Unico has operated as a trading company, dealing in commodities including

gasoline, diesel, crude, and asphalt.2 Riccardo Valentini (“Valentini”) serves as the

owner and managing member of Unico and was the sole Unico witness offered at

trial.3

Lofty is a limited liability company organized under Delaware law.4

Established in 2018, Lofty operates as a consultant and project manager in the

petroleum industry.5 Lofty does not trade or transport petroleum products itself;

rather, it serves as an intermediary between brokers in the market. 6 Murali Iyengar

(“Iyengar”), the owner and only employee of Lofty, was the sole Lofty witness

presented at trial.7

1
D.I. 28 (“Trial Tr. Day 1”) at 21. This decision cites to trial exhibits (“JX #”), the
trial transcript (“Trial Tr. Day __ at __”), and the Pretrial Stipulation and Order
(“PTO”).
2
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 21.
3
Id. at 20.
4
Id. at 185.
5
Id. at 258.
6
Id. at 258-59.
7
Id. at 185-86.

3
B. Facts

1. Lofty Links’ Contract with RDK

On October 22, 2021, Lofty entered into a contract with RDK, a government-

owned refinery located in Willemstad, Curaçao, for the purchase of 50,000 barrels

of Jet Fuel and 50,000 barrels of MOGAS 95.8 As the buyer, Lofty agreed to pay

for and transport the products from Emmastad, Curaçao to a port of its choosing

between October 25, 2021, and November 20, 2021;9 but Lofty lacked the funds and

resources to fulfill its responsibilities under the contract.10 Instead, Lofty sought to

position itself as a liaison to secure a buyer to take delivery of the product from

RDK.11 From the contract’s inception, Lofty had neither the intention nor the

capacity to nominate or charter a vessel to lift the cargo.12

In early November 2021, Lofty’s scheduled buyers “were not able to collect

or bring up the finances to take the products,” leaving Lofty to find a replacement

buyer to preserve its contract with RDK.13 Lofty urgently needed to find a

8
Id. at 32, 201, 259, 261-62; JX 23.
9
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 259-61; JX 23 ¶¶ 5, 13, 14.
10
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 194.
11
Id. at 258-65.
12
Id. at 198, 201.
13
Id. at 194.

4
replacement company to pay for and take delivery of RDK’s products:14 Lofty could

not fulfill the contract on its own,15 the delivery period was rapidly approaching,16

and RDK’s U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) license – permitting

the import of RDK’s Venezuelan product into the United States – was set to expire

on December 31, 2021.17

2. Lofty Links Connects with Unico

On November 3, 2021, Iyengar approached Unico “to see if they would be

interested in picking up these products under the contract that [Lofty] had signed

with RDK.”18 Iyengar telephoned and emailed Alvin Koolman, an employee of

Unico,19 to gauge Unico’s interest in Lofty’s contract with RDK.20 Koolman

followed that call with an email to Iyengar on November 11, 2021, summarizing the

key points of the discussion.21 Iyengar understood that, under the terms set forth in

the email, Unico, due to their access to ships and funding, would assume Lofty’s

responsibility as the buyer under their contract with RDK. Iyengar explained, “[w]e

14
Id. at 193-94.
15
Id. at 198, 201, 211.
16
Id. at 259-60.
17
Id. at 37-38, 89-90, 93-94, 265-66.
18
Id. at 195.
19
Id.
20
Id. at 266-67; JX 15.
21
JX 13 at 3-4.

5
agreed that Unico will essentially step – I would like to say ‘in the shoes’ of Lofty

to take the responsibility of the buyer under the first contract, as Unico had ships and

Unico had funding available.”22 Iyengar responded to Koolman’s email on

November 14, noting areas of agreement and clarifying other areas.23 Unico and

Lofty did not reduce the terms of this email exchange to a contract, and Iyengar

acknowledged, “Unico never signed any contract or written agreement for the

purchase to these products that Lofty was obligated to buy from RDK.”24

As the delivery deadline for the Lofty-RDK contract approached, Unico

worked to lift the products. On November 12, 2021, Unico submitted a required Q-

88 form to the refinery, providing detailed information about the vessel scheduled

to transport the products.25 The refinery rejected this submission.26 Lofty “needed

a new Q-88 urgently because [they] were already on the 14th of November” and the

delivery period was set to close on November 20, 2021.27

22
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 268-69.
23
JX 13 at 1-2.
24
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 207. Iyengar further explained that there was “[n]o formal
written agency agreement, but the email, JX-13, was the basis in which everything
was discussed and agreed.” Trial Tr. Day 1 at 226.
25
Id. at 271.
26
Id. at 274.
27
Id. at 273.

6
To provide some time to effectuate this transaction, the parties agreed that

Unico would make a “goodwill” payment to RDK to extend the delivery window

and to preserve the contract between Lofty and RDK.28 Because there was no direct

relationship between Unico and RDK, RDK would not accept payment directly from

Unico. For this reason, Unico transferred $380,000 to Lofty for distribution.29 Of

this amount, $250,000 was to be delivered by Lofty to RDK as a deposit for the

purchase of the product, and $130,000 was allocated to Lofty as an advance of its

anticipated fee.30 RDK extended Lofty’s delivery deadline.31

To comply with the United States’ OFAC requirements and avoid risking

sanctions, the RDK product needed to be lifted before the end of 2021. 32 On

December 31, 2021, RDK informed Unico and Lofty that its OFAC license was

officially extended through December 31, 2022.33 This afforded the parties

additional time to formulate and execute the various transactions.

