A Rival to Delaware Courts?

Looking for ways to entice businesses to West Virginia, a state representative is encouraging lawmakers to study establishing a business court, modeled in part on the centuries-old chancery court system that deals only with business issues, according to The Charleston Daily Mail.

West Virginia House Speaker Rick Thompson (D-Wayne) is urging lawmakers during interim sessions to study the viability of implementing a chancery court system first developed in England in the 15^th century.

At least four states have chancery court systems in place: Delaware, Mississippi, Tennessee and New Jersey. Three of those states were ranked among the top 20 states in which to do business by Forbes magazine last year. West Virginia ranked last.

"The Delaware courts, I know, use a court of chancery," Thompson told the newspaper. "A lot of businesses choose to incorporate in Delaware. My understanding is that's one of the main reasons that businesses like to incorporate in Delaware."