South Dakota Codified Laws 55-1A-32.1. Trustee immunity from liability for failure to prosecute, defend, or continue to defend
If the trustee fails to prosecute, defend, or continue to defend the trust or its assets because the conditions set forth in subdivision 55-1A-32(1) or (2) have not been fulfilled, the trustee is not liable for any such failure even if the failure, including without limitation a withdrawal from a proceeding, may result in the granting or awarding of relief against the trustee or the trust, including without limitation a distribution of trust assets in satisfaction of a claim.
For purposes of chapter 55-1A, the term, prosecute, or, defend or continue to defend, means:
Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 55-1A-32.1
- Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
- Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
- Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
- Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
(1) Instituting, participating in, intervening in or defending a lawsuit, action in equity or administrative, arbitration or mediation proceeding (collectively a proceeding); or
(2) Taking any other action to resist such claim.
This section and § 55-1A-32 control unless the governing instrument specifically provides otherwise.
Source: SL 2017, ch 204, § 14.