Eleven new cases were designated to the Business Court in September 2009, including a class action against the North Carolina Department of Revenue claiming that the taxation of retirement benefits paid to certain state employees is unconstitutional (Pendergraph).

Bankers Life and Casualty Co. v. Barnes (Mecklenburg)(Diaz): claims for misappropriation of confidential information and trade secrets and violation of covenants not to compete.

Comor Corp. v. Comor Communications, LLC (Guilford)(Tennille): derivative action.

Global Promotions Group, Inc. v. Danas, Inc. (Wake)(Jolly): designated based on allegations that BB&T and its employee improperly allowed unauthorized electronic transfers of funds from Plaintiffs’ accounts.

Holden v. Morlando (Guilford)(Tennille): derivative claims for diversion of corporate funds and claim for dissolution.

Howard v. Dunaways, (Mecklenburg)(Diaz): claim for payment of shareholder dividend allegedly wrongfully withheld.

Laney v. Corn (Gaston)(Diaz): claims for breach of franchise agreements and breach of fiduciary duty of franchisor, issues regarding liability of successor to franchisor.

Mason v. Raich (Guilford)(Tennille): complaint seeking confirmation of an arbitration award.

McDermott v. Bankers Life and Casualty Co. (Guilford)(Tennille): claims for fraud and unfair and deceptive practices involving sale by  defendants of annuity policies.

Pendergraph v. North Carolina Department of Revenue (Wake)(Jolly): lawsuit by taxpayers to have declared unconstitutional North Carolina’s taxation of retirement benefits paid by the Local Governnmental Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System for persons who began participating in those plans before statutory amendments in 1989, and seeking class certification.

Presidium Retirement Advisors, Inc. v. Alliance Benefit Group Carolinas, LLC (Chatham)(Jolly): corporate governance claims, including breach of duty of directors, the election and removal of directors, and dissolution.

Sea Ranch II, Inc. v. Gusler (Dare)(Tennille): class action, filed pursuant to a settlement agreement of a case that originated in the Business Court, seeking appointment of receiver to sell a timeshare condominium.