Business Law
| Arbitration of Securities Disputes |
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| Although persons may not be required to arbitrate rather than litigate their claims, they may by contract agree to arbitrate any claims that arise under the contract. More... |
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| Directors' Ignorance of Corporate Affairs |
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| To carry out fully their duties and responsibilities to shareholders and the corporation, directors must be reasonably familiar with the workings of the corporation and have a general knowledge of how the corporation conducts its business. Directors are not expected to have superior knowledge about all business and financial aspects of the corporation, but they are assumed to have competent knowledge of the duties they have taken on when named to the board. More... |
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| Directors' Reliance on Corporate Books and Records |
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| When directors perform their corporate responsibilities, the duty of care requires them to exercise the care that an ordinary prudent person would exercise in the management of his or her own affairs under similar circumstances. To be able to invoke the protections of the business judgment rule, directors must make informed business decisions. More... |
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| Sarbanes-Oxley Act |
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| Most states recognize that corporate directors and upper-level officers owe the corporation the duties of care, loyalty, and obedience. The duty to act in good faith has emerged in some jurisdictions as an equally important fiduciary duty imposed upon directors and officers. Historically, directors and officers were frequently exonerated of personal liability for business decisions because of courts' long-standing deference to the business decision under the business judgment rule or because the transaction was deemed fair to the corporation and its shareholders overall. In the wake of recent corporate scandals, however, officers and directors are under ever-increasing scrutiny by shareholders, the courts, state governments, and the federal government. Many corporate commentators bemoan the fact that conduct once protected under the business judgment rule may not be viewed with such deference in the future. More... |
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| Public Reporting Requirements for Major Company Events |
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| Major events for public companies must be made public through the filing of Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Form 8-K must be filed within four days after the events outlined in Sections 1 through 5 and 9 below. More... |
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