Filed Date: 5/19/1983
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 7/5/2016
REQUESTED BY: Senator Peter Hoagland Nebraska State Legislature 1101 State Capitol Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
Dear Senator Hoagland:
You have submitted to us another amendment to LB 599, and have asked our opinion as to whether it cures the problems we pointed out in our Opinion No. 103, and its predecessor, Opinion No. 88. In our opinion, it does not materially change the bill, as amended, which we discussed in our Opinion No. 103.
In Opinion No. 103 we discussed an amendment which provided that any injunction issued under the act could enjoin only offers to or purchases from Nebraska residents pursuant to a takeover offer. The amendments you now submit would provide that the liabilities, penalties, and remedies provided for by §§
Sections
In our Opinion No. 103 we pointed out the possibility that LB 599, as then amended, might still be held to violate the Commerce Clause of the Federal Constitution, and we also pointed out the distinct possibility that the courts may ultimately say that Congress has completely occupied the field with respect to takeover offers, leaving no room for state regulation.
As we said in that opinion, the answer is not crystal clear, but there is a strong likelihood that this legislation will be held to be invalid, either as being in violation of the Commerce Clause, or as having been preempted by the Williams Act. The amendment you have submitted to us does nothing to change that conclusion.
Very truly yours, PAUL L. DOUGLAS Attorney General Ralph H. Gillan Assistant Attorney General