Years ago, oppressed minority shareholders in New Jersey corporations had more protection than oppressed members of a New Jersey LLC. When the statute was revised in 2014, that changed, and LLC members now have similar remedies available to them. But there is one little-known section of the New Jersey LLC statute that makes it a more powerful tool for the majority owners than the corporate statute – the ability to “dissociate” a member. » Read More

One of the most common reasons for a minority shareholder to file “business divorce litigation” is because that minority owner feels left out, pushed out, squeezed out – simply not part of the process in any significant way.  Quite often, the minority owner is pushed out for a reason that is not entirely unjustified.  » Read More

David C. Roberts, a Member with Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is pleased to present a seminar for all business owners that will answer many of the questions, both known and unknown, a shareholder would have, such as:

• What, exactly, is “shareholder oppression?”

Minority owners of closely-held corporations (in New Jersey) often put themselves in a position where they are cut off from access to the company’s books and records.  When that happens, several things can occur, and few of them are good.

For example, majority shareholders who have unfettered access to the company’s finances often abuse their power by granting themselves impermissible benefits that are not related to their employment by the company, and are not proportionately shared with the minority shareholders.  » Read More

When two people start a company, neither wants to give control to the other, so ownership is usually split 50/50.   This sounds like a great idea at the outset, when everyone is on the same page, and there is usually no other practical way to proceed.  » Read More

While most of my posts on this blog look at shareholder dispute issues from the perspective of the oppressed minority shareholder, I have represented numerous companies defending shareholder litigation, as well.  One corporate client  recently wanted to know how to avoid such litigation if the shareholder agreement has been long-ago agreed to, and there is little that can be done to get near-warring parties to agree to anything in writing.  » Read More

Minority shareholders often do not work at the company, and are not involved in management, making them, for lack of a better word, “passive investors.”  While no broad rule can ever be applied to everyone, it is these types of minority shareholders who are the most vulnerable to abuse by the majority shareholders. » Read More

While minority shareholders have considerable rights under New Jersey law, including the right to be free from oppression, this does not mean that majority shareholders may be bullied by minority shareholders who consistently oversteps their bounds.

Business owners may recognize the minority shareholder who (1) knows little about the business, yet insists he knows more than those who actually do the work and have the expertise; (2) attempts to dictate the way the business is run; or (3) demands to see every scrap of paper generated by the business operation. » Read More