Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 35. CORPORATIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, AND ASSOCIATIONS

CHAPTER 2. NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS

Part 1. General

Judicial Relief

35-2-130. Judicial relief. (1) If for any reason it is impractical or impossible for a corporation to call or conduct a meeting of its members, delegates, or directors or to otherwise obtain their consent, in the manner prescribed by its articles, bylaws, or this chapter, then upon petition of a director, officer, delegate, member, or the attorney general, the state district court for the judicial district in which the principal office is located or, if the principal office is not located in this state, in Lewis and Clark County may order that a meeting be called or that a written ballot or other form of obtaining the vote of members, delegates, or directors be authorized, in the manner the court finds fair and equitable under the circumstances.

(2) In an order issued pursuant to this section, the court shall provide for a method of notice reasonably designed to give actual notice to all persons who would be entitled to notice of a meeting held pursuant to the articles, bylaws, and this chapter, whether or not the method results in actual notice to all persons entitled to notice or conforms to the notice requirements that would otherwise apply. In a proceeding under this section, the court may determine who the members or directors are.

(3) The order issued pursuant to this section may dispense with any requirement relating to the holding of or voting at meetings or obtaining votes, including any requirement as to quorums or as to the number or percentage of votes needed for approval, that would otherwise be imposed by the articles, bylaws, or this chapter.

(4) Whenever practical, an order issued pursuant to this section must limit the subject matter of meetings or other forms of consent authorized to approve items, including amendments to the articles or bylaws, the resolution of which will or may enable the corporation to continue managing its affairs without further resort to this section. However, an order under this section may also authorize the obtaining of votes and approvals necessary for dissolution, merger, or sale of assets.

(5) A meeting or other method of obtaining the vote of members, delegates, or directors that is conducted pursuant to an order issued under this section and that complies with all the provisions of the order is for all purposes a valid meeting or vote, and has the same force and effect as if it complied with every requirement imposed by the articles, bylaws, and this chapter.

History: En. Sec. 18, Ch. 411, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 36, Ch. 240, L. 2007.