The Delaware Supreme Court affirmed a Court of Chancery judgment against NuVasive, Inc. in its dispute with individual Patrick Miles and Alphatec Holdings, Inc., according to an order issued January 16, 2026.
The high court's brief order states that after "careful consideration of the parties' briefs and the record below, and following oral argument," the justices found "it evident that the judgment of the Court of Chancery should be affirmed." Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz Jr. signed the unanimous decision alongside Justices Traynor and Griffiths.
The Supreme Court based its affirmance on two lower court opinions: an August 16, 2024 Memorandum Opinion and a January 31, 2025 Letter Opinion from the Court of Chancery. The Delaware Supreme Court did not issue a detailed written opinion explaining its reasoning, instead relying entirely on the trial court's analysis.
The case, filed as *NuVasive, Inc. v. Patrick Miles and Alphatec Holdings, Inc.*, originated in the Court of Chancery in 2017 under docket number 2017-0720. The dispute involved NuVasive, a Delaware corporation in the medical device industry, against Miles as an individual defendant and Alphatec Holdings, also a Delaware corporation.
NuVasive served as the appellant in the Supreme Court proceeding after losing in the trial court. The company challenged the Court of Chancery's rulings that favored Miles and Alphatec Holdings. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on December 3, 2025, before issuing its decision approximately six weeks later.
The Court of Chancery, Delaware's business court that handles corporate disputes, initially ruled against NuVasive in August 2024. The trial court then issued a subsequent Letter Opinion in January 2025, further clarifying or supplementing its earlier decision. Both opinions supported the defendants' position in the litigation.
Delaware corporate law gives the state's courts significant influence over business disputes nationwide, as more than half of publicly traded companies and nearly two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies incorporate in Delaware. The Delaware Supreme Court's decision represents the final resolution of this corporate dispute unless NuVasive seeks review from the U.S. Supreme Court, which would be highly unlikely for a state corporate law matter.
The case's eight-year duration from initial filing in 2017 to final resolution in 2026 reflects the complexity of the underlying dispute. Corporate litigation in Delaware's specialized courts often involves intricate business relationships, contractual obligations, and fiduciary duties that require extensive fact-finding and legal analysis.
NuVasive operates in the medical device sector, while Alphatec Holdings appears to be a competitor in the same industry based on the corporate structure and Delaware incorporation. Miles's individual involvement suggests he may have been a former employee, executive, or business partner whose actions sparked the original dispute.
The Supreme Court's decision to affirm without a detailed opinion indicates the justices found the Court of Chancery's analysis sufficiently thorough and legally sound. This approach, while less informative for legal precedent, demonstrates judicial efficiency and confidence in the trial court's handling of the matter.
Delaware's two-tier court system for business disputes allows the Court of Chancery to develop expertise in corporate law while providing appellate review through the Supreme Court. The Chancery Court's specialized judges handle complex business matters without juries, focusing on equitable remedies and corporate governance issues.
The affirmance means NuVasive must accept the adverse judgment and any remedies ordered by the Court of Chancery. Depending on the nature of the original dispute, this could involve monetary damages, injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies designed to address the defendants' claims.
For corporate litigants, the case demonstrates Delaware courts' willingness to carefully review complex business disputes while maintaining efficiency in the appellate process. The Supreme Court's reliance on the trial court's detailed analysis reflects the high quality of Delaware Chancery Court opinions and the deference afforded to specialized business courts.
The resolution of *NuVasive v. Miles* adds to Delaware's extensive body of corporate law precedent, though the lack of a detailed Supreme Court opinion limits its precedential value for future cases. The underlying Chancery Court opinions from 2024 and 2025 remain the primary source of legal analysis for this dispute.