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Brandon, Kathryn and Michael Schwartz

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NBTA Press Release for Recertification.

ATTORNEY BRANDON M. SCHWARTZ ACHIEVES RECERTIFICATION IN CIVIL TRIAL LAW WITH THE NATIONAL BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCACY #trialattorneys #schwartzlawfirm The material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice, nor is it a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney, nor do you have an attorney-client relationship with Schwartz Law Firm unless and until…

Trial success!

Congratulations to our client on prevailing at trial!  Read the Order below. #trialattorneys #schwartzlawfirm The material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice, nor is it a substitute for obtaining legal advice from an attorney, nor do you have an attorney-client relationship with Schwartz Law Firm unless and until the same is expressly agreed…

Brandon on “5 Minutes With”!

Each week on “5 Minutes With,” host Alex Alexander talks to business experts in the community. This week he sat down with Brandon.  Thank you for having him on the show, Alex! “5 Minutes With” Brandon Schwartz from Schwartz Law Firm The material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice, nor is it a…

Minority shareholder fiduciary obligations – are there any?

Long ago, the United States Supreme Court held that majority shareholders “have the right to control; but when it does so, it occupies a fiduciary relation toward the minority, as much so as the corporation itself or its officers and directors.”  S. Pac. Co. v. Bogert, 250 U.S. 483, 487-88 (1919).  And we covered such a fiduciary duty in our…

Directors, does the business judgment rule protect you?

Courts across the Country, including Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Arizona[1], “recognize the authority of corporate directors and want corporations to control their own destiny.”[2]  But “courts also provide a critical mechanism to hold directors accountable for their decisions by allowing shareholder derivative suits” in which the shareholder steps into the shoes of the corporation to seek redress.[3] How are these…

Fiduciary duties in the corporate context – what are they in Iowa, Wisconsin and Arizona?

We looked at the fiduciary duties that shareholders owe each other in Minnesota.  How do those differ from the other states we are licensed to practice in, namely Iowa, Wisconsin and Arizona?  There are some key differences. IOWA: The Iowa Supreme Court adopted a reasonableness standard in the Baur v. Baur Farms, Inc., 832 N.W.2d 663 (Iowa 2013) case related…

Minnesota fiduciary duties in the closely held corporation context – what are they?

What duties do shareholders in Minnesota owe each other?  Breach of fiduciary duty claims are asserted when the shareholder relationship has deteriorated.  These claims are often factually intensive.  They can also be emotionally taxing if the shareholder relationship started from or grew into a friendship or involves claims between family members. Shareholders of closely held corporations in Minnesota owe one…

Shareholder oppression – what is it?

Today’s blog takes a dive into what is a shareholder oppression claim in Minnesota.  Such a claim can help remedy a shareholder that has been squeezed out or been the subject of unfairly prejudicial conduct that frustrated their reasonable expectations. Shareholders of a closely held corporation have a fiduciary duty to observe “the highest standard of integrity in their dealings…

Schwartz Law Firm recognized by Minnesota Monthly!

Both Michael and Brandon were recognized by Minnesota Monthly for their work on behalf of the firm’s clients.  Michael was recognized as a Top Lawyer in the Area of Health Care.  Brandon was recognized as a Top Lawyer in Bet-the-Company Litigation.  The respective profiles can be found at: Michael – https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/lawyers/top-lawyers-2022/schwartz-michael-d/ Brandon – https://www.minnesotamonthly.com/lawyers/top-lawyers-2022/schwartz-brandon-m/ Thank you to those who voted…

When and Why Courts will allow veil piercing.

One trademark feature of the corporate form of business organization is limited liability for shareholders in which shareholder liability for the corporation’s contract or tort obligations is generally restricted to the amount of that shareholder’s capital contribution.  In this regard, there is a corporate veil which protects shareholders’ personal assets from the reach of the corporation’s creditors.  A judge, however,…