Sometimes the tax collector can prove the bigger impediment to minority shareholder claims than the majority shareholders, as explained in this week’s New York Business Divorce featuring a recent case involving a Delaware corporation whose charter was voided for nonpayment of taxes.
Continue Reading Minority Shareholders’ Derivative Suit Foiled by Voiding of Corporation’s Charter for Nonpayment of Taxes

The Latin maxim, “equity aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights,” steals the show in this week’s New York Business Divorce featuring a recent New Jersey appellate ruling affirming the dismissal of a challenge to the conversion of a limited partnership to an LLC.
Continue Reading In Dispute Over Partnership’s Conversion to LLC, Court Finds No Duty to “Spoon-Feed” Sophisticated Investor

This week’s New York Business Divorce travels to the Land of 10,000 Lakes a/k/a Minnesota where a recent court decision in a high-stakes stock valuation case generated some fairly sharp criticism of the expert appraisers whose values differed by almost 400%. …
Continue Reading Appraisers’ Valuations Are Light-Years Apart, But Does That Make Them Hired Guns?

The minority and majority owners of a Brooklyn-based vodka distillery duke it out in the case examined in this week’s New York Business Divorce centering on the proper construction of provisions in a Founders Agreement concerning the right to, and consequences of, terminating a founder.
Continue Reading Then There Were Two: Court Rejects Minority Shareholder’s Claim of Wrongful Termination Under Founders Agreement

Justice Elizabeth Emerson’s recent decision in Sardis v Sardis, denying a fee application under Section 626 (e) of the Business Corporation Law, is essential reading for counsel involved in shareholder derivative actions. Get the story in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Finding No “Therapeutic” Benefit to Corporation, Court Denies Fee Award in Discontinued Shareholder Derivative Action

This week’s New York Business Divorce revisits a family feud involving a Brooklyn-based food distributor and affiliated realty company, in which an ousted minority owner was on the short end of a series of recent decisions by Justice Sylvia Ash.
Continue Reading “Food Fight” Sequel Ends Badly for Ousted Sibling

This week’s New York Business Divorce compares two recent New York and Delaware decisions reaching opposite results on the issue of amending LLC agreements without the unanimous consent of the members. You may be surprised to learn which state offers minority members greater protection.
Continue Reading Delaware Ruling Highlights Difference With New York Over Amending LLC Agreements

A recent decision by Manhattan Commercial Division Justice Anil Singh enforced a minor daughter’s assignment of her LLC membership interest to secure her father’s debt repayment to another member, over the objection that the assignment lacked consideration. Learn more in this week’s New York Business Divorce.
Continue Reading Assignment of LLC Interest Defeats Standing Despite Alleged Lack of Consideration

Shotgun buy-sell provisions frequently are included in shareholder and operating agreements, but there’s little evidence that business owners “pull the trigger” with any frequency. This week’s New York Business Divorce looks at one of the rare litigations involving a shotgun provision in action. …
Continue Reading Aim Carefully Before Pulling Trigger on Shotgun Buy-Sell Agreement