JULY 2008 MARYLAND BAR EXAMINATION
BOARD’S ANALYSIS
Page 15 of 20
(3) Dissolution.
In addition to his other remedies, as a shareholder, Son can petition the Circuit Court to
dissolve the Corporation if he can prove that "those in control of the corporation" have acted in
an illegal, fraudulent or oppressive manner." Corporations Article 3-413(b)(2). If Son can
demonstrate that the actions of the directors and officers was intended to benefit themselves in
furtherance of their personal interests instead of the corporation, an action for dissolution is
appropriate. Birnbaum v. SL&B Optical Centers, Inc., 905 F. Supp. 267 (D. Md., 1995).
B. - Defenses
The primary defense available to the directors is the business judgment rule.
As indicated above, there is a statutory presumption that corporate directors perform their
duties in good faith, in a manner reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the
corporation; and with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would use under similar
circumstances. Corporations Article 2-405.1. Maryland's version of the business judgment rule
is focused upon "the manner . . .by which a director makes decisions rather than the results of the
decision." D. Hanks, supra at 167. In order to be successful, Son must present evidence to
overcome the presumption that the directors acted reasonably and in the best interests of the
corporation. Bender v. Schwartz, 172 Md. App. 648, 667, 917 A.2d 142 (2007).
The facts indicate that Mother, Daughter and Dad voted to increase substantially the
compensation to the officers and to pay Dad $500,000 per year for non-existent consulting
services. At the same time, they declined to declare a dividend because of "adverse business
conditions." There is no evidence that the compensation arrangements were reviewed by any
independent party. Thus, Son has colorable arguments that his sister and his parents breached
their duty of care with regard to the setting of compensation. The same analysis obtains for a
claim for dividends.
The compensation arrangements for Sister, Mother and Dad were considered and
approved as a package for all three directors at the same time and thus constituted an "interested
director transaction as each director directly benefitted from the board's action. Corporations
Article Section 4-119 sets out "safe harbor" procedures for boards to follow in considering
interested director transactions. The directors did not avail themselves of any of these
procedures. Its failure to do so was neither a grounds for liability, D. Hanks, supra, 220.29, nor
a basis to set aside the presumption that the Board's action was in the best interest of the
corporation, Section 4-119(d); Sullivan v. Easco Corp., 656 F. Supp. 531, 535 (D. Md.,1987).