Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 12 Sec. 5781

  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Person: shall include any natural person, corporation, municipality, the State of Vermont or any department, agency, or subdivision of the State, and any partnership, unincorporated association, or other legal entity. See
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.

§ 5781. Nonprofit organizations

A person who serves without compensation as a director, officer, or trustee of a nonprofit organization qualified as tax-exempt under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended, shall not be held personally liable for damages resulting from:

(1) any act or omission within the scope of the person’s official functions or duties which is done in good faith, unless it constitutes gross negligence or an intentional tort; however, this subdivision shall not protect a person from liability for damages which result from the operation of a motor vehicle;

(2) any act or omission of an employee of the nonprofit organization; or

(3) any act or omission of another director, officer, or trustee. (Added 1987, No. 45, eff. May 13, 1987.)