LLC Members May Ratify Prior Defective Actions
Actions taken within business entities are sometimes deemed invalid due to procedural defects. For corporations, section 119 of the Corporations Code establishes a clear procedure by…
LLC Member Acting for LLC Without Authority Is Not “Protected Activity” Under California’s Anti-SLAPP Statute
California’s anti-SLAPP statute (Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16) aims to protect defendants from meritless lawsuits designed to chill “protected activity” — i.e., the exercise of…
LLC Manager’s Conduct Benefits Her Side Entity at the Expense of the LLC — Are the Claims Against Her Direct or Derivative?
The distinction between direct and derivative claims is a recurring theme on The LLC Jungle. In a nutshell, under California law, an LLC (just like a…
Operating Agreement Doesn’t Excuse Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Many posts on The LLC Jungle blog have focused on the fiduciary duties owed by LLC managers to both the LLC’s members and the LLC itself.…
Derivative Claim Upheld for Estate of Deceased LLC Member
Asserting claims derivatively on behalf of an LLC, as opposed to directly on behalf of an LLC member, can be tricky business for even experienced litigators. …
Partnership — Not Its Partners — Owns Malpractice Claim Against Partnership’s Attorney
Two important principles governing corporate entities are: (1) the entity is legally distinct from its owners; and (2) the entity’s property and assets belong to the…
Another Case Addressing Managerial Discretion and the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
LLC managers often enjoy wide latitude and unrestricted “discretion” under the LLC’s operating agreement. At the same time, all contracts — including LLC operating agreements —…
LLC is Not an “Indispensable Party” to Direct Claims Between LLC Members
In litigation, the plaintiff must include as parties to the action all persons or entities whose interests are so directly involved that the court cannot render…
“Equitable Buyout” as a Remedy for LLC Wrongdoing?
In the world of LLCs, buyouts — where one member sells his/her membership interest to another member or the LLC itself — are commonplace. Buyouts generally…
Can an LLC Member be Forced to Contribute to the LLC’s Debts?
Members of an LLC are required to pitch in equally for the LLC’s expenses and debts, right? Generally, no. In a recent unpublished opinion filed by…