Liabilities to third partiesLiability to borrowersCases brought by borrowers are often referred to as “lender’s liability” cases. Suchsuits are normally brought against <strong>the</strong> institution itself but, in certain circumstances,may be brought against directors as well. Some examples of typical “lender’sliability” cases are as follows:• A suit by a borrower against a loan officer alleging misrepresentation – for example,that <strong>the</strong> officer promised to extend more credit or to grant an extension of time andthat when <strong>the</strong> officer failed to do so, <strong>the</strong> borrower’s business suffered.• Improper foreclosure or sale proceedings, including allegations that a loan officerfailed to conduct a “commercially reasonable” sale.• Violation of federal or state truth-in-lending laws.• “Slander of credit” cases arising out of a loan or credit officer’s statements to athird-party that effects a borrower’s credit.• “Domination and control” cases. Lenders who exercise domination and control overa borrower’s business to <strong>the</strong> detriment of <strong>the</strong> borrower or persons dealing with<strong>the</strong> borrower may be liable for duress, economic coercion and interference withcorporate governance.• “Bad faith” or breach of implied covenant of fair dealing.Liability to employeesDirectors are subject to liability for violations of laws protecting employees againstunlawful discrimination based on race, age or sex, as well as wrongful terminationand sexual harassment. Naturally, when corporate officers participate in a violation ofan employee’s civil rights, <strong>the</strong>y face potential personal liability. However, even if notdirectly involved in <strong>the</strong> wrongdoing, directors and officers may be liable under stateand common law for claims related to wrongful discharge, retaliation, workplaceharassment, defamation, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, andnegligent hiring, training, or supervision. Federal class action claims pursuant to TitleVII typically can be brought only against <strong>the</strong> corporation as <strong>the</strong> employer and notagainst any directors or officers. While most employment claims can be resolvedon an individual basis for relatively small sums, claims brought by senior officerswith high compensation or lucrative stock options can be difficult and expensive todefend and resolve. In addition, directors face far more significant potential exposurewhen <strong>the</strong>ir board decisions are perceived to have negatively impacted a class ofemployees, such as with large scale reductions-in-force.Liability to employee benefit plan participantsOfficers who serve as fiduciaries of <strong>the</strong>ir company’s employee benefit plans may benamed as defendants in suits brought by plan participants for <strong>the</strong>ir alleged loss or19Financial institutions guide
“In recent years, <strong>the</strong>re hasbeen a marked increase in<strong>the</strong> frequency and severity ofERISA class-action litigationagainst directors and officersfollowing a significant drop ina company’s stock price.”denial of benefits. Directors and officers may also face liability under <strong>the</strong> EmployeeRetirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) when <strong>the</strong>y function as fiduciaries,serve on committees that oversee or monitor <strong>the</strong> plans, or issue statements that mayinfluence a plan participant’s decisions with respect to <strong>the</strong> plan.In recent years, <strong>the</strong>re has been a marked increase in <strong>the</strong> frequency and severity ofERISA class-action litigation against directors and officers following a significantdrop in a company’s stock price. The lawsuits are typically filed by and on behalfof participants and beneficiaries of a company’s retirement plan when <strong>the</strong> planowns company stock as an investment option. Plaintiffs in <strong>the</strong>se lawsuits generallyallege that directors and officers breached <strong>the</strong>ir fiduciary duties under ERISA by (i)allowing <strong>the</strong> plan or its participants to purchase of company stock as an investmentoption when <strong>the</strong>y knew or should have known that <strong>the</strong> stock was not a prudentinvestment, or (ii) misrepresenting or failing to disclose to <strong>the</strong> plan participantsmaterial information about <strong>the</strong> company.20Financial institutions guide