Protection for CERCLA or Superfund Whistleblowers
Under Section 5(a) of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C.S. § 16(a), a final judgment in a successful federal government antitrust enforcement action is prima facie evidence in a subsequent private action for treble damages of the defendant's antitrust violation. However, a consent decree agreed to by a defendant in a federal government action before any testimony is taken is not considered prima facie evidence in a subsequent private action.
The Securities and Exchange Commission requires that open-ended mutual fund shares must be sold at their net asset value per share plus allowable sales charges or fees. Under Rule 22c-1 of the Commission, an issuer, underwriter, or dealer may not redeem or repurchase a share of a registered investment company or mutual fund "except at a price based on the current net asset value of such security..."
Companies which otherwise are attractive acquisition targets may have contingent liabilities that are difficult to assess. For example, a paint manufacturer may have used ingredients that later prove to be toxic. Present and future liability of the manufacturer for damages from sales of products with those ingredients may be anticipated, but the scope and cost of that liability may be too difficult to determine to support an acquisition value for the manufacturer.
In most states, the duty of obedience is recognized as one of the three fiduciary duties a director owes to the corporation. One component of the duty of obedience is that a director is prohibited from committing an ultra vires act. Ultra vires, translated from the Latin, means "beyond powers." An ultra vires act is beyond the scope of the powers bestowed on the corporation (and the director) by the corporate charter or bylaws. Thus, a director commits an ultra vires act when he acts without or beyond the authority vested in him by the corporation.
