No Fiduciary Duty Re: Purchase of One Shareholder’s Stock by Another in a Close Corporation
In affirming Supreme Court’s dismissal of a cause of action for breach of fiduciary duty based on one shareholder’s purchase of another shareholder’s stock in a close corporation, the Second Department noted that the status of an officer, director or shareholder of a close corporation does not, without more, create a fiduciary relationship:
“The elements of a cause of action to recover damages for breach of fiduciary duty are (1) the existence of a fiduciary relationship, (2) misconduct by the defendant, and (3) damages directly caused by the defendant’s misconduct” … . “A fiduciary relationship exists between two persons when one of them is under a duty to act for . . . the benefit of another upon matters within the scope of the relation” …
Contrary to the plaintiff’s contention, [the purchaser’s] status as an officer, director, or shareholder of a close corporation “does not, by itself, create a fiduciary relationship as to his individual purchase of [another shareholder’s] stock” … . Varveris v Zacharakos, 2013 NY Slip Op 07028, 2nd Dept 10-30-13