Practice point: In New York, shareholders have both statutory and common-law rights to inspect a corporation's books and records, so long as the shareholders seek the inspection in good faith and for a valid purpose. A shareholder's concerns about board mismanagement and excessive expenditures and
wasteful dissipation of corporate assets are, on their face, a proper
purpose, even if the inspection ultimately establishes that the board
had engaged in no wrongdoing. Because the common-law right of inspection is broader than the statutory right, petitioners are entitled to inspect books and records beyond the specific materials delineated in Business Corporation Law § 624 (b) and (e).
Case: Matter of Pokoik v. 575 Realties, Inc., NY Slip Op 06648 (1st Dep't October 11, 2016)
Here is the decision.
Monday's issue: Dismissal of a Labor Law § 240(1) claim,
