Project44 and MyCarrier Dispute Heads to Court

Wilmington, Del. - A legal battle between MyCarrier and project44 (p44) unfolded in Delaware Chancery Court last week. Attorneys presented two primary claims:

* MyCarrier's development of its own electronic bill of lading (eBOL) breached a contract between the companies.
* Product issues with p44's eBOL necessitated MyCarrier's development of an alternative.

During the three-hour hearing, both companies sought temporary injunctions. Project44, a provider of transportation APIs, requested that MyCarrier halt development of its eBOL, which it claims would compete with p44's services. MyCarrier, in turn, sought an injunction to prevent p44 from suspending access to certain services under their five-year contract.

Allegations of Contract Violation

Project44's allegations center on MyCarrier's purported breach of contract by developing a standalone eBOL system. The injunction request alleges that MyCarrier made "false promises not to compete" while negotiating the contract.

MyCarrier's Defense

MyCarrier does not deny the development of its eBOL project but argues that it was necessary due to significant issues with p44's eBOL. Attorney Jeffrey Simes highlighted problems specific to LTL carriers, claiming that p44 was "unwilling to...solve those problems."

Court Testimony

Testimony from company attorneys included Lazar Rynal (King & Spalding) for p44 and Jeffrey Simes (Goodwin Procter) for MyCarrier. Rynal presented emails and video depositions supporting p44's claims of contract violation. Simes focused on technical deficiencies in p44's eBOL and the need for MyCarrier to address LTL carrier needs.

Legal Context

Delaware Chancery Court is a prominent venue for corporate legal battles due to favorable laws and tax policies. The dispute between MyCarrier and p44 adds to the court's ongoing docket of high-profile cases.

Ongoing Arbitration

Despite the courtroom proceedings, the wider dispute between the companies continues through ongoing arbitration. A status conference is scheduled for this week.