28
Id. at 55-56, 221, 293, 300; D.I. 36 (“Trial Tr. Day 2”) at 115.
29
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 228.
30
Id. at 61, 302.
31
Id. at 299.
32
Id. at 37-38, 90.
33
Id. at 95; JX 12.

7
3. The Second Contract, the Third Contract, and the Agency
Negotiations

After the goodwill payment to RDK, Lofty, Unico, and RDK continued to

develop their business relationship.34 For any other products available for purchase,

Unico agreed to contract with RDK “either directly or together jointly with Lofty.”35

In December 2021, Lofty and Unico, together jointly, entered into two additional

contracts with RDK.36 Under the second contract, Unico and Lofty agreed to

purchase 200,000 barrels of High Sulphur Fuel Oils (“HSFO”) and “slops” from

RDK.37 Under the third contract, Unico and Lofty agreed to purchase 420,000

barrels of crude vacuum gas oil and heavy naphtha from RDK.38

Unico and Lofty stood in equal footing relative to RDK in the second and third

contracts, and these agreements did not account for any compensation Lofty might

receive from Unico. Thus, Unico and Lofty worked to define the contours of their

business relationship.39 On January 11, 2022, Iyengar signed and sent an agency

agreement to Valentini, outlining how he expected Lofty would be compensated for

34
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 72-73.
35
Id. at 73.
36
Id. at 73-75, 77. Throughout trial, the parties referred to these as the “second” and
“third” contracts and referred to the October Lofty-RDK only contract as the “first”
contract.
37
Id. at 73; JX 24.
38
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 75; JX 25.
39
JX 9-11.

8
securing the second and third contracts.40 Valentini declined to countersign the

agreement because “there were things that won’t work for [Unico],” including the

jurisdiction clause and the responsibility for bearing fees.41

4. Lofty Unilaterally Terminated the Second and Third Contracts

With the OFAC license extended for a year, and with Unico and Lofty

working to fulfill their obligations, RDK extended the lifting period of all contracted

products.42 Unico continued to struggle to locate and nominate a suitable vessel to

lift the products, and Lofty, as buyer on all three contracts, did not independently

attempt to lift any products.43 Ultimately, none of the products were lifted.

On January 30, 2022, Lofty, in a letter to Valentini and Koolman, “notif[ied]

Unico that [Lofty is] withdrawing from the agreements, as Unico and Lofty Links

have not been able to reach any agreement between each other as to the terms of the

responsibilities and payment of financial fees as AGENT towards LOFTY, related

to these contracts.”44 Lofty concluded by “terminating this contract.”45 Lofty

40
Trial Tr. Day 2 at 28; JX 9, 10.
41
Trial Tr. Day 2 at 22, 24; JX 54.
42
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 299.
43
Id. at 98.
44
JX 20.
45
Id.

9
provided a copy of its purported termination to RDK by email.46 Lofty withdrew

from the agreements because, in its view, Unico was unable to lift the products,47

Valentini did not sign Lofty’s agency agreement,48 and Unico excluded it from

communications with RDK.49 Lofty also sought to preserve its reputation and avoid

legal action from the refinery due to Unico’s failure to lift the products.50

Following Lofty’s termination letter, Unico and RDK continued to negotiate

to preserve the agreements.51 These efforts proved unsuccessful; Unico did not lift

any of the product, and RDK ultimately sold the petroleum products to a third

party.52 Unico sued RDK, and RDK counterclaimed against Unico for lost profits.53

On June 5, 2023, the Court of First Instance of Curaçao rejected both parties’

claims.54

46
JX 14.
47
Trial Tr. Day 2 at 27, 29.
48
Id. at 28.
49
Id. at 28-30.
50
Id. at 30.
51
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 103; JX 22.
52
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 107.
53
Id.
54
Id.; JX 55.

10
Unico requested Lofty return the $380,000.55 In April, 2022, Unico directed

a formal demand letter to Lofty.56 Unico sought the return of this money “because

it was a down payment to a deal that didn’t occur.”57 Unico learned that RDK had

returned $227,000.00 of the $250,000.00 to Lofty,58 and nothing in Lofty and RDK’s

contract granted Lofty the right to keep Unico’s money.59 Lofty rejected Unico’s

demand.60 Lofty stated that it had already spent the money on various business

expenses,61 and that it considered Unico’s deposit to be non-refundable “earnest

money.”62 Further, Lofty asserted that it “incurred lost profits in the amount of $1.8

million in view of Unico’s failure to perform on the oil purchase contracts.”63

55
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 110.
56
Id. at 109-10; JX 19.
57
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 112.
58
Id.
59
Trial Tr. Day 2 at 63.
60
JX 47.
61
Trial Tr. Day 2 at 107.
62
Id. at 114.
63
JX 47.

