(a) Whenever any corporation or any unincorporated association fails to enforce a right which may properly be asserted by it, a derivative action may be brought by one or more shareholders or members to enforce the right, provided the shareholder or member was a shareholder or member at the time of the transaction of which he complained or his membership thereafter devolved on him by operation of law. The action shall be commenced by a complaint returnable to the superior court for the judicial district in which an office of the corporation or association is located. The derivative action may not be maintained if it appears that the plaintiff does not fairly and adequately represent the interests of the shareholders or members similarly situated in enforcing the right of the corporation or association. The action shall not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the court, and notice of the proposed dismissal or compromise shall be given to shareholders or members in such manner as the court directs.
(b) In any action brought pursuant to this section, process shall be served on the corporation or association as in other civil actions, and notice of the service of process after its having been served shall be given to the board of directors and such other interested persons as the court deems proper. It shall not be necessary to make shareholders or members parties thereto. The costs of the action or part thereof, which shall include but not be limited to witness' fees, court costs and reasonable attorney's fees, may be charged by the court, in its discretion, against the corporation.
(P.A. 77-310; P.A. 82-160, S. 41; 82-472, S. 143, 183.)
History: P.A. 82-160 rephrased the section; P.A. 82-472 deleted obsolete reference to counties.
See Sec. 33-720 et seq. re derivative proceedings.
Cited. 238 C. 183.
Cited. 17 CA 70. Defendant who is no longer shareholder in corporation cannot maintain derivative action on its behalf. 104 CA 810.
Cited. 39 CS 264; 40 CS 327.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 925 - Statutory Rights of Action and Defenses
Section 52-555. - Actions for injuries resulting in death.
Section 52-556. - Actions for injuries caused by motor vehicles owned by the state.
Section 52-557. - Injury to children being transported to school.
Section 52-557a. - Standard of care owed social invitee.
Section 52-557c. - Standard of care applicable to owners and operators of school buses.
Section 52-557d. - Defense of charitable immunity abolished.
Section 52-557f. - Landowner liability for recreational use of land. Definitions.
Section 52-557g. - Liability of owner of land available to public for recreation; exceptions.
Section 52-557h. - Owner liable, when.
Section 52-557i. - Obligation of user of land.
Section 52-557o. - Liability of land surveyors.
Section 52-557s. - Liability of owner or keeper of horse, pony, donkey or mule.
Section 52-558. - Liability for placing obstructions in highway.
Section 52-559. - Damage for spreading fire.
Section 52-560. - Damages for cutting trees, timber or shrubbery. Exclusion.
Section 52-561. - Trespass to lands without color of right.
Section 52-561a. - Damage by domestic fowls.
Section 52-562. - Liability for fraud in contracting debt; concealing property.
Section 52-563. - Liability for waste by tenant for life or years.
Section 52-564. - Treble damages for theft.
Section 52-564a. - Liability for shoplifting.
Section 52-565. - Double damages for forgery.
Section 52-566. - Treble damages for wilful removal or destruction of bridge.
Section 52-567. - Treble damages for injury to milestone, guidepost or railing.
Section 52-568. - Damages for groundless or vexatious suit or defense.
Section 52-569. - Damages for leaving open bars, gate or fence.
Section 52-570. - Action for malicious erection of structure.
Section 52-570a. (Formerly Sec. 52-202). - Action against fiduciary.
Section 52-570b. - Action for computer-related offenses.
Section 52-570d. - Action for illegal recording of private telephonic communications.
Section 52-571a. - Action for deprivation of equal rights and privileges.
Section 52-571c. - Action for damages resulting from intimidation based on bigotry or bias.
Section 52-571e. - Action for damages resulting from actions of agent of surety on a bond.
Section 52-571f. - Strict liability of person who illegally transfers a firearm.
Section 52-571g. - Strict liability of person who fails to securely store a firearm.
Section 52-571h. - Action for damages resulting from identity theft.
Section 52-571i. - Action for damages resulting from trafficking in persons.
Section 52-572. - Parental liability for torts of minors.
Section 52-572a. - Release by injured person voidable if obtained within fifteen days.
Section 52-572b. - Alienation of affections and breach of promise actions abolished.
Section 52-572c. - Parent-child immunity abrogated in certain negligence actions.
Section 52-572e. - Release of joint tortfeasor.
Section 52-572f. - Criminal conversation action abolished.
Section 52-572i. - Application of the family car doctrine.
Section 52-572j. - Derivative actions by shareholders or members.
Section 52-572k. - Hold harmless clause against public policy in certain construction contracts.
Section 52-572m. - Product liability actions. Definitions.
Section 52-572n. - Product liability claims.
Section 52-572o. - Comparative responsibility. Award of damages. Action for contribution.
Section 52-572p. - Limitation of liability of product seller.
Section 52-572q. - Liability of product seller due to lack of adequate warnings or instructions.
Section 52-572r. - Product liability claims against third parties.