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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 2Art. 4§ 9245 Director Liability For Distributions

§ 9245 Director Liability For Distributions

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 9245 Director Liability For Distributions

Key Takeaways

  • •Directors can be in trouble if they give out money or stuff from the company when they shouldn't, like when the company can't pay its bills.
  • •If the company is closing down, directors must make sure all the company's debts are paid before giving out any leftover money or stuff.
  • •Directors can't give loans or guarantees that break the rules set in another part of the law (Section 9241).
  • •If directors do something wrong, they might have to pay back the money or the value of the stuff they gave out, plus interest and other costs.

Example

A company is struggling and owes money to a lot of people. The directors decide to give some of the company's money to the owners even though the company can't pay all its bills.

The directors can get in trouble for giving out money when they should have used it to pay the company's debts. They might have to pay back that money, plus interest and other costs.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 9245 Director Liability For Distributions

(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 9241, directors of a corporation who approve any of the following corporate actions shall be jointly and severally liable to the corporation for: (1) The making of any distribution. (2) The distribution of assets after institution of dissolution proceedings of the corporation, without paying or adequately providing for all known liabilities of the corporation, excluding any claims not filed by creditors within the time limit set by the court in a notice given to creditors under Section 9680 and those sections made applicable to this part by Section 9680. (3) The making of any loan or guaranty contrary to Section 9241. (b) Suit may be brought in the name of the corporation to enforce the liability: (1) Under paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) against any or all directors liable by the persons entitled to sue under subdivision (b) of Section 9610; (2) Under paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (a) against any or all directors liable by any one or more creditors of the corporation whose debts or claims arose prior to the time of the corporate action who have not consented to the corporate action, whether or not they have reduced their claims to judgment. (c) The damages recoverable from a director under this section shall be the amount of the illegal distribution, or if the illegal distribution consists of property, the fair market value of that property at the time of the illegal distribution, plus interest thereon from the date of the distribution at the legal rate on judgments until paid, together with all reasonably incurred costs of appraisal or other valuation, if any, of that property, or the loss suffered by the corporation as a result of the illegal loan or guaranty. (d) Any director sued under this section may implead all other directors liable and may compel contribution, either in that action or in an independent action against directors not joined in that action. (e) Directors liable under this section shall also be entitled to be subrogated to the rights of the corporation as follows: (1) With respect to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), against members who received the distribution. (2) With respect to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a), against the members who received the distribution. (3) With respect to paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), against the person who received the loan or guaranty. Any director sued under this section may file a cross-complaint against the person or persons who are liable to the director as a result of the subrogation provided for in this subdivision or may proceed against them in an independent action. (Amended by Stats. 1999, Ch. 453, Sec. 21. Effective January 1, 2000.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

corporationdistributiondissolutionjudgmentliabilitydamagespropertyclaim

Related Statutes

  • § 5237 Director Liability For Distributions
  • § 7236 Director Liability For Distributions
  • § 7225 Corporate Deadlock Resolution
  • § 9241 Director Duties And Reliance
  • § 12626 Corporate Winding Up Claims

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 9245.
View Official Source