Mo. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 562
Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 562.056 (2026)

Liability of corporations and unincorporated associations

✓ current as of May 2026
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  562.056.  Liability of corporations and unincorporated associations. — 1.  A corporation is guilty of an offense if:

  (1)  The conduct constituting the offense consists of an omission to discharge a specific duty of affirmative performance imposed on corporations by law; or

  (2)  The conduct constituting the offense is engaged in by an agent of the corporation while acting within the scope of his or her employment and in behalf of the corporation, and the offense is a misdemeanor or an infraction, or the offense is one defined by a statute that clearly indicates a legislative intent to impose such criminal liability on a corporation; or

  (3)  The conduct constituting the offense is engaged in, authorized, solicited, requested, commanded or knowingly tolerated by the board of directors or by a high managerial agent acting within the scope of his or her employment and in behalf of the corporation.

  2.  An unincorporated association is guilty of an offense if:

  (1)  The conduct constituting the offense consists of an omission to discharge a specific duty of affirmative performance imposed on the association by law; or

  (2)  The conduct constituting the offense is engaged in by an agent of the association while acting within the scope of his or her employment and in behalf of the association and the offense is one defined by a statute that clearly indicates a legislative intent to impose such criminal liability on the association.

  3.  As used in this section:

  (1)  "Agent" means any director, officer or employee of a corporation or unincorporated association or any other person who is authorized to act in behalf of the corporation or unincorporated association;

  (2)  "High managerial agent" means an officer of a corporation or any other agent in a position of comparable authority with respect to the formulation of corporate policy or the supervision in a managerial capacity of subordinate employees.

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(L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491)

Effective 1-01-17

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1980–2008 · leading case: State v. Cmty. Alternatives Missouri, Inc., 267 S.W.3d 735 (Mo. Ct. App. 2008).
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State v. Cmty. Alternatives Missouri, Inc., 267 S.W.3d 735 (Mo. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 14× “[1] §§ 562.056 [2] and 630.155. This court affirms.”
Planned Parenthood Ass'n of Kansas City, Missouri, Inc. v. Ashcroft, 483 F. Supp. 679 (W.D. Mo. 1980). · cites it 2× “Plaintiffs’ medical experts testified of their use of the so-called “morning-after pill,” high dosage estrogen prescribed within 48-72 hours following intercourse.”
State v. Barnes, 245 S.W.3d 885 (Mo. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “They argue that under Section 562.056(3), if Barnes is individually liable, then the corporation cannot be.”
State v. Premier Serv. Corp., 765 S.W.2d 653 (Mo. Ct. App. 1989). · cites it 5× “Defendant overlooks § 562.056 RSMo 1978 (now 1986), the statute dealing with criminal liability of corporations and in effect when defendant was charged.”
State v. Boone Ret. Ctr., Inc., 26 S.W.3d 265 (Mo. Ct. App. 2000). · cites it 2× “Section 562.056. Both defendants argue that the evidence would not permit a reasonable juror to conclude that either’s actions were “practically certain” to cause an imminent danger to the health, safety or welfare of either facility resident.”
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 562.056(3): 1 case
State v. Barnes, 245 S.W.3d 885 (Mo. Ct. App. 2008). “They argue that under Section 562.056(3), if Barnes is individually liable, then the corporation cannot be.”
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