Claims of Bad Faith Expulsion of a Member
What Happens Next?
Not all expulsions of an LLC member(s) are legal or illegal. In certain circumstances, even a violation of a written LLC operating agreement or the state’s LLC laws may not be enough grounds for expelling a member of the LLC.
One example of an illegal expulsion is a “bad faith” expulsion. New Jersey courts will not allow an LLC to expel a member in bad faith, even if the discharge is justified by the wording in the expulsion clause of the operating agreement.
For example, expulsion for minor violations of the operating agreements is not permitted.
What to Do When Facing Membership Issues Within Your LLC
Continuing the Business of the LLC After a Member is Expelled
Whether an LLC can continue to operate after a member is expelled is based on the membership operating agreement. Absent wording to the contrary in the agreement, the remaining members can continue the business even after a member is expelled. However, members of an LLC can determine in their LLC membership agreement what will happen to the business if a member is discharged. Whatever outcome is agreed to in the LLC agreement will generally be honored by the Courts.
Determining the Value of an Expelled Member’s Interest in The LLC
When a member feels their company is not operating in a manner they are satisfied with, they often seek to be bought out. When the other members refuse to buy them out and operate the business in a manner that personally benefits themselves at the expense of the minority members, this may constitute Minority Member Bad Faith, an actionable violation of the Revised Limited Liability Company Act.
When a minority member brings legal action to be bought out, the Court will need to determine the value of his or her LLC interest. In doing so, the courts will apply a “minority” and a “marketability” discount to determine the value of the member’s interest. In addition, New Jersey law specifies that the value must be “Fair Value”, determined by a valuation expert’s testimony or agreement among the members. This is different from “Fair Market Value”, the amount you might think your interests are worth on the open market.
One key factor affecting value is the valuation date. Under NJ law, this date is the date of the filing of your lawsuit or any earlier/later date the court deems equitable. The court has discretion to decide the date upon which the value of a member’s interest will be determined. As one might imagine, valuation can fluctuate depending on when your lawsuit is filed and when the court assigns a value to the interest.
Member Lawsuits
Direct Member Against Member Lawsuits and Litigation
As you have gathered from this page, Members can protect their ownership rights by bringing legal action. This legal action may relate to the rights the member has by law, including contract rights regarding their shares, statutory rights granted by the legislature, rights to receive dividends, and rights to examine the company’s books and records. In addition, members have a cause of action if they are prevented from voting at the member’s meeting in proportion to the number of certificates they own.
NJ Courts: Protectors of LLC’s During Times of Uncertainty and Disagreement
Did you know that New Jersey Courts are often called upon to protect companies during periods of controversy and conflict? Under NJ Law, the Courts have a wide range of powers to ensure the company’s best interests are protected. A Chancery Judge is often in charge of deciding what powers to use. The following are some of the powers available to the court:
Appointment of a Receiver
Arguably, the broadest power available to the Courts is the power to appoint a receiver to oversee a company during a time of controversy. When a court is presented with evidence of gross and/or fraudulent mismanagement, gross abuse of trust, or a violation of a fiduciary duty by those with significant decision-making powers (such as board members, officers, directors, etc.), they often choose to appoint a receiver to oversee the company throughout the controversy. There are two basic types of receivers that courts may appoint: statutory receivers and custodial receivers. The type of receiver appointed by the Courts depends on the company’s unique situation.
The Statutory Receiver
A statutory receiver may be appointed when one of the following exists within the company:
- The company has become insolvent.
- The company has been forced to suspend its operations due to cash flow issues.
- The company is operating at a loss, and the situation is fraudulent and prejudicial to the interests of members and/or creditors.
Once appointed, the statutory receiver has numerous powers. Initially, the receiver is granted title to the company’s property. He/she then has the power to take the following actions:
- Institute and defend all legal actions on behalf of the company, even against those in positions of power within the company who have committed wrongdoings;
- Negotiate and settle any claims that the company may have with creditors and debtors;
- Take control over all the company’s assets, including property and cash;
- Assign, sell, convey, transfer, or dispose of any of this property.
The Custodial Receiver
The Custodial Receiver is the other type of receiver that the Courts may appoint to oversee a company. These receivers are appointed for the limited purpose of preserving assets for a specified period, usually during the time the controversy is being decided, while a litigation dispute between members is pending. Custodial receivers do not have many of the powers that a statutory receiver has. They do not and cannot acquire legal title to the company’s property and therefore cannot sell, transfer, or dispose of any of the assets, nor dissolve the company.
Appointment of a Fiscal Agent
The appointment of a receiver is significantly intrusive to an LLC. Instead, the Court may elect to appoint a Fiscal Agent as a less-intrusive interim remedy. This typically occurs when members can convince the Court that the company’s interests can be served without the appointment of a receiver. If the Court is persuaded, it may appoint a fiscal agent, one with defined and limited powers.
The Fiscal Agent is seen as a temporary, interim solution to a company’s problems. Courts purposely limit the powers and responsibilities of the agent due to their temporary status. Typically, these powers and responsibilities relate to safeguarding the company’s finances and resources. For example, a Fiscal Agent may approve or deny any officer compensation or company expenditures when members bring claims of fraud.
Appointment of Provisional Officers and Managing Members
Another power of the Courts is the power to appoint one or more provisional officers/managing members to handle the company’s affairs. If, in the best interests of the company and its members, a judge may appoint a provisional officer or member to the company, regardless of what the company’s certificate of formation, bylaws, or any other governing resolutions say. The Court’s appointment will always triumph over any of the company’s policies or documents. Once appointed, the provisional officer/member will have the same rights and powers as all the elected officers/members until the Court removes him/her. Sometimes members may vote/consent to the removal of a provisional director, but the Court must nonetheless approve it. A provision officer/member’s powers are always equal to those of co-officers/members. They lack the power that a receiver has over a company.
Appointment of a Custodian
Courts may also elect to appoint a custodian for the company. This can be in addition to or in the alternative to a provisional director. Once again, the Court will only do so if it is in the best interests of the company and its members. Corporate custodians have the same powers as the managing members and officers, to the extent necessary to manage the company’s affairs. They also lack the broad powers that a receiver has. Like the provisional officer/member, they remain in their position until the Court removes them or until most of the members vote/consent to the removal, subject to court approval.
There are numerous situations in which a provisional director and/or custodian may be appointed. For example, when members fail to elect a new governing body after their current term has expired, the Court may appoint provisional officers/directors until the members reach consensus and elect new members. Another example is when members are unable or refuse to act on certain company matters for several different reasons. Provisional officers/members or custodians may be appointed when company funds or transactions have repeatedly been mismanaged, authority has been abused, members have been oppressed, or several other incidents have occurred that the Court deems that an appointment is appropriate for the sake of the company.
New Jersey law prohibits any court-appointed official from being a member or creditor of the company. All court-appointed officials are obligated to report to the Court on the company’s progress in business matters and its overall functionality. Provisional officers/members and custodians often file their recommendations to the Court concerning what action they believe is proper in regard to the matter in which they were appointed.
Fredrick P. Niemann Esq.
Do you believe judicial involvement is necessary to protect your interests? Do you have any further questions regarding Court-appointed officials or Member issues in litigation? If so, please contact me today. You’ll find I’m very approachable and willing to offer practical, easy-to-understand advice. I can be reached at (732) 863-9900 or by email at fniemann@hnlawfirm.com.