Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

<i>Levandusky</i> After 25 Years

By Richard Siegler and Eva Talel
February 29, 2016

For over 25 years, the Court of Appeals' decision in Levandusky v. One Fifth Avenue Apartment Corp., 75 N.Y.2d 530 (1990) (affirmed in 40 West 67th Street v. Pullman, 100 N.Y.2d 147 (2003)), has stood for the proposition that the actions of condominium and co-op boards are entitled to judicial deference when made in the proper exercise of their business judgment. Levandusky held that discretionary board actions are subject to such deference unless the apartment or commercial unit owner who is challenging the board's action can show that the board acted in bad faith, outside of its authority or not in furtherance of the condominium or co-op's legitimate interests. This deference has been a powerful tool for boards, one that benefits the entities they serve and the overwhelming majority of apartment owners, and avoids the expense and disruption of litigation by encouraging summary dismissal of unwarranted claims.

This article updates our prior ones that dealt with Levandusky and its progeny. See, e.g., Siegler and Talel, “Business Judgment Rule: Board Protection Continues,” N.Y.L.J. , May 6, 2009, at 3, col. 1; Siegler and Talel, “'Levandusky' and Unprecedented Board Influence,” N.Y.L.J., Sept. 5, 2007, at 3, col. 1 and “'Levandusky' at 21: Board Protection Continues,” N.Y.L.J., May 4, 2011, at 3, col. 1. Herein, we review 13 recent cases, dating from 2011 through 2015, that invoked the business judgment rule. The cases discussed below show that Levandusky is still widely applied to give deference to a broad range of board actions.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.