Florida Statutes 617.0834 – Officers and directors of certain corporations and associations not for profit; immunity from civil liability
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(1) An officer or director of a nonprofit organization recognized under s. 501(c)(3) or s. 501(c)(4) or s. 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or of an agricultural or a horticultural organization recognized under s. 501(c)(5), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is not personally liable for monetary damages to any person for any statement, vote, decision, or failure to take an action, regarding organizational management or policy by an officer or director, unless:
(a) The officer or director breached or failed to perform his or her duties as an officer or director; and
Terms Used In Florida Statutes 617.0834
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Member: means one having membership rights in a corporation in accordance with the provisions of its articles of incorporation or bylaws or the provisions of this chapter. See Florida Statutes 617.01401
- Person: includes individual and entity. See Florida Statutes 617.01401
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
(b) The officer’s or director’s breach of, or failure to perform, his or her duties constitutes:
1. A violation of the criminal law, unless the officer or director had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A judgment or other final adjudication against an officer or director in any criminal proceeding for violation of the criminal law estops that officer or director from contesting the fact that his or her breach, or failure to perform, constitutes a violation of the criminal law, but does not estop the officer or director from establishing that he or she had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful;
2. A transaction from which the officer or director derived an improper personal benefit, directly or indirectly; or
3. Recklessness or an act or omission that was committed in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights, safety, or property.
(2) For the purposes of this section, the term:
(a) “Recklessness” means the acting, or omission to act, in conscious disregard of a risk:
1. Known, or so obvious that it should have been known, to the officer or director; and
2. Known to the officer or director, or so obvious that it should have been known, to be so great as to make it highly probable that harm would follow from such action or omission.
(b) “Director” means a person who serves as a director, trustee, or member of the governing board of an organization.
(c) “Officer” means a person who serves as an officer without compensation except reimbursement for actual expenses incurred or to be incurred.