North Dakota Code 10-33-45 – Standard of conduct for directors
1. A director shall discharge the duties of the position of director in good faith, in a manner the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation, and with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances. A person who so performs those duties is not liable by reason of being or having been a director of the corporation.
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 10-33-45
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Donor: The person who makes a gift.
- Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Property: includes property, real and personal. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
2. A director is entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, in each case prepared or presented by:
a. One or more officers or employees of the corporation whom the director reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; b. Counsel, public accountants, or other persons as to matters that the director reasonably believes are within the person’s professional or expert competence; or c. A committee of the board upon which the director does not serve, duly established in accordance with section 10-33-44 as to matters within its designated authority, if the director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.
3. Subsection 2 does not apply to a director who has knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes the reliance otherwise permitted by subsection 2 unwarranted.
4. A director who is present at a meeting of the board when an action is approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present is presumed to have assented to the action approved, unless the director:
a. Objects at the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and does not participate in the meeting, in which case the director may not be considered to be present at the meeting for any purpose of this chapter; b. Votes against the action at the meeting; or c. Is prohibited from voting on the action:
(1) By the articles; (2) By the bylaws; (3) As the result of the decision to approve, ratify, or authorize a transaction pursuant to section 10-33-46; or
(4) By a conflict of interest policy adopted by the board.
5. A director, regardless of how identified, is not considered to be a trustee with respect to the corporation or with respect to property held or administered by the corporation, including without limit, property that may be subject to restrictions imposed by the donor or transferor of the property.