Montana § 35-14-842 - Standards Of Conduct For Officers

§ 35-14-842. Standards Of Conduct For Officers

Standards of conduct for officers. (1) An officer, when performing in an official capacity, has the duty to act: (a) in good faith; (b) with the care that a person in a like position would reasonably exercise under similar circumstances; and (c) in a manner the officer reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the corporation. (2) The duty of an officer includes the obligation: (a) to inform the superior officer to whom or the board of directors or the board committee to which the officer reports of information about the affairs of the corporation known to the officer within the scope of the officer's functions and known to the officer to be material to the superior officer, board, or committee; and (b) to inform the officer's superior officer, another appropriate person within the corporation, or the board of directors, or a board committee of any actual or probable material violation of law involving the corporation or any material breach of duty to the corporation by an officer, employee, or agent of the corporation that the officer believes has occurred or is likely to occur. (3) In discharging the officer's duties, an officer who does not have knowledge that makes reliance unwarranted is entitled to rely on: (a) the performance of properly delegated responsibilities by one or more employees of the corporation whom the officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in performing the responsibilities delegated; or (b) information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, prepared or presented by one or more employees of the corporation whom the officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented or by legal counsel, public accountants, or other persons retained by the corporation as to matters involving skills or expertise the officer reasonably believes are matters: (i) within the particular person's professional or expert competence; or (ii) as to which the particular person merits confidence. (4) An officer is not liable to the corporation or its shareholders for any decision to take or not to take action or any failure to take any action as an officer if the duties of the office are performed in compliance with this section. Whether an officer who does not comply with this section has liability will depend in each instance on applicable law, including those principles of 35-14-831 that have relevance.