This week’s New York Business Divorce highlights a recent decision by Justice Richard Platkin in a case involving a fractured family-owned business where the deaths of two shareholders before and during litigation triggered a consequential change in control.
Continue Reading Death of a Shareholder
Interim Remedies
Court Rebuffs Dissolution Withdrawal in Denying Enforcement of Non-Compete
Can majority members of an LLC withdraw a dissolution claim, over two years into the case, for the purpose of enforcing against a minority member the LLC agreement’s non-compete provision which, by its terms, lapses upon dissolution? Find out in this week’s New York Business Divorce. …
Continue Reading Court Rebuffs Dissolution Withdrawal in Denying Enforcement of Non-Compete
Court Denies Mandatory Injunctive Relief in Battle for Control of Family Business
The intensely personal dynamic of a family business divorce can lead to a multitude of applications to the court for interim relief in an effort to gain the higher ground financially and psychologically. This week’s New York Business Divorce highlights a case in which Justice Emily Pines addressed dueling motions by step-siblings for interim, mandatory injunctions in a battle for control of their late father’s auto dealerships.
Continue Reading Court Denies Mandatory Injunctive Relief in Battle for Control of Family Business
Court Holds Shareholder in Contempt for Using Company Funds to Pay Legal Fees
Controlling shareholders who oppose corporate dissolution proceedings may be tempted to use company funds to pay their legal fees. This week’s New York Business Divorce features a decision by Justice Orin Kitzes holding in contempt of court a majority shareholder who did just that, …
Continue Reading Court Holds Shareholder in Contempt for Using Company Funds to Pay Legal Fees
Post-Buyout Election Interim Remedies: Bond, Injunction, or Both?
Justice Richard Platkin’s decision last month in O’Connor v. Coccadotts, Inc., denying a dissolution petitioner’s preliminary injunction motion after the respondent elected to purchase the petitioner’s shares, focuses attention on the interim remedies available to ensure that the eventual fair-value award will be paid. Learn more in this week’s New York Business Divorce. …
Continue Reading Post-Buyout Election Interim Remedies: Bond, Injunction, or Both?
Squabbling Partners with Piecemeal Adjudications Need Not Apply
Over the last year or so Nassau County Commercial Division Justice Stephen Bucaria has issued a series of decisions in disputes among co-owners of close corporations and LLCs applying the ancient rule of partnership law prohibiting courts from adjudicating such disputes except when dissolution or a final accounting is sought. Learn more about this intriguing development in this week’s New York Business Divorce. …
Continue Reading Squabbling Partners with Piecemeal Adjudications Need Not Apply
Court Upholds Former Officer’s Right to Seek Indemnity and Advancement in Intra-Company Dispute
This week’s New York Business Divorce features an important decision last month by Justice Vito DeStefano in which he upheld a claim for advancement of legal fees incurred by a close corporation minority shareholder, director and former officer, who initiated suit against the controlling shareholder, in defending counterclaims asserted in the name and right of the company. …
Continue Reading Court Upholds Former Officer’s Right to Seek Indemnity and Advancement in Intra-Company Dispute
How Not to Create an Insurance-Funded Buy-Sell Agreement
Insurance-funded buy-sell agreements among owners of closely held companies, when done right, provide financial security for the family of a deceased owner and continuity for the surviving owners. When done wrong, well, that’s another story, as illustrated in a case recently decided by Justice Timothy Driscoll highlighted in this week’s New York Business Divorce. …
Continue Reading How Not to Create an Insurance-Funded Buy-Sell Agreement
Novel Ruling on Advancement in LLC Dissolution Case “Levels the Playing Field”
Justice Stephen Bucaria’s recent decision in PFT Technology LLC v. Wieser is one of only a handful of rulings by New York courts addressing the right to advancement of legal fees in litigation among members of a limited liability company. Learn more in this week’s New York Business Divorce. …
Continue Reading Novel Ruling on Advancement in LLC Dissolution Case “Levels the Playing Field”
Court Limits Scope of Release, Denies Advancement of Defense Costs in Sibling “Food Fight”
A noteworthy decision last week by Justice Carolyn Demarest is featured in this week’s New York Business Divorce. The case, involving a fight between sibling co-owners of a food distributor and a separate realty company, addresses important issues concerning the scope of a general release and LLC members’ right to advancement of legal defense costs. …
Continue Reading Court Limits Scope of Release, Denies Advancement of Defense Costs in Sibling “Food Fight”