Florida Statute 617.0834 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research

The 2024 Florida Statutes

Title XXXVI
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

Chapter 617
CORPORATIONS NOT FOR PROFIT

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F.S. 617.0834

617.0834 Officers and directors of certain corporations and associations not for profit; immunity from civil liability.—

(1) An officer or director of a nonprofit organization recognized under s. 501(c)(3) or s. 501(c)(4) or s. 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or of an agricultural or a horticultural organization recognized under s. 501(c)(5), of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, is not personally liable for monetary damages to any person for any statement, vote, decision, or failure to take an action, regarding organizational management or policy by an officer or director, unless:

(a) The officer or director breached or failed to perform his or her duties as an officer or director; and

(b) The officer’s or director’s breach of, or failure to perform, his or her duties constitutes:

1. A violation of the criminal law, unless the officer or director had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A judgment or other final adjudication against an officer or director in any criminal proceeding for violation of the criminal law estops that officer or director from contesting the fact that his or her breach, or failure to perform, constitutes a violation of the criminal law, but does not estop the officer or director from establishing that he or she had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful;

2. A transaction from which the officer or director derived an improper personal benefit, directly or indirectly; or

3. Recklessness or an act or omission that was committed in bad faith or with malicious purpose or in a manner exhibiting wanton and willful disregard of human rights, safety, or property.

(2) For the purposes of this section, the term:

(a) “Recklessness” means the acting, or omission to act, in conscious disregard of a risk:

1. Known, or so obvious that it should have been known, to the officer or director; and

2. Known to the officer or director, or so obvious that it should have been known, to be so great as to make it highly probable that harm would follow from such action or omission.

(b) “Director” means a person who serves as a director, trustee, or member of the governing board of an organization.

(c) “Officer” means a person who serves as an officer without compensation except reimbursement for actual expenses incurred or to be incurred.

History.—s. 54, ch. 90-179; s. 92, ch. 97-102; s. 33, ch. 2009-205.

F.S. 617.0834 on Google Scholar

F.S. 617.0834 on Casetext

Amendments to 617.0834

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 617.0834

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 617.0834.

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 617.0834

Total Results: 13

King David of Sunny Isles Condominium Association, Inc. v. Alex Bushoy

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2024-07-17T00:00:00-07:00

Snippet: for monetary damages to the corporation”); § 617.0834(1)(b), Fla. Stat. (providing that directors of

CARLOS H. DOBAL v. VILLAS AT SOUTH BEACH CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC.

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2023-08-02T00:00:00-07:00

Snippet: for monetary damages as provided in s. 617.0834 if such officer, director, or agent breached…violation of criminal law as provided in s. 617.0834; [2] constitutes a transaction from which the

NEW HORIZONS CONDOMINIUM MASTER ASSOCIATION, INC. v. ROBERT HARDING

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2022-02-22T23:53:00-08:00

Snippet: regarding management or policy decisions . . . .”); § 617.0834(1), Fla. Stat. (extending business-judgment deference

ELENA COLLADO, ETC. v. BRIGITTE BAROUKH

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2017-08-30T00:53:00-07:00

Snippet: fiduciary duty as officers and directors. See § 617.0834, Fla. Stat. (2016). Upon remand, the owner

Collado v. Baroukh

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2017-08-30T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 226 So. 3d 924

Snippet: fiduciary duty as officers and directors. See § 617.0834, Fla. Stat. (2016). Upon remand, the owner shall

Raphael v. Silverman

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2009-11-25T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 22 So. 3d 837

Snippet: motion to dismiss, citing sections 607.0831(1) and 617.0834(1), Florida Statutes, which provide that condominium…; usual immunity. See §§ 607.0831(1)(b)2., and 617.0834(1)(b)2., Fla. Stat. (2008). But, Florida courts

Berg v. Wagner

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2006-08-09T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 935 So. 2d 100

Snippet: consequence of the immunity afforded them by section 617.0834, Florida Statutes, and the running of the statute…the grounds of the immunity afforded by section 617.0834.[2] Berg's counterclaims fairly *102 allege…appeal now appear in chapter 720. [2] Section 617.0834, Florida Statutes, provides that directors are

Accardi v. Hsia

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2005-09-07T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 944 So. 2d 1008

Snippet: self-dealing, or unjust enrichment. See §§ 617.0831, 617.0834(1), Fla. Stat.; see also Munder v. Circle One … protections afforded by sections 617.0831 and 617.0834(1). Therefore, we hold that the causes of action

Sonny Boy, LLC v. Asnani

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2004-05-28T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 879 So. 2d 25

Snippet: by condominium developer). Similarly, section 617.0834(1), Florida Statutes *28 (2002)[1] and section…condominium association director liability. Both section 617.0834(1) and section 607.0831(1) limit personal liability…Section 718.303(1) is in conflict with section 617.0834(1) and 607.0831(1). Nor do the other cases cited…inactions are willful and knowing. NOTES [1] Section 617.0834(1), Florida Statutes (2002), provides in part:

Fox v. Professional Wrecker Operators of Florida, Inc.

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 2001-11-30T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 801 So. 2d 175

Snippet: liability pursuant to section 617.0834. Fox specifically cites section 617.0834(1) in support of her argument…Fox that PWOF comes within the ambit of section 617.0834, which specifies that it only applies to corporations…Section 607.0831, which is analogous to section 617.0834, essentially provides that directors are immune

Perlow v. Goldberg

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1997-10-15T00:00:00-07:00

Citation: 700 So. 2d 148

Snippet: liability for monetary damages attaches. See § 617.0834(1), Fla. Stat.(1995);[1] § 607.0831(1), Fla. Stat…order of dismissal is affirmed. NOTES [1] Section 617.0834(1), Florida Statutes (1995), provides, in part

Landrum v. John Doe Pit Digger

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1997-07-09T00:53:00-07:00

Citation: 696 So. 2d 926

Snippet: apparent that Marv Silvern had violated section 617.0834, Florida Statutes. That order was not appealed

Brin v. Fuchs

Court: Fla. Dist. Ct. App. | Date Filed: 1997-03-05T00:00:00-08:00

Citation: 688 So. 2d 1022

Snippet: PER CURIAM. Affirmed. See § 617.0834, Fla. Stat. (1994). No. 95-3408 District Court