Montana Code 35-18-325. Duties of trustees and officers
35-18-325. Duties of trustees and officers. (1) A trustee or officer shall discharge the duties of the office, including the trustee’s or officer’s duties as a member of any committee:
Terms Used In Montana Code 35-18-325
- Cooperative: means a corporation organized under this chapter or a corporation that becomes subject to the provisions of this chapter. See Montana Code 35-18-102
- Member: means each incorporator of a cooperative and each person admitted to and retaining membership in a cooperative as provided by the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the cooperative, including persons admitted to joint membership. See Montana Code 35-18-102
- Person: includes any natural person, firm, association, corporation, business trust, partnership, federal agency, state or political subdivision or an agency of a state or political subdivision, or other organization or group of persons. See Montana Code 35-18-102
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
(a)in good faith;
(b)with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a similar position would exercise under similar circumstances; and
(c)in a manner that the trustee or officer reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the cooperative.
(2)In discharging duties, a trustee or officer is entitled to rely on factual information, opinions, reports, or statements, including but not limited to financial statements and other financial information, if prepared and presented by:
(a)one or more officers or employees of the cooperative whom the trustee or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the subject matter presented;
(b)attorneys, public accountants, engineers, or other persons with regard to subject matters that the trustee or officer reasonably believes are within the person’s professional or expert competence; or
(c)a committee of the board of trustees or officers of which the trustee or officer is not a member if the trustee or officer reasonably believes that the committee merits confidence.
(3)A trustee or officer is not acting in good faith if the trustee or officer has knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes reliance otherwise permitted by subsection (2) unwarranted.
(4)A trustee or officer is not liable for any action taken as a trustee or officer or for any failure to take any action if the trustee or officer performs the duties of the office in compliance with this section.