A Delaware Court of Chancery judge on Monday refused Energy Transfer Equity’s bid for a second chance at claiming a nearly $1.5 billion break-up fee stemming from the pipeline company’s failed merger with The Williams Cos. Inc.

In December, Vice Chancellor Sam Glasscock III rejected ETE’s ”unlikely position” that it was entitled to liquidated damages after successfully petitioning the court in 2016 to walk away from the deal, once valued at $33 million, over a tax issue. Dallas-based ETE later moved for reargument, saying the Williams board had quietly tried to sabotage the deal and then worked to make sure that it was never consummated.