35-14-744. Dismissal. (1) A derivative proceeding must be dismissed by the court on motion by the corporation if one of the groups specified in subsection (2) or (5) has determined in good faith, after conducting a reasonable inquiry on which its conclusions are based, that the maintenance of the derivative proceeding is not in the best interests of the corporation.
(2) Unless a panel is appointed pursuant to subsection (5), the determination in subsection (1) must be made by:
(a) a majority vote of qualified directors present at a meeting of the board of directors if the qualified directors constitute a quorum; or
(b) a majority vote of a committee consisting of two or more qualified directors appointed by majority vote of qualified directors present at a meeting of the board of directors, regardless of whether those qualified directors constitute a quorum.
(3) If a derivative proceeding is commenced after a determination has been made rejecting a demand by a shareholder, the complaint must allege with particularity facts establishing either:
(a) that a majority of the board of directors did not consist of qualified directors at the time the determination was made; or
(b) that the requirements of subsection (1) have not been met.
(4) If a majority of the board of directors consisted of qualified directors at the time the determination was made, the plaintiff has the burden of proving that the requirements of subsection (1) have not been met. If not, the corporation has the burden of proving that the requirements of subsection (1) have been met.
(5) Upon motion by the corporation, the court may appoint a panel of one or more individuals to make a determination whether the maintenance of the derivative proceeding is in the best interests of the corporation. In that case, the plaintiff has the burden of proving that the requirements of subsection (1) have not been met.
History: En. Sec. 87, Ch. 271, L. 2019.
Structure Montana Code Annotated
Title 35. Corporations, Partnerships, and Associations
Chapter 14. Montana Business Corporation Act
35-14-703. Court-ordered meeting
35-14-704. Action without meeting
35-14-707. Record date for meeting
35-14-709. Remote participation -- shareholder's meetings
35-14-710. through 35-14-719 reserved
35-14-720. Shareholders' list for meeting
35-14-721. Voting entitlements of shares
35-14-723. Shares held by intermediaries and nominees
35-14-724. Acceptance of votes -- other instruments
35-14-725. Quorum and voting requirements -- voting groups
35-14-726. Action by single and multiple voting groups
35-14-727. Modifying quorum or voting requirements
35-14-728. Voting for directors -- cumulative voting
35-14-729. Inspectors of election
35-14-732. Shareholder agreements
35-14-733. through 35-14-739 reserved
35-14-740. Definitions -- derivative proceedings
35-14-743. Stay of proceedings
35-14-745. Discontinuance -- settlement
35-14-746. Payment of expenses
35-14-747. Applicability to foreign corporations
35-14-748. Shareholder action to appoint custodian or receiver
35-14-749. Judicial determination -- corporate offices -- review of elections and shareholder votes