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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 4Art. 2§ 12455 Prohibited Distribution Liability

§ 12455 Prohibited Distribution Liability

Corporations Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 12455 Prohibited Distribution Liability

This law says if someone gets money from a company that they shouldn't have gotten, they have to pay it back with interest. It also lets creditors sue to get that money back if the company can't pay its debts.

Key Takeaways

  • •If you get money from a company that you know they shouldn't be giving you, you have to pay it back with interest.
  • •Creditors can sue to get this money back if the company owes them money and can't pay.
  • •The person who got the money can also be forced to share the cost with others who got money improperly.

Example

A company is struggling and owes money to suppliers. The owner takes out a big chunk of money for themselves, even though they know the company can't afford it.

The owner would have to pay back that money with interest. The suppliers can also sue the owner to get their money back if the company can't pay them.

How to Calculate

Amount received + (Amount received * legal interest rate * time until paid)

  1. Find out how much money was received improperly.
  2. Find the legal interest rate for judgments in your state.
  3. Multiply the amount received by the interest rate and the time (in years) until it's paid back.
  4. Add this interest to the original amount to get the total amount to be repaid.

Someone received $10,000 they shouldn't have, and the legal interest rate is 5% per year. They pay it back after 2 years.

Result: $10,000 + ($10,000 * 0.05 * 2) = $11,000

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 12455 Prohibited Distribution Liability

(a) Any person who with knowledge of facts indicating the impropriety thereof receives any distribution, including a payment in redemption of a membership, prohibited by this chapter is liable to the corporation for the amount so received by the person with interest thereon at the legal rate on judgments until paid. (b) Any person who with knowledge of facts indicating the impropriety thereof receives any distribution, including a payment in redemption of a membership, prohibited by this chapter is liable to the corporation for the benefit of all of the creditors entitled to institute an action under subdivision (c) for the amount so received by the person with interest thereon at the legal rate on judgments until paid, but not exceeding the liabilities of the corporation owed to nonconsenting creditors at the time of the violation. (c) Suit may be brought in the name of the corporation to enforce the liability to creditors arising under subdivision (b) for a violation of Section 12452 or 12453 against any or all persons liable by any one or more creditors of the corporation whose debts or claims arose prior to the time of the distribution and who have not consented thereto, whether or not they have reduced their claims to judgment. (d) Any person sued under subdivision (b) may implead all other persons liable under subdivision (b) and may in the absence of fraud by the moving party compel contribution, either in that action or in an independent action against persons not joined in that action. (Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 812, Sec. 17.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

prohibited distributionpayment in redemption of