In the aftermath of last year’s Court of Appeals decision in Tzolis v. Wolff, giving LLC members a common law right to bring derivative actions, the Appellate Division, First Department, recently faced the question: Does Tzolis mandate recognition of an LLC member’s common law right to compel an equitable accounting of the LLC’s business affairs? See how the court answered in this week’s New York Business Divorce.

Continue Reading Court Adds Accounting Remedy to LLC Members’ Arsenal

It’s a familiar story line to readers of this blog: LLC minority member sues for dissolution. Majority members adopt resolution requiring all members to contribute cash to pay legal expenses in the defense of the litigation. Plaintiff cries foul. See how it played out in a recent decision by the Appellate Division, Second Department, in this week’s New York Business Divorce.

Continue Reading LLC Dissolution Case Illustrates Peril to Minority Member of Compulsory Capital Contribution Provision in Operating Agreement

Have room for one more 2008 top-10 list? This week’s New York Business Divorce highlights the 10 most interesting business divorce cases from last year, with updated case citations and links to previous write-ups.

Continue Reading Top 10 Business Divorce Cases of 2008

A recent decision by Commercial Division Justice Charles E. Ramos in the case of Arfa v. Zamir grabs the spotlight in this week’s New York Business Divorce. The subject is an important one to business owners and their counsel: Does a general release in an out-of-court agreement between business partners/fiduciaries provide any protection against allegations of fraudulent nondisclosure?

Continue Reading Fiduciaries, the Duty to Disclose and the Incredible Shrinking Release

Does a minority member of an LLC have a right to intervene in an action against the LLC by a creditor? How about if the creditor’s claim arises from collusion or other impropriety by the controlling member? This week’s New York Business Divorce provides answers courtesy of a recent appellate court ruling in the curious case of Baron v. Rocketboom LLC.

Continue Reading Court Bars Minority Member From Intervening in Creditor’s Suit Against LLC

Last month the Appellate Division, Second Department issued an important decision concerning the application of the LLC Law’s default rules where the operating agreement is silent on a disputed issue. Get up to speed with this week’s New York Business Divorce.

Continue Reading Appellate Court Finds Operating Agreement “Silent” on Sale of LLC’s Sole Asset, Upholds Approval by Majority Vote Under Statute’s Default Rule

If you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to corporate dissolution contests, think again as you read this week’s New York Business Divorce which looks at a case in which one LLC member opposed the other’s dissolution petition based on the latter’s alleged mental disability.

Continue Reading Poorly Drafted Disability Clause in Operating Agreement Provides Novel Defense to LLC Dissolution Proceeding

The Delaware Court of Chancery last week issued a ruling of first impression applying the statute of frauds to invalidate an alleged oral LLC operating agreement. Will the ruling have any impact on New York LLCs? Find out in this week’s New York Business Divorce.

Continue Reading Delaware Court Applies Statute of Frauds to LLC Operating Agreement

When it comes to rulings by its Court of Chancery, what happens in Delaware definitely does not stay in Delaware. This week’s New York Business Divorce looks at a recent decision by that important court, dismissing a petition for judicial dissolution of a Delaware LLC.

Continue Reading Delaware Court of Chancery Narrowly Construes LLC Dissolution Statute