11
GENERAL LEGAL PRINCIPLES

In a civil trial, “[e]ach party bears the burden of proving its claims by a

preponderance of the evidence.”64 Proof by a preponderance of the evidence means

“proof that something is more likely than not.”65 “This means that certain evidence,

when compared to the evidence opposed to it, has the more convincing force and

makes the Court believe that something is more likely true than not.” 66 If the

evidence presented by the parties “is inconsistent, and the opposing weight of the

evidence is evenly balanced, then ‘the party seeking to present a preponderance of

the evidence has failed to meet its burden.’”67 To determine which party has met its

burden, the Court “may consider the testimony of all witnesses regardless of who

called them, and all exhibits received into evidence regardless of who produced

them.”68

64
See, e.g., Navient Sols., LLC v. BPG Office Partners XIII Iron Hill LLC, 2023 WL
3120644, at *10 (Del. Super. Apr. 27, 2023) (internal citation omitted).
65
Feenix Payment Sys., LLC v. Blum, 2024 WL 2768386, at *10 (Del. Super. Ct.
May 29, 2024).
66
Id.
67
Interim Healthcare, Inc. v. Spherion Corp., 884 A.2d 513, 545 (Del. Super. Ct.
2005) (quoting Eskridge v. Voshell, 593 A.2d 589 (TABLE), 1991 WL 78471, at *3
(Del. 1991)).
68
Feenix Payment Sys., LLC, 2024 WL 2768386, at *10.

12
In a bench trial, the Court sits as the fact finder.69 This role requires the Court

to “assess the credibility of the witnesses and then to weigh all of the evidence

presented.”70 The Court is “free to accept or reject any or all of the sworn testimony,

as long as it consider[s] all of the evidence presented,” just as a jury does.71 Where

the Court cannot reconcile conflicting evidence, it retains discretion to determine

which evidence deserves more weight.72

In reaching its verdict, the Court has examined all exhibits and considered the

testimony of all of the witnesses. The fact that some particular point or concept may

be mentioned should not be read as any indication that the Court did not consider all

evidence and legal principles applicable to this case and to the parties’ claims,

counterclaims, and defenses. It is difficult at times to completely segregate findings

of fact from conclusions of law; to the extent any one of the Court’s factual findings

might be more appropriately viewed as a conclusion of law, that finding of fact may

be considered the Court's conclusion of law on that point. The Court has considered

Delaware caselaw defining the legal precepts applicable to the claims and defenses

69
See, e.g., Torres v. Bishop, 2021 WL 6053870, at *4 (Del. Super. Ct. Dec. 21,
2021) (citing Pencander Associated, LLC v. Synergy Direct Mortg. Inc., 2010 WL
2681862, at *2 (Del. Super. Ct. June 30, 2010)).
70
Mundy v. Devon, 906 A.2d 750, 755 (Del. 2006).
71
Pardo v. State, 160 A.3d 1136, 1150 (Del. 2017).
72
Torres, 2021 WL 6053870, at *4.

13
offered by the parties. The Court applied the Delaware Rules of Evidence to the

testimony and exhibits and, in its deliberation, has relied only upon that which would

be admissible under those rules. And the Court has considered each party’s

arguments on their respective theory of the case and any weight to be assigned to

testimony or evidence.

14
ANALYSIS

Unico seeks to recover the $380,000 it paid Lofty. To do so, Unico asserts

claims of unjust enrichment, assumpsit, and declaratory judgment.73 To justify its

retention of Unico’s funding, Lofty alleges Unico committed tortious interference

with contract, fraudulent misrepresentation, breaches of contracts, breach of the

implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and seeks recovery based on

quantum meruit.74 The Court addresses each party’s claims in turn.

As an initial matter, the enforceability of the negotiated contracts must be

addressed. Lofty alone, and together with Unico, entered into three contracts with

RDK. By the terms of these agreements, any “controversy or claim relating to [the]

agreement or the breach thereof shall be settled by the courts of Curaçao” and “all

matters related to the validity, interpretation or performance of [the] contract shall

be governed by the laws of Curaçao.”75 Although these agreements provide some

context to the dispute presently before this Court, nothing in this decision should be

construed to address the validity of any terms. As for the terms’ validity, “a valid

73
D.I. 1 (“Compl.”) ¶¶ 14, 19, 26.
74
D.I. 6 (“Def. Ans.”) ¶¶ 42, 50, 53, 58, 60, 64, 66.
75
JX 23 at ¶¶ 19, 20; JX 24 at ¶¶ 19, 20; JX 25 at ¶¶ 19, 20.

15
forum selection clause must be enforced,” and, in accordance with the contracts’

forum selection clauses, this Court defers to the courts and laws of Curaçao.76

At its core, this case involves the dispute between Unico and Lofty over a

failed agency relationship. As explained below, neither the emails surrounding the

Lofty-RDK contract, nor the subsequent discussions of an agency agreement,

formed enforceable contracts between Lofty and Unico. As a result, Lofty must

return to Unico the money Unico: (1) provided to Lofty to send to RDK as a sign of

good faith; and (2) advanced Lofty on projected earnings that never came to fruition.

A. Unico’s Claims

1. Unjust enrichment

Unico contends the $380,000 sent to, and retained by, Lofty unjustly enriched

Lofty at Unico’s expense, and therefore, Unico is entitled to recover this sum.77

Unjust enrichment is “the unjust retention of a benefit to the loss of another, or the

retention of money or property of another against the fundamental principles of

justice or equity and good conscience.”78 An unjust enrichment claim may be

76
See Nat’l Indus. Grp. (Holding) v. Carlyle Inv. Mgmt. LLC., 67 A.3d 373 (Del.
2013).
77
Compl. ¶ 14.
78
Fleer Corp. v. Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., 539 A.2d 1060, 1062 (Del. 1988)
(quoting 66 Am. Jur. 2d, Restitution and Implied Contracts §3, p. 945 (1973)).

