American Samoa § 30.0199 - Court action

§ 30.0199. Court action

(a) If a demand for payment under section 30.0198 remains unsettled, the corporation shall commence a proceeding within 60 days after receiving the payment demand and petition the court to determine the fair value of the shares and accrued interest. If the corporation does not commence the proceeding with the 60 day period, it shall pay each dissenter whose demand remains unsettled the amount demanded. (b) The corporation shall commence the proceeding in the Trial Division of the High Court of American Samoa. (c) The corporation shall make all dissenters, whether or not residents of this Territory, whose demands remain unsettled parties to the proceeding as in an action against their shares and all parties must be served with a copy of the petition. Nonresidents may be served by registered or certified mail to his or her last known address. (d) The jurisdiction of the Trial Division of the High Court under subsection (b) is plenary and exclusive. The court may appoint one or more persons as appraisers to receive evidence and recommend decision on the question of fair value. The appraisers have the powers described in the order appointing them, or in any amendment to it. The dissenters are entitled to the same discovery rights as parties in other civil proceedings. (e) Each dissenter made a party to the proceeding is entitled to judgment (1) for the amount, if any, by which the court finds the fair value of his shares, plus interest, exceeds the amount paid by the corporation or (2) for the fair value, plus accrued interest, of his after-acquired shares for which the corporation elected to withhold payment under section 30.0197. (f) The court in an appraisal proceeding commenced under section 30.0199 shall determine all costs of the proceeding, including the reasonable compensation and expenses of appraisers appointed by the court. The court shall assess the costs against the corporation, except that the court may assess costs against all or some of the dissenters, in amount the court finds equitable, to the extent the court finds the dissenters acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith in demanding payment under section 30.0198. (g) The court may also assess the fees and expenses of counsel and experts for the respective parties, in amounts the court finds equitable: (1) against the corporation and in favor of any or all dissenters if the court finds the corporation did not substantially comply with the requirements of sections 30.0190 through 30.0198; or (2) against either the corporation or a dissenter, in favor of any other party, if the court finds that the party against whom the fees and expenses are assessed acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith with respect to the rights provided by this chapter.