Fiduciary Duty, Closely Held Businesses, Shareholder Litigation

Managing Litigation Risk During the Business Lifecycle, Part 6: Minority Stakeholder Interests and Oppression

PilieroMazza PLLC on 8/1/2025

There is a common misconception that ownership equals control. But in many businesses—especially those participating in the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), or Service-Disabled...more

California Court of Appeal Holds That Derivative Litigation Settlement Procedural Rules Apply Even In Intra-Shareholder Suits in...

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP on 7/7/2025

In Norman v. Strateman, No. A170356, 2025 WL 1802786 (Cal. App., 1st Dist., June 20, 2025), the California Court of Appeal held that a settlement of derivative claims reached among all shareholders of a close corporation was...more

Massachusetts Court Rejects Claim that Shareholder’s Renunciation of Shares Ended Fiduciary Duty Owed to Close Corporation

Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP on 2/3/2023

Judge Ricciuti, sitting in the Massachusetts Business Litigation Session, rejected a shareholder’s claim that she could shed herself of the fiduciary duty she owed to a close corporation by renouncing her shares in the...more

Shareholder Actions: Direct Vs. Derivative Suits

Hendershot Cowart P.C. on 11/15/2022

When it comes to protecting their interests – or the interests of the corporation – shareholders have unique rights to take legal action. They can file suit either on behalf of the corporation itself, known as a derivative...more

The Business Judgment Rule in Texas

Freeman Law on 11/9/2021

Corporate officers and directors owe a fiduciary duty to the corporation that they serve, and they can be held liable if they breach that fiduciary duty. Fiduciary duties are not codified in the Texas Business Organizations...more

Shareholder Oppression Claims: Looking Past the Urban Myth to Remedies that Continue to Survive in The Real World of Texas Law

Winstead PC on 10/3/2019

Many Texas lawyers and their private company clients continue to refer to the claim for shareholder oppression as if it remains a viable cause of action under Texas law. And yet, for all practical purposes, the claim for...more

Beware of Conflicting Interest Transactions in Family Business Management

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC on 1/16/2017

Directors of all corporations – including family owned businesses – owe a fiduciary duty of loyalty to the company. This duty requires a director to put the interests of the company ahead of his or her personal interest and...more

Fiduciary Duty › Closely Held Businesses › Shareholder Litigation