Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 450.1497 (2026)

Termination of derivative proceeding; order of court.

✓ current as of July 2026
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BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT


Act 284 of 1972


450.1497 Termination of derivative proceeding; order of court.

Sec. 497.

    On termination of the derivative proceeding, the court may order 1 of the following:

    (a) The plaintiff to pay any of the defendant's reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred in defending the proceeding if it finds that the proceeding was commenced or maintained in bad faith or without reasonable cause.

    (b) The corporation to pay the plaintiff's reasonable expenses, including reasonable attorney fees, incurred in the proceeding if it finds that the proceeding has resulted in a substantial benefit to the corporation. The court shall direct the plaintiff to account to the corporation for any proceeds received by the plaintiff in excess of expenses awarded by the court, except that this shall not apply to a judgment rendered for the benefit of an injured shareholder only and limited to a recovery of the loss or damage sustained by him or her.

History: Add. 1989, Act 121, Eff. Oct. 1, 1989

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 2017–2017 · leading case: Frank Kern III v. Bonnie Kern-Koskela (Mich. Ct. App. 2017).
Frank Kern III v. Bonnie Kern-Koskela (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 6× “In any event, plaintiff is not entitled to attorney fees and costs under MCL 450.1497. The statute specifically states that a court “may” order a corporation to pay the plaintiff’s reasonable expenses and fees if it finds that the derivative action resulted in a substantial…”
Willner v. Syntel, Inc., 256 F. Supp. 3d 684 (E.D. Mich. 2017). “Laws § 450.1497(b) (emphasis added), and the statutes further define a “proceeding” as “a civil suit.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 450.1497(a) — 1 case
Frank Kern III v. Bonnie Kern-Koskela (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “In any event, plaintiff is not entitled to attorney fees and costs under MCL 450.1497. The statute specifically states that a court “may” order a corporation to pay the plaintiff’s reasonable expenses and fees if it finds that the derivative action resulted in a substantial…”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 450.1497(b) — 2 cases
Frank Kern III v. Bonnie Kern-Koskela (Mich. Ct. App. 2017). “In any event, plaintiff is not entitled to attorney fees and costs under MCL 450.1497. The statute specifically states that a court “may” order a corporation to pay the plaintiff’s reasonable expenses and fees if it finds that the derivative action resulted in a substantial…”
Willner v. Syntel, Inc., 256 F. Supp. 3d 684 (E.D. Mich. 2017). “Laws § 450.1497(b) (emphasis added), and the statutes further define a “proceeding” as “a civil suit.”
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