16
brought “as a standalone claim or as a remedy for other claims.”79 To sustain a claim

for unjust enrichment, the plaintiff must establish: “(1) an enrichment, (2) an

impoverishment, (3) a relation between the enrichment and the impoverishment, (4)

the absence of justification, and (5) the absence of a remedy provided by law.”80 An

unjust enrichment claim cannot be made where the parties’ relationship is

“comprehensively governed by a contract.”81 The Superior Court may award

damages for unjust enrichment “when it cannot hold the parties to a formal

agreement but determines that the aggrieved party is entitled to relief for a benefit

conferred on the other party.”82

Unico entered the Lofty-RDK dealings in the eleventh hour at Lofty’s request

and attempted to assist Lofty in fulfilling its obligations under the contract. Unico

assumed no contractual responsibility to either Lofty or RDK. And, while Unico

and Lofty engaged in negotiations aimed at formalizing their relationship, those

terms were never reduced to a mutually agreed upon contract. In the midst of

discussions between the three parties, Unico provided Lofty $380,000. Because no

79
State ex rel. Jennings v. Monsanto Co., 299 A.3d 372, 390 (Del. 2023).
80
Nemec v. Shrader, 991 A.2d 1120, 1130 (Del. 2010).
81
Chumash Capital Investments, LLC v. Grand Mesa Partners, LLC, 2024 WL
1554184, at *14 (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 10, 2024).
82
Crosse v. BCBSD, Inc., 836 A.2d 492, 497 (Del. 2003).

17
contract governed this payment, this Court may entertain Unico’s unjust enrichment

claim.83

Unico must show a “direct relationship between [Lofty’s] enrichment and

[Unico’s] impoverishment,” and that Unico’s impoverishment was for Lofty’s

benefit.84 There is no question that Unico provided Lofty $380,000.85 Valentini

testified, consistent with Lofty’s own invoice, that the purpose of the $380,000

payment was two-fold.86 First, $250,000 was to be provided to RDK as a sign of

good faith to maintain the Lofty-RDK contract past the original delivery date.87

Second, the remaining $130,000 represented an advance to Lofty for Lofty’s

anticipated fee upon the completion of the first contract.88 The Court finds that

Unico’s impoverishment, benefitted Lofty.

Lofty argues that Unico should not recover based on unjust enrichment

because Unico “received the benefit of its bargain” in the form of a deadline

83
State ex rel. Jennings, 299 A.3d at 391.
84
CoreTel Am., Inc. v. Oak Point Partners, LLC, 2022 WL 2903104, at *11 (Del.
Super. Ct. July 21, 2022) (cleaned up) (quoting Vichi v. Koninklijke Philips Elecs.
N.V., 62 A.3d 26, 59-60 (Del. Ch. 2012)).
85
D.I. 19 (“Joint Stip.”) at 3.
86
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 60-61.
87
Id.
88
Id.; JX 21.

18
extension.89 But the evidence does not support this argument. When it became clear

to RDK that the products subject to the Lofty-RDK contract would not be lifted,

RDK returned substantially all of the good faith deposit. And, of course, because

the Lofty-RDK contract was never completed, Lofty earned no fee. Unico received

no benefit of any bargain; when dealings collapsed, Lofty held Unico’s money

without justification. The evidence supports Unico’s unjust enrichment claim.

2. Assumpsit

As a fallback to secure the money it provided Lofty, Unico asserts a claim of

assumpsit.90 “[W]henever one person has in his hands money equitably belonging

to another, that other person may recover it by assumpsit for money had and

received. The remedy at law is adequate and complete.”91 Unico’s assumpsit claim

is “quite similar” to its unjust enrichment claim.92 In fact, unjust enrichment, as a

common law claim, developed from the principles underlying assumpsit.93 But,

“assumpsit cannot be maintained on a transaction from which no contract can be

89
D.I. 35 (“Def. Ans. Br.”) 3-4.
90
Compl. ¶ 22.
91
Gaines v. Miller, 111 U.S. 395, 397-98 (1884) (internal citations omitted).
92
D.I. 32 (“Pl. Op. Br.”) 19.
93
Garfield on behalf of ODP Corporation v. Allen, 277 A.3d 296, 347-48 (Del. Ct.
Ch. 2022).

19
implied.”94 Thus, if there exists no contract, express or implied, an assumpsit claim

must fail. Unico has the closely related remedy at law – unjust enrichment – that

affords it complete relief, and Unico has met its burden in proving that claim. In the

absence of a contract, the evidence does not support Unico’s assumpsit claim.

3. Declaratory Judgment.

As a final backstop, Unico seeks a declaratory judgment ordering Lofty to

return the $380,000.95 Superior Court Civil Rule 57 provides, “[t]he existence of

another adequate remedy does not preclude a judgment for declaratory relief in cases

where it is appropriate.”96 The Court possesses discretion to issue a declaratory

judgment so long as the action presents an “actual controversy.”97 For an “actual

controversy” to exist, four elements must be satisfied:

(1) It must be a controversy involving the rights or other legal relations
of the party seeking declaratory relief; (2) it must be a controversy in
which the claim of right or other legal interest is asserted against one
who has an interest in contesting the claim; (3) the controversy must be

94
Hutton v. Wetherald, 1848 WL 802, at *1 (Del. Super. Ct. Apr. 1, 1848); Knowles
v. Massey, 81 A. 470, 471 (Del. Super. Ct. 1908) (“In order to support [an] action of
assumpsit, it is incumbent on the plaintiff to show from a preponderance of the
evidence that there was a contract, express or implied in law between him and the
defendant.”).
95
Compl. ¶¶ 24-26.
96
Super. Ct. Civ. R. 57.
97
XL Specialty Ins. Co. v. WMI Liquidating Trust, 93 A.2d 1208, 1216 (Del. 2014).

