California Corporate & Securities Law

Courts historically have applied the alter ego doctrine to "pierce the corporate veil" so that a shareholder may be held liable for the debts or conduct of the corporation.  California has extended the possibility of alter ego liability to members of...

In an opinion issued yesterday, the Nevada Supreme Court addressed the extent to which a member of a limited liability company is protected in a negligence based tort action against the LLC.  Gardner v. Henderson Water Park, LLC, 133 Nev. Adv. Op. 54...

Derivative actions can be somewhat confusing. Although the entity is essentially the plaintiff, it is named as a defendant. Initially, one might question why must the corporation be named as a party? I can think of at least two reasons. First, the...

In general, the debts, obligations, or other liabilities of a California limited liability company do not become the debts, obligations, or other liabilities of a member or manager solely by reason of the member acting as a member or manager acting...

Practitioners under California's Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act will be familiar with the concept of an "operating agreement" (Cal. Corp. Code § 17701.02(s)). Indeed, I expect that nearly every LLC formed under the CARULLCA has, or...

California's version of the Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act expressly subjects members to potential alter ego liability:

Justice Kenneth R. Yegan clearly and concisely frames the question in Western Surety Co. v. La Cumbre Office Partners, LLC, 2017 Cal. App. LEXIS 77 (2017):

The State of California imposes its franchise tax on every corporation (other than a bank, financial corporation or exempt corporation) that is "doing business" in California. Cal. Rev. & Tax Code § 23151. This tax is imposed without regard to...