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Shareholders Shareholder Litigation California

Allen Matkins

So You Want To Sue "The Board", Is That Even Possible?

Allen Matkins on

A little more than eight years ago, I wrote about U.S. District Court Judge Ronald M. Whyte's ruling that a corporate board of directors lacks the capacity of being sued.  Theta Chi Fraternity, Inc. v. Leland Stanford Junior...more

Allen Matkins

Just What Are The Duties Of A Controlling Shareholder And How Should Claims Of Breach Be Brought?

Allen Matkins on

In a recent post, Professor Stephen Bainbridge discusses the question of when a controlling shareholder owes fiduciary duties to minority shareholders.  Knowing when controlling shareholder owes fiduciary duties is one thing,...more

Allen Matkins

Can "New Wave" Stockholder Agreements Catch A Wave In California?

Allen Matkins on

Professor Stephen Bainbridge recently commented on a decision by Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster finding that Section 141(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law trumps most of the provisions of a so-called "new wave"...more

Allen Matkins

Form Unknown? There's A Statute For That

Allen Matkins on

The California Code of Civil Procedure sets forth the general rules governing the service of summons.  Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 415.10 - 415.95.  Chapter 17 of the General Corporation Law adds to these provisions.  In some...more

Allen Matkins

Is The Right To Sue Officers A Power, Preference Or Special Right?

Allen Matkins on

Earlier this month the Electrical Workers Pension Fund, Local 103, I.B.E.W. filed a verified class action complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery against Fox Corporation.  (Case No. 2022-1007-MTZ (filed Nov. 4, 2022)). ...more

Allen Matkins

The General Corporation Law's Filioque

Allen Matkins on

The Nicene Creed as approved by the Council of Constantinople in 381 A.D. included the following: "τὸ ἐκ τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκπορευόμενον (who proceeds from the father).  About 200 years later at the Third Council of Toledo, the...more

Allen Matkins

Alleged Corporate Murder Merits A Jury Trial

Allen Matkins on

The California Constitution declares that trial by jury is an "inviolate right" that "shall be secured to all".  Cal. Const. Art. I, §16.  Despite this expansive language, this right in the civil context is generally limited...more

Allen Matkins

Supreme Court's Decision In Famous Hale & Norcross Mining Case

Allen Matkins on

Having read Professor Stephen Bainbridge's post about the origins of the judicial doctrine that directors must act on an informed basis, I passed along a reference to the California Supreme Court's in Fox v. Hale & Norcross...more

Allen Matkins

A Preference For Minority Rule?

Allen Matkins on

Section 204(a)(9) of the California Corporations Code allows the articles of incorporation to include a provision requiring the approval of the shareholders (Section 153) or the approval of the outstanding shares (Section...more

Allen Matkins

A First Sighting Of Zuckerberg Decision In California

Allen Matkins on

Last year, the Delaware Supreme Court adopted a tripartite test for assessing demand futility allegations in derivative actions. United Food & Commercial Workers Union v. Zuckerberg 262 A.3d 1034 (Del. 2021). Under this...more

A&O Shearman

California Appellate Court Affirms Decision To Dismiss Putative Securities Class Action Against Hair Implantation Company Because...

A&O Shearman on

On April 28, 2022, the First Appellate District Court of Appeals for the State of California affirmed the dismissal of putative securities class action against a hair transplant technology company (the “Company”) alleging...more

Allen Matkins

Bill Would Urgently Remove Limitation On Virtual Shareholder Meetings And Allow Utopian Meetings

Allen Matkins on

The last sentence of California Corporations Code Section 600(e) imposes a significant limitation on the ability of California corporations to hold virtual-only meetings...more

Allen Matkins

Some Information That You Won't Find On The Secretary Of State's Website

Allen Matkins on

The California Secretary of State's website provides certain information with respect to a wide range of domestic and foreign entities registered to transact intrastate business, including corporations, limited liability...more

Allen Matkins

Can A Corporation Change Its Board Size In Proprio Motu?

Allen Matkins on

As noted in yesterday's post, Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber is asking U.S. District Court Judge R. Gary Klausner to dismiss a challenge to California's board quota statutes.   In her motion to dismiss, the Secretary of...more

Allen Matkins

Actions Against Shareholders Of Dissolved Corporations (Part III)

Allen Matkins on

Today's post follows up on two prior posts addressing actions by creditors of dissolved corporations.  This post discusses the non-applicability of Chapter 5 of the California General Corporation Law to proceedings for...more

Allen Matkins

Why California Requires Notice Of Rights That Shareholders May Not Have

Allen Matkins on

Dissenters' rights under California's General Corporation Law do not exist unless there are "dissenting shares", a term defined in Section 1300(b) of the California Corporations Code.  In order to qualify as "dissenting...more

Allen Matkins

Why California Law Applies To Dividends Made By A Delaware Corporation (And Not To Some California Corporations)

Allen Matkins on

Corporations incorporated under California's General Corporation Law are subject to the limitations on distributions set forth in Chapter 5 of that law.   A foreign corporation may also be subject to Chapter 5 by virtue of...more

Allen Matkins

Court Finds No Cause Of Action Against Officer For Interfering With Shareholder Inspection

Allen Matkins on

William Romanowski is a former NFL linebacker who later became the majority shareholder, director, and "public face" of Nutrition 53, Inc.  When the company's second largest shareholder was allegedly denied inspection of the...more

Allen Matkins

Nevada Supreme Court Finds California Precedent "Persuasive" In Appeal Of Derivative Action

Allen Matkins on

What, if any, is the standing of a corporation in a derivative action?  Until this month, that question was yet to be addressed by the Nevada Supreme Court.  We now have an answer....more

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