In Missouri, Managers of a limited liability company owe fiduciary duties to the company itself. Hibbs v. Berger, 430 SW.3d 296, 315 (Mo. Ct. App. 2014) (citing Section 347.088.2, RSMo). Indeed, a manager “has a duty to act in good faith and in the best interests of the limited liability company”). Sutherland v. Sutherland, 348…
Legal Articles
Nonprofit Corporation Derivative Actions
A corporate derivative action is one in which a shareholder or member sues on behalf of the corporation and against a director — usually for mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duty and/or some other malfeasance. The reasoning is that the injury is to the corporation and that the corporation, not its members/shareholders, must bring the suit…
Corporate Derivative Shareholder Claims, Beneficiary Trust Claims
With corporations, the directors and officers manage the corporation for the benefit of the shareholders. With trusts, the trustees manage the trust for the benefit of the beneficiaries. When a corporate officer/director commits a wrong against the corporation, or causes another injury to the corporation, a shareholder can bring a derivative on behalf of the…
LLC Derivative Action Attorney Fees
A derivative action in limited liability company (“LLC”) litigation is generally when a member (i.e., owner) brings an action against the manager or managing member for causing a loss to the LLC. The action is “derivative” in that the member is suing on behalf of the LLC to recover an injury that the LLC sustained….
Limited Liability Company (LLC) Derivative Lawsuits
Similar to corporations, owners (i.e., members) in limited liability companies (LLC) in Missouri can initiate derivative actions on behalf of the LLC to recover money/assets. This is expressly authorized under Section 347.171, RSMo. A number of requirements must be present: (1) the plaintiff-member cannot have the authority under the LLC’s operating agreement to cause the…
Member/Manager Fiduciary Duties in a Limited Liability Company (LLC)
A member and/or manager of a LLC is obligated by law to operate the LLC with the care a corporate officer of like position would exercise under similar circumstances, in the manner a reasonable person would believe to be in the best interest of the LLC. See Mo. Rev. Stat. 347.088.1. Further, a member and/or manager may…