Patricia W. Griffin
How Judge Griffin rules, drawn from 20 signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
About Judge Griffin
Patricia W. Griffin served as a Magistrate in Chancery on the Delaware Court of Chancery from 2017 to 2022 and continues to serve in a retired capacity. She previously was Delaware's State Court Administrator and Chief Magistrate of the Justice of the Peace Court. She earned her undergraduate degree at Duke University and her law degree at Washington and Lee University.
Judge Griffin's practices and standing orders
The court's website lists no individual practices or standing orders of Judge Griffin's own (checked October 11, 2026), so the court's local rules and general orders are the place to look (court page ↗).
Standing orders for every case in this court
Orders the court applies to all of its cases, whichever judge has them, as published on the court's website (checked October 11, 2026).
How Judge Griffin decides
Patterns drawn from this judge's own signed orders. Every observation links to the order it came from.
What persuades
In Senetas’s Section 220 inspection suit, Griffin found a credible basis to infer possible mismanagement and rejected the company’s claim that an ulterior motive defeated the stockholder’s purpose.
“I conclude the plaintiff has established a credible basis from which a court can infer that mismanagement or wrongdoing may have occurred, and the defendant has not shown that the plaintiff has an ulterior motive negating its proper purpose.”
In Smernoff v. King's Grant Condominium Association, she declined to accept the parties' apparent stipulation that windows were common elements because that characterization was a legal question under the governing documents; she recommended denial of both summary-judgment motions.
“[T]he issue of whether the Window is a common element under the Governing Documents is a matter of contract interpretation and a question of law ... the Court may reject the parties' apparent stipulation that the Window is a common element and conduct a contract interpretation analysis.”
In Keen-Wik Association v. Campisi, she recommended denying a motion to vacate default judgment because the photographs Campisi offered were already in his possession and were not newly discovered evidence.
“The photographs, and Campisi's knowledge about the deck extension's footprint, were in existence at the time of judgment but there is no evidence that they were hidden (from Campisi) at that time.”
Procedural preferences
In Twin Willows v. Pritzkur, she raised equitable subject-matter jurisdiction on her own initiative in a land-sale specific-performance case, then allowed it to proceed because the prevention-doctrine allegations plausibly supported that remedy.
“The Court has a duty to determine whether it has subject matter jurisdiction over a plaintiff's claims and can raise the issue sua sponte.”
In Keen-Wik, Griffin found Campisi in contempt but extended his deadline to remove a deck intrusion, tailoring the compliance period to the circumstances she found.
“Therefore, I amend the Order to extend the deadline to allow Campisi 45 days from the date this report becomes final to remove the portion of the deck that extends into the 20-foot setback.”
In Green, Griffin allocated partition sale proceeds after accounting for the co-owners’ contributions and rental income, recommending specific distributions to each party and the court registry.
“I recommend that the Court direct that the remaining sale proceeds in the amount of $121,781.58 be distributed by the Trustee as follows:”
In the Talleys’ property case, she allowed the self-represented plaintiffs to present exhibits and witnesses omitted from pretrial discovery, while applying the same substantive burden of proof.
“I exercised great leniency in these proceedings in light of the Talleys’ decision”
Cautions
In Lenoir v. Heinig, she recommended dismissal on laches grounds because the complaint showed the analogous limitations period had run and the plaintiff had inquiry notice years before filing.
“If a prima facie basis for laches exists from the face of the complaint, the petitioner bears the burden to plead specific facts to demonstrate that the analogous statute of limitations was tolled.”
In the Talleys’ equitable-life-estate suit, she found no clear and convincing evidence that the owners had promised the plaintiffs a life estate or lifetime occupancy.
“The Talleys have not proven, by clear and convincing evidence, that the Horns promised them a life estate or to live on the Property for as long as they wished.”
In Twin Willows, she denied specific performance because the buyer defaulted under the contract’s time-is-of-the-essence clause and did not show obligations that could still be enforced.
“Twin Willows is not entitled to specific performance.”
Signed rulings
A grounded sample of orders signed by this judge, with the verbatim dispositive language.
“Accordingly, I recommend that the Court grant both the motion for summary judgment and the cross-motion in part and deny them in part.”
“I recommend the Court grant the motion for summary judgment in part, and deny it in part. This is a final report.”
“I find the corporation has met its burden of showing excusable neglect, a meritorious defense and that the stockholder will not be substantially prejudiced if the judgment is vacated. I recommend that the Court grant the motion to vacate the default judgment.”
“I recommend the Court deny the motion, including dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6) and because the petition does not seek to establish a guardianship.”
“In summary, because Campisi has failed to justify relief under Rule 60(b)(2), (3) or (6), I recommend that the Court deny the Motion to Vacate.”
“I find Campisi in contempt of the Order ... I amend the Order to extend the deadline to allow Campisi 45 days from the date this report becomes final to remove the portion of the deck that extends into the 20-foot setback.”
“I also recommend that the Court deny the Association's motion for the award of attorneys' fees, but grant the Association's costs in an amount to be determined.”
“For the reasons set forth above, I recommend the Court find that John is entitled to receive $35,172.75, and David is entitled to receive $32,519.93 of the $67,692.68 remaining in the sale proceeds, after costs of the partition sale were paid.”
“I find that the son's claims are untimely and barred by laches, and recommend that the Court grant the daughter's motion to dismiss.”
In a land-sale dispute where a partition-trustee seller resisted a buyer's request to extend a lapsed 'time is of the essence' land contract, Griffin raised sua sponte whether the Court of Chancery had subject-matter jurisdiction to grant specific performance once the contract's deadlines had already expired. She held the buyer's allegation that the seller's misconduct prevented timely performance was enough to plausibly invoke the 'prevention doctrine' and keep specific performance, and thus equitable jurisdiction, alive for further proceedings, without yet deciding whether specific performance would ultimately be warranted.
“I conclude the plaintiff has established a credible basis from which a court can infer that mismanagement or wrongdoing may have occurred, and the defendant has not shown that the plaintiff has an ulterior motive negating its proper purpose. I condition inspection on the parties entering into a confidentiality agreement.”
“I recommend that the Court direct that the remaining sale proceeds in the amount of $121,781.58 be distributed by the Trustee as follows:”
“I conclude that, under Tiger, the company has shown a need for confidentiality, and recommend that the Court order that the requested information be produced subject to a two-year confidentiality restriction.”
“I recommend that the Court DENY the Motion and Cross-Motion and that this matter proceed to trial.”
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