20
between parties whose interests are real and adverse; and (4) the issue
involved in the controversy must be ripe for judicial determination.98

Although evidence exists to satisfy each of these four elements, “[w]here a

plaintiff seeks a declaratory judgment, it must show that, absent a favorable outcome

in the litigation, the defendant’s wrongful conduct will go unchecked.”99 An action

for declaratory judgment is precluded “where the defendant ceased engaging in the

contested conduct before the complaint was filed unless the plaintiff can prove a real

and immediate risk of future injury.”100 Unico does not meet that burden here.

Unico does not allege, nor do the facts support, the existence of a future harm.

Instead, Unico argues “it is entitled to a declaratory judgment that it is entitled to

return of all funds remitted to Lofty.”101 The Court declines to enter a declaratory

judgment on these facts.

98
In re COVID-Related Restrictions on Religious Services, 326 A.3d 626, 642-43
(Del. 2024) (quoting Rollins Int’l v. Int’l Hydronics Corp., 303 A.2d 660, 662-63
(Del. 1973)).
99
Employers Ins. Co. of Wausau v. First State Orthopaedics, P.A., 312 A.3d 597,
613 (Del. 2024).
100
Id. at 613-14.
101
Pl. Op. Br. 21.

21
B. Lofty’s Claims

1. Tortious Interference

Lofty contends Unico’s failure to take delivery of the products under the first

agreement constituted an intentional act that caused Lofty to breach its contract with

RDK.102 To prevail on a claim for tortious interference with contract under Delaware

law, the plaintiff must show, “(1) a contract, (2) about which defendant knew, and

(3) an intentional act that is a significant factor in causing the breach of such contract,

(4) without justification, (5) which causes injury.”103 When tortious interference

with contract is alleged against a corporate defendant, the plaintiff must show the

corporate defendant “was not pursuing in good faith the legitimate profit seeking

activities of [its] affiliated enterprise []” that was a party to the contract.104 Further,

there can be no tortious interference with contract unless the defendant “sought

maliciously or in bad faith to injure plaintiff.”105

The evidence does not establish that Unico acted maliciously or in bad faith

to cause a breach of Lofty’s contract with RDK. Unico was not a party to the First

102
Def. Ans. ¶¶ 42-44.
103
Bhole, Inc. v. Shore Inv., Inc., 67 A.3d 444, 453 (Del. 2013) (quoting Irwin &
Leighton, Inc. v. W.M. Anderson Co., 532 A.2d 983, 992 (Del. Ch. 1987)).
104
Id.
105
Id.

22
Contract.106 The question is not simply whether Unico’s failure to take delivery

constituted an “intentional act that [was] a significant factor in causing the

breach.”107 Instead, the Court must assess whether Unico, with malice or bad faith,

affirmatively acted to prevent Lofty from performing its obligations under the First

Contract.108 It did not.

Lofty drafted Unico to do what it, Lofty, could not – pay for and transport

commodities. Despite efforts to do so, Unico failed to charter an accepted vessel to

fulfill Lofty’s obligation to RDK.109 Unico worked to secure a ship and funded a

good faith payment to RDK to extend the window to take delivery of the product on

Lofty’s behalf. Unico’s failure to take delivery does not represent a malicious effort

to injure Lofty. Without Unico, or another capable buyer and transporter, Lofty

could not fulfill its negotiated agreement. And Lofty had no intention of paying for

or lifting the products. Unico’s failed attempt to save Lofty does not constitute

intentional interference.

106
Def. Ans. ¶ 41.
107
Def. Ans. Br. 10.
108
See Bhole, Inc., 67 A.3d at 453.
109
D.I. 34 (“Pl. Ans. Br.”) 20; D.I. 31 (“Def. Op. Br.”) 22.

23
2. Breach of Contract – First Contract

Lofty contends Unico breached a contract they formed through the parties’

email exchanges.110 To prove this claim, Lofty must establish: “(1) the existence of

a contractual obligation, (2) a breach of that obligation, and (3) damages resulting

from the breach.”111 Under Delaware law, contracts are construed objectively,

meaning how they would be understood by an “objective, reasonable third party.”112

It is axiomatic that, for there to be a breach of contract, there must first be a

valid contract. A valid and enforceable contract exists when: “(1) the parties

intended that the instrument would bind them, demonstrated at least in part by its

inclusion of all material terms; (2) those terms are sufficiently definite; and (3) the

putative agreement is supported by legal consideration.”113 The “overt manifestation

of assent – not subjective intent – controls the formation of a contract.”114 To

determine whether the parties intended to be bound, the Court considers the parties’

communications preceding the execution of a signed agreement.115 A signed writing

110
Def. Op. Br. 10-17.
111
Active Day OH, Inc. v. Wehr, 2024 WL 3201167, at *3 (Del. Super. Ct. June 27,
2024).
112
Zenith Energy Terminals Joliet Holdings LLC v. CenterPoint Props. Tr., 2023
WL 615997, at *9 (Del. Super. Ct. Jan. 23, 2023).
113
Eagle Force Holdings, LLC v. Campbell, 187 A.3d 1209, 1229 (Del. 2018).
114
Id.
115
Id.

