The Court of Appeals in Tzolis v. Wolff authorized derivative suits on behalf of LLCs. This week’s New York Business Divorce looks at two post-Tzolis lower court decisions addressing pre-action demand and contemporaneous ownership requirements for such suits.
Continue Reading Post-Tzolis Rulings Address Demand and Contemporaneous Ownership Requirements for LLC Derivative Actions
A Case of Mutual Frustration: Minority Member of LLC Can’t Compel Dissolution, Majority Can’t Compel Buyout
It’s the perfect LLC storm: Accusations by the minority member of overreaching and breach of fiduciary duty by the controlling members, no operating agreement, and an LLC statute that affords neither party a judicial means of achieving the separation they each want. Read about it in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
…
Continue Reading A Case of Mutual Frustration: Minority Member of LLC Can’t Compel Dissolution, Majority Can’t Compel Buyout
Further Thoughts on Youngwall and Judicial Dissolution of the Unprofitable LLC
Matter of Youngwall, in which Justice Stephen Bucaria last March dissolved an unprofitable LLC owned by two brothers, makes another appearance in this week’s New York Business Divorce, this time focusing on the court’s recent decision denying a motion for reconsideration.
…
Continue Reading Further Thoughts on Youngwall and Judicial Dissolution of the Unprofitable LLC
WWDD (What Would Delaware Do) With an In Terrorem LLC Dissolution Waiver Clause?
Two courts, one in Delaware and the other in New York, are asked to enforce operating agreements waiving the right to seek judicial dissolution of an LLC. Only one of them says “yes.” Can you guess which one? Get the answer in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
…
Continue Reading WWDD (What Would Delaware Do) With an In Terrorem LLC Dissolution Waiver Clause?
Divided Appeals Court Upholds Removal of LLC Member-Manager Contrary to Voting Agreement
A divided panel of the Appellate Division, First Department last week upheld the removal of an LLC member-manager by majority vote of the members, notwithstanding a provision in the operating agreement requiring all members to vote for the ousted manager in any election. Learn more in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
…
Continue Reading Divided Appeals Court Upholds Removal of LLC Member-Manager Contrary to Voting Agreement
De Facto Dissolution of LLC Does Not Terminate Members’ Fiduciary Duty or Avoid Accounting for Subsequent Profits
The Appellate Division, Third Department, has ruled that an LLC member’s fiduciary duties continue even after the de facto break-up of the company. Read about this important decision in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
…
Continue Reading De Facto Dissolution of LLC Does Not Terminate Members’ Fiduciary Duty or Avoid Accounting for Subsequent Profits
Delaware and New York Courts Agree that 50% LLC Member May Not Hire Lawyer to Represent Company Adverse to Other 50% Member
There’s been a spate of recent court decisions concerning the authority of one 50% business owner to hire counsel to represent the company adverse to the other 50% owner. This week’s New York Business Divorce looks at two new decisions, one from New York and one from Delaware.
…
Continue Reading Delaware and New York Courts Agree that 50% LLC Member May Not Hire Lawyer to Represent Company Adverse to Other 50% Member
Court Orders Return of Investment as Equitable Remedy in LLC Dissolution Proceeding
A post-trial decision by Westchester Supreme Court Justice Alan Scheinkman tackles a novel remedial issue in an LLC dissolution involving 50-50 partners who went from friendship to fisticuffs over their vending machine business. Read about it in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
…
Continue Reading Court Orders Return of Investment as Equitable Remedy in LLC Dissolution Proceeding
Indemnity Provision Can Tilt the Playing Field in Litigation Between Business Partners
This week’s New York Business Divorce looks at a recent case in which the managing member of an LLC, relying on the operating agreement’s indemnity provision, sought to sell company assets for various purposes including payment of her own legal fees to defend against an action brought by the other members to remove her as manager.
…
Continue Reading Indemnity Provision Can Tilt the Playing Field in Litigation Between Business Partners
Decision Lowers the Bar for Former Partner’s Claims of Fraudulent Buyout
An important appellate decision issued last week, sustaining a complaint alleging concealment of financial projections impacting on share price, demands the attention of business owners and their counsel considering the buyout of a minority partner. Read about it in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
…
Continue Reading Decision Lowers the Bar for Former Partner’s Claims of Fraudulent Buyout