Oregon Statutes 554.140 – Directors duty to institute proceedings to enforce lien; attorney fees
(1) The board of directors shall institute proceedings to enforce the lien of any assessment when the last installment of such assessment is delinquent for more than three months. If the board fails to promptly institute and diligently prosecute in good faith proceedings for enforcement of a lien after that time and any member or creditor of the corporation shall give written notice to the board of such delinquency and request that such procedure be instituted and the board neglects for 30 days thereafter in good faith to bring suit to enforce the lien, the members of the board so failing shall each be jointly and severally liable to the corporation in the amount of the delinquent assessment.
Terms Used In Oregon Statutes 554.140
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
- Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(2) Any member or creditor of the corporation may bring an action on behalf of the corporation in its name against any such directors to enforce the payment thereof; however, no directors shall be personally liable for payment of a delinquent assessment if:
(a) The record of proceedings of a duly constituted meeting of the board held prior to the commencement of such action show either that such director presented or voted in favor of a resolution presented and voted upon by the board calling for the prompt commencement of such enforcement proceedings; or
(b) If no meeting of the board was held between the time prescribed for enforcement of a delinquent assessment lien and the commencement of an action against the directors by a member or creditor of the corporation, that such director duly requested a special meeting of the board of directors be called for the purpose of adopting such a resolution and that the proposed resolution was submitted with the request.
(3) In any legal proceeding instituted by the board of directors of the corporation as provided in this section, the court may award to the prevailing party, in addition to the costs and disbursements of such proceedings, a reasonable attorney fee at trial and on appeal. [Amended by 1963 c.549 § 1; 1981 c.897 § 65; 1995 c.618 § 87]