24
“generally offers the most powerful and persuasive evidence of the parties’ intent to

be bound.”116 No such writing exists here. The Court must determine whether the

communications between Lofty and Unico objectively manifested their mutual

intent to be bound by terms proffered in the parties’ email exchanges. They do not.

The email exchange establishes that neither Unico nor Lofty intended to be

bound by the terms of those communications. Twenty-first century communication

– here, email – provides an efficient negotiating platform, but the acquired efficiency

does not dispense with the requirement that, fundamentally, a contract must be

premised upon a meeting of the minds. That did not occur. Unico emailed Lofty

with what it defined as a “synopsis” of the two parties’ phone call.117 Unico

conveyed an outline of discussions with Lofty and concluded by requesting that

Lofty “advise [Unico] if there are any other points of importance” that must be

addressed.118

Lofty’s response evidences its contemplation or negotiation of an agreement

and not its intent to be legally bound by the email exchanges. Lofty began its email

by recognizing Unico’s “interest” in a sale contract.119 The email, a marked up

116
Id.
117
JX 13.
118
Id.
119
Id.

25
version of Unico’s communication, summarized the ongoing negotiations.120 Lofty

annotated Unico’s “synopsis,” and added terms, such as a proposed pricing formula,

absent from Unico’s email.121 Lofty concluded by inquiring whether “there is any

more information that will be required,” and committed to “send the contract

soon.”122 Lofty’s writings reflect its understanding that neither party was yet bound

by the terms discussed in the email exchanges. The evidence fails to establish a

contractual relationship between Unico and Lofty. Without a contract, there can be

no breach.

3. Fraudulent Misrepresentation.

Lofty, in its fraudulent misrepresentation claim, asserts that Unico

misrepresented its ability to lift the products during the delivery period.123 This

misrepresentation, Lofty contends, resulted in Lofty’s injury.124 To support this

claim, Lofty must prove:

(1) a false representation, usually one of fact, made by the defendant;
(2) the defendant’s knowledge or belief that the representation was
false, or was made with reckless indifference to the truth; (3) an intent
to induce the plaintiff to act or refrain from acting; (4) the plaintiff’s

120
Id.
121
Id.
122
Id.
123
Def. Ans. ¶ 53.
124
Id. ¶ 54.

26
action or inaction taken in justifiable reliance upon the representation;
and (5) damages to the plaintiff as a result of such reliance.125

The evidence does not support this claim. Lofty argues “Unico knew all along

that it would not lift the product because it did not have a proper vessel.” 126 But

there is a difference between failing to fulfill a promise despite efforts to do so, and

fraudulent misrepresentation. To support a claim of fraudulent misrepresentation

Lofty must establish that Unico knew or believed its representation was false.127 No

record evidence supports the finding that Unico “knew all along” it did not have a

proper vessel.128 Rather, Unico tried and failed to save Lofty (as to the first contract)

and fulfill their joint commitment to RDK (as to the second and third contracts).

Lofty contractually bound itself to RDK under the First Contract before

bringing Unico into the transaction.129 It follows that paying for and lifting the

products were Lofty’s contractual obligations alone. Yet Lofty did nothing to

nominate a vessel to lift the products.130 Unico is not to blame for Lofty’s failure to

meet its contractual obligations, and no evidence supports this claim. Because Lofty

125
Gillespie v. Carper, 2024 WL 4709937, at *2 (Del. Super. Ct. Nov. 7, 2024)
(quoting Lord v. Souder, 748 A.2d 393, 402 (Del. 2000)).
126
Def. Ans. Br. 10.
127
Gillespie, 2024 WL 4709937, at *2 (citing Lord, 748 A.2d at 402).
128
Def. Ans. Br. 10.
129
Pl. Op. Br. 27.
130
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 98, 198.

27
fails to offer factual support that Unico knowingly made false representations,

Lofty’s claim for fraudulent misrepresentation fails.

4. Breach of Contract – Second and Third Contracts

Lofty contends “Unico’s failure to lift the products identified in the Second

Contract and Third Contract caused Lofty Links and Unico to breach those

agreements.”131 As noted above, to establish the breach of contract claim, Lofty

must prove, “(1) the existence of a contractual obligation, (2) a breach of that

obligation, and (3) damages resulting from the breach.”132 Unico and Lofty stood as

partners on the Second and Third Contracts, and thus were equally responsible for

the contractual obligations.133 Iyengar admitted that Lofty relied on Unico to charter

a vessel, but nothing in the Second or Third Contract placed this responsibility solely

on Unico.134 To be sure, Lofty made no effort to obtain a vessel on its own.135

Further, the Court finds that, though Unico and Lofty contemplated an agency

relationship, no formal relationship was formed. With no Agency Agreement, there

is no support for Lofty’s contention that Unico’s failure to secure a vessel “put Lofty

131
Def. Op. Br. 24.
132
See, e.g., Active Day OH, Inc., 2024 WL 3201167, at *3.
133
JX 24; JX 25; Pl. Op. Br. 28; Def. Op. Br. 24.
134
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 247.
135
Id. at 248.

