Resources for Legal Professionals

This page collects resources for business attorneys and legal professionals on the Texas law of Shareholder Oppression and the rights of business owners.

See also Shareholder Oppression Blog

Subscribe to email updates at Shareholder Oppression Group.

Index to Articles on this Site

I. Shareholder Rights

• Shareholder Rights to Inspect Corporate Records
• Enforcement of Shareholder Inspection Rights--Procedural Guide
  

II. Derivative Actions

• Limitations Issues in Derivative Suits and Shareholder Oppression Actions [10/21/08]

III.  Shareholder Oppression Cause of Action

• Shareholder Oppression Cause of Action--Legal TheorY

IV.  Case Analysis

     A.  Texas Law

• Texas Executive Compensation Decision--Carbona v. CH Medical, Inc.--Carbona v. CH Medical, Inc., 266 S.W.3d 675 (Tex. App.—Dallas, October 23, 2008).
• Liability of attorneys for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duties--Span Enterprises v. Wood--Span Enterprises v. Wood, No. 01-07-00364-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] December 4, 2008).
• New Texas Shareholder Derivative Action Case: In re Crown Castle Intern. Corp., --- S.W.3d ----, 2008 WL 222770 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] January 29, 2008).
• Recent Texas Shareholder Oppression Case: Gibney v. Culver, 2008 WL 1822767 (Tex. App.--Corpus Christi 2008, no pet) (unreported).
• Derivative Suit Standing: Asshaser v. Wells Fargo Foothill, 263 S.W.3d 468 (Tex. App.--Dallas 2008, no pet.).
• Damages for Breach of Fiduciary Duties--Norwood v. Norwood, No. 2-07-244-CV (Tex. App.--Fort Worth, November 13, 2008).
• New Shareholder Litigation opinion--declaratory judgment, receivership, attorneys fees--Fortenberry v. Cavanaugh, No. 03-07-00310, ___ S.W.3d ___, 2008 WL 4997568 (Tex. App.—Austin November 26, 2008).
  

     B.  FEDERAL CIVIL PROCEDURE

• Burford-type abstention in federal shareholder oppression cases: Kermanshah v. Kermanshah, --- F.Supp.2d ----, 2008 WL 3338369 (SDNY August 11, 2008).
• New York Derivative/LLC Diversity Jurisdiction--Bartfield v. Murphy, 578 F.Supp.2d 638 (S.D.N.Y. Sept 29, 2008).
  

     C.  CALIFORNIA law

• May a corporation defend a derivative suit on the merits? Patrick v. Alacer Corp., 167 Cal.App.4th 995, 84 Cal.Rptr.3d 642 (Cal.App. 2008).

     D.  CONNECTICUT LAW

• New Oppression Case: Bascom/Magnotta, Inc. v. Magnotta, 2007 WL 1598753 (Conn. Super. April 17, 2007).

     E.  Delaware Law

• Litle v. Waters: Delaware case upholding oppression cause of action--Litle v. Waters, Civ. A. No. 12155, 1992 WL 25758, 18 Del. J. Corp. L. 315 (Del. Ch. Feb. 11, 1992.)
• Sokol v. Ventures Education Sys. Corp.: Oppression Claim Involving Delaware Closely-Held Corporation--Sokol v. Ventures Education Systems Corp., 10 Misc.3d 1055(A), 809 N.Y.S.2d 484, 2005 WL 3249447 (N.Y.Sup. June 27, 2005).
• Reserve Solutions v. Vernaglia: Oppression Claim Involving Delaware Corporation--Reserve Solutions, Inc. v. Vernaglia, 438 F. Supp.2d 280 (S.D.N.Y. 2006).
• Minor v. Albright: Shareholder Oppression Claim in Delaware Corporation--Minor v. Albright, No. 01 C 4493, 2001 WL 1516729 (N.D.Ill Nov. 28, 2001.).
• New Jersey federal court rejects oppression claim under Delaware law--Nightingale & Associates, LLC v. Hopkins, Slip Copy, 2008 WL 4848765, (D.N.J., November 05, 2008).
  

     F.  Illinois Law

• Illinois oppression case--Georgeson v DuPage Surgical Consultants, Ltd., Slip Copy, 2007 WL 914219 (N.D.Ill. Mar 22, 2007.

     G.  Indiana Law

• New Indiana "Freeze Out" Claim Opinion--Haag Trucking Co., Inc. v. Haag, --- N.E.2d ----, 2008 WL 5006541 (Ind. App. November 26,  2008).

     H. MAINE LAW

• Recent Oppression Case: Kaplan v. First Hartford Corp.--Kaplan v. First Hartford Corp., --- F.Supp.2d ----, 2007 WL 973941 (D.Me. Apr 02, 2007)

     I. MICHIGAN LAW

• Hofmesiter Family Trust v. FGH Industries, LLC: Michigan Oppression Case--Hofmeister Family Trust v. FGH Industries, LLC, Slip Copy, 2007 WL 1106144 (E. D. Mich. Apr 12, 2007).
  

     J. MONTANA LAW

• New Oppression Case--Whitehorne v. Whitehorne Farms, Inc., --- P.3d ---, 2008 WL 4717985 (Mont. Oct. 28, 2008).

     K. NEW JERSEY LAW

• Does a minority shareholder have a duty to preserve "S" tax status? Sery v. Federal Business Centers, Inc., Slip Copy, 2008 WL 4934034 (D.N.J. November 14, 2008).

     L. New York Law

• New York Derivative/LLC case--Bartfield v. Murphy, 578 F.Supp.2d 638 (S.D.N.Y. Sep 29, 2008).
  

     M. OREGON LAW

• Discussion of Valuation in Forced Buyout--Encompass Teleservices, Inc. v. Scheets, Slip Op. No. 04-821-HU, 2008 WL 5156561 (D. Ore. Dec. 9, 2008).
• New Shareholder Oppression Decision: Davis v. Brockamp & Jaeger, Inc., 174 P.3d 607 (Or. App. Dec. 12, 2007).

Need Help on a Specific Issue or Dispute?

The author of this site consults with business owners and attorneys on issues of shareholder oppression and disputes among shareholders and business owners. Please contact the Fryar Law Firm, P.C. to discuss services available and rates for consultation.

Email eric@fryarlawfirm.com or visit www.fryarlawfirm.com