“Greedy Professor Pincus:” Billboard Appears Around WCL Protesting Professor’s Billing Practices
Signs have been installed around the Washington College of Law campus protesting WCL Assistant Professor Robert Pincus for alleged illegal overcharging practices.
For a month, a business advocacy group had a truck with a notice board attached to it, calling it “Greedy Professor Pincus,†parked at various locations near the WCL campus.
Citizens for a pro-business Delaware, a group that advocates judicial transparency, alleges Pincus used his court-appointed power to overcharge companies that were temporarily placed under his control. Currently, two companies are involved in complaints against Pincus.
The group focused on the WCL because Pincus currently teaches at the school and plans to put up signs near George Washington University once they receive confirmation that Pincus is still actively teaching at the school. , where he works as a professional speaker. In addition to billboards and billboards, the group sends and distributes literature to their neighbors, and volunteers stop students and faculty members to explain what Pincus is accused of, according to Chris Coffey, the director of organization campaign.
“Instead of his course on ‘agreements’ at the American University Washington College of Law, Professor Pincus should teach a course on behind-the-scenes agreements that allow corporate lawyers and elite Delaware judges to s ‘enrich at the expense of hard-working employees across the state and country – he’s clearly an expert,’ Coffey said in a declaration at Business Wire.
In 2016, ongoing personal conflicts between two co-CEOs of TransPerfect, a translation services company, exploded in a fight for ownership. Lawsuits were filed and a year later the Delaware Court of Chancellery, which primarily deals with business-related lawsuits, named Arps Skadden law firm and corporate lawyer Robert Pincus to serve as custodian of TransPerfect.
According to Delaware corporations law, a custodian has authority over the assets, estate, bills, affairs and affairs of the corporation. A custodian can also collect unpaid debts, claims and property belonging to the company, as well as sue and defend on behalf of the company.
As a custodian, Pincus was ordered to oversee a sale that would keep the company intact and increase its value to the company’s shareholders.
While he was the custodian of TransPerfect, Pincus is said to have exponentially increased healthcare costs for employees, especially workers of color, while reducing worker benefits and bonuses, according to Coffey. Coffey also alleged that Pincus recruited numerous consultants from his law firm, using company money to fund his practice.
“It’s corporate money that shouldn’t be used for personal gain,†Coffey said in an interview with The Eagle.
Skadden Arps, where Pincus worked until his retirement, has previously been charged by the National Hockey League for alleged overcharging practices while working in a concussion lawsuit that was settled in 2018.
Coffey said Pincus continued to bill TransPerfect $ 3.5 million per year, but did not say whether he continued to bill them after being taken off.
“Even this year Skadden and former goalie Pincus billed $ 3.6 million, we have no idea what those bills are for,†Coffey said. “They are sealed.”
Among CMT students, responses to the allegations have been mixed.
Begüm Tiritoglu, a second year law student at CMT, was shocked by the charges against Pincus.
“I hope this doesn’t get swept under the rug,†Tiritoglu said. “I want to see forums for open discussions about this; especially if it is a teacher from my college.
Other students, like Kelly McGrath, said the information currently available is not enough to form an opinion on the matter.
“I don’t know anything about [the issue], to be honest, they’re still accusations, so I can’t really comment on what I think about it, â€McGrath said.
When contacted for comment, Pincus declined, citing that “as an organ of the Court, I have not publicly commented on any aspect of the proceedings.”
The Washington College of Law also declined to comment on Pincus and the billboards.
“We feel like he’s someone who continued to bill this company over $ 3.5 million without listening to people’s concerns,†Coffey said. “The only way for him to listen to our concerns is to bring our concerns to him, and that’s what our plan is. ”
The signs were in place for three weeks, starting October 11, and Coffey said the group was reinstating the signs near the WCL this week and the weeks after Thanksgiving.