28
Links at risk of breaching [its agreements with RDK].”136 Lofty and Unico’s

contractual responsibilities in relation to the Second and Third Contract were

concomitant and owed by both to RDK. Thus, both Lofty and Unico were at risk of

breaching the second and third contracts for their failure to lift the product. Lofty

contends it terminated the agreements with RDK “pursuant to its duty to mitigate its

damages.”137 But it was RDK – not Lofty – who stood to be injured as a result of

Unico and Lofty’s breach. Damages are assessed in contract-based claims “to place

the injured party in an action for breach of contract in the same place as he would

have been if the contract had been performed.”138 And, as noted above, this Court

is not the forum for enforcing the Second or Third Contracts. The evidence does not

establish Unico breached any express or implied obligation to Lofty.

5. Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

Lofty contends that Unico breached the implied covenant of good faith and

fair dealing because it excluded Lofty while “attempting to negotiate separate

contracts with RDK NV.”139 The implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing is

“a limited and extraordinary remedy” that only rectifies events that “could not

136
Def. Ans. Br. 12.
137
Id.
138
Paul v. Deloitte & Touche, LLP, 974 A.2d 140, 146 (Del. 2009).
139
Def. Ans. ¶ 60.

29
reasonably have been anticipated at the time the parties contracted.”140 To succeed

on its claim that Unico breached the implied covenant, Lofty “must allege a specific

obligation implied in the contract, a breach of that obligation, and resulting

damages.”141 The Court may imply contract terms only when there exist allegations

that the other party’s unreasonable or arbitrary conduct “frustrat[ed] the fruits of the

bargain that the asserting party reasonably expected.”142 In evaluating whether

conduct was unreasonable or arbitrary, the Court must consider the parties’

reasonable expectations at the time the contract was written, and avoid rewriting the

contract to appease the party who believes they got a bad deal.143

The claim fails from the start. The evidence does not support the existence of

a contract between Lofty and Unico. In the absence of a contract, no specific

unwritten term may be implied.144 Nonetheless, without any contractual basis to do

so, after Lofty withdrew from the second and third contracts, Unico assured RDK

that Lofty would receive a benefit if the products were lifted.145 There is no basis to

impose this limited and extraordinary remedy.

140
Beyond Risk Topco Holdings, L.P. v. Chandler, 2024 WL 4369239, at *19 (Del.
Super. Ct. Sept. 24, 2024) (internal citations omitted).
141
Id.
142
Nemec, 991 A.2d at 1126.
143
Nemec, 991 A.2d at 1126.
144
Murfey v. WHC Ventures, LLC, 236 A.3d 337, 357 (Del. 2020).
145
Trial Tr. Day 2 at 66; JX 22 at 5.

30
6. Breach of Contract – Agency Agreement

Lofty contends the evidence “reflects the parties’ intent to be bound” by the

negotiated terms in the Agency Agreement, and “[t]he Agency Agreement is,

therefore, a valid and enforceable contract.”146 As explained, a breach of contract

claim requires that a valid and enforceable contract exist between the parties.147

Here, Unico did not express an intent to be bound by the proposed Agency

Agreement. Valentini testified that when Lofty sent a copy with its signature on it,

content within the proposed Agency Agreement “was never even discussed.”148

From Unico’s perspective, “[Lofty] just prepared the documents, signed it, and sent

it to [Unico] without even giving [Unico] the opportunity to review [the proposed

Agency Agreement.]”149 Valentini’s testimony is supported by his response to the

proposal. When Iyengar forwarded the proposed Agency Agreement to Unico on

January 11, 2022, Unico indicated that certain provisions “won’t work for [Unico]”

and that “[Lofty] made changes [Unico] didn’t agree on,” such as law and costs.150

Iyengar testified that Lofty and Unico “never had any discussions” about the Agency

146
Def. Op. Br. 19-20.
147
See, e.g., Active Day OH, Inc., 2024 WL 3201167, at *3.
148
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 80.
149
Id.
150
Id. at 22; JX 54.

31
Agreement after this response.151 When asked if he knew that “an agency agreement

had not been finalized and signed with Unico,” Iyengar answered, “that’s correct.”152

Iyengar explained that he did not mention the Agency Agreement in Lofty’s

January 30, 2022, termination letter because “Unico never signed the agreement, any

of those agreements. Neither the purchase agreement, nor the Agency

Agreement.”153 Iyengar may have subjectively believed that the emails represented

an Agency Agreement, but an objective assessment does not reveal a legally

enforceable contract arising from the electronic communications. Again, in the

absence of an executed contract – the Agency Agreement – Lofty’s breach of

contract claim fails. And, because there was no contract, Lofty’s assumpsit claim

also fails.154

7. Quantum Meruit

Lofty contends that because the Agency Agreement “states that Unico will

compensate Lofty Links, as its agent, by paying it a commission,” Lofty is entitled

to damages in the form of quantum meruit.155 Quantum meruit is a “quasi-contract

151
Trial Tr. Day 2 at 96.
152
Id. at 93.
153
Id.
154
Hutton, 1848 WL 802, at *1 (holding that a claim for assumpsit “cannot be
maintained on a transaction from which no contract can be implied.”).
155
Def. Op. Br. 28.

32
claim that allows a party to recover the reasonable value of his or her services if: (i)

the party performed the services with the expectation that the recipient would pay

for them; and (ii) the recipient should have known that the party expected to be

paid.”156 A quasi-contract is “one where the law will infer the existence of a

contractual relationship without regard to the actual intention of the parties where

circumstances are such that justice warrants a recovery as though there had been a

promise or contract.”157

Here, the Court cannot infer the existence of a contractual relationship based

on the proposed Agency Agreement. Certainly, Lofty expected to be paid. But

recovery based on quantum meruit is a two-pronged test.158 Lofty’s expectation of

payment does not by itself warrant recovery in the form of quantum meruit; it must

be shown that Unico should have known, based on the Agency Agreement, Lofty

expected to be paid.159 The evidence does not show this.

Rather, the evidence establishes that, for the first contract, Lofty would not

reap a benefit until the product was resold for a price at, near, or above the Platts

156
Petrosky v. Peterson, 859 A.2d 77, 79 (Del. 2004).
157
LCT Capital, LLC v. NGL Energy Partners LP, 2022 WL 17851423, at *4 (Del.
Super. Ct. Dec. 22, 2022).
158
See Petrosky, 859 A.2d at 79.
159
See Petrosky, 859 A.2d at 79.

33
Quote. By assuming a position “in the shoes”160 of Lofty, Unico agreed to pay for

and lift the product Lofty contracted to buy from RDK. Curiously, Lofty attempted

to conceal its negotiated price to increase its earnings,161 but it is unclear how Lofty

expected to complete the transaction without revealing this price to Unico. Of

course, Lofty eventually revealed the full terms of its contract with RDK. 162 But,

the fact remains that a discount on a purchase does not directly translate into an

earned profit. Based upon the evidence offered at trial, to profit on the brokering of

commodities, Lofty would need to resell the product at a price greater than its

purchase price. Put simply, a discount does not equate to profit. And, as evidenced

by the difficulty in lifting these products, the Court cannot conclude that a

subsequent sale near, at, or above the Platts quote would necessarily occur. The

evidence established that this is an industry where earnings are seen in the margins.

And here, no margin was ever realized.

A different, equally straightforward, assessment guides the Court to reject

Lofty’s quantum meruit claim as to the second and third contracts. As an initial

matter, the evidence revealed Lofty did little more than introduce Unico to RDK.

And that introduction, and the revelation that RDK possessed more commodities for

160
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 268-69.
161
Id. at 63.
162
Id.

34
sale, was effectively completed when Unico agreed to attempt to save Lofty’s first

failing contract. Nonetheless, Unico committed to compensate Lofty upon the

delivery of the commodities subject to the second and third contracts. But, of course,

the products were never delivered. Absent delivery, Lofty can sustain no claim

under the theory of quantum meruit.

The evidence is insufficient to support a quantum meruit claim for work Lofty

alleges it performed to sustain the three contracts. Without further explanation,

Lofty contends it “spent Unico’s money while trying to pitch [the] products to other

third parties,” 163 inspections, consultants, travel, “and those kinds of things we had

to do.”164 Lofty offered no evidence of discrete expenditures or tasks performed in

furtherance of the First, Second, or Third contracts. Nor is there evidence that Unico

should have known that it would be responsible for any of these fees.

There is evidence of expenditures on behalf of Unico and Lofty for lab testing

of products subject to the various contracts.165 To the extent these services fall

within “inspections” or “those kinds of things [Lofty] had to do,” the Court will

consider them here as part of Lofty’s quantum meruit claim. Valentini

163
Trial Tr. Day 2 at 107-108.
164
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 302-303.
165
JX 35, 36. Unico objected to the admission of these documents at trial and the
parties agreed to address their admissibility in post-trial briefing. The Court finds
that a sufficient foundation has been offered and the exhibits are, thus, admitted.

35
acknowledged that a sum was paid for testing and expressed his understanding that

the cost of that testing accounts for the difference between the $250,000 paid to RDK

and the $227,000 RDK returned to Lofty.166 Further, Lofty asserts that it used

Unico’s funding to pay the second invoice.167 The Court finds that the evidence

supports Lofty’s payment of these invoices – $23,807.00 and $17,795.90. These

expenses have been paid from the money Unico provided Lofty; because Lofty

prevails on this claim, the result is that Lofty is not required to reimburse Unico for

$41,602.90 of the $380,000.00.

C. Attorneys Fees

Both Unico and Lofty have requested the award of attorneys fees and costs.

Delaware follows the American Rule which provides that each side pays its own

attorneys’ fees and costs.168 “Aside from express statutory authorization, Delaware

recognizes only a limited number of exceptions to the American Rule.169 The Court

does not find the evidence supports any recognized exception to the American Rule,

thus, neither party is awarded attorneys’ fees or costs.

166
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 129.
167
Trial Tr. Day 1 at 311.
168
In re Delaware Public Schools Litigation, 312 A.3d 703, 715-16 (Del. 2024).
169
Id. at 716.

36
CONCLUSION

Lofty’s ambition exceeded its capacity to perform. Unico came to Lofty’s aid

and endeavored to support Lofty through its first contract and partner with Lofty on

subsequent contracts. The business plan involved rapidly “flipping” a substantial

quantity of internationally sanctioned commodities. With the benefit of hindsight,

it may appear obvious that this arrangement was doomed to fail. But Lofty may not

retain the money put forth by Unico to, for a time, keep the venture afloat. Lofty

shall return to Unico $338,397.10 plus prejudgment interest.

IT IS SO ORDERED

Sean P. Lugg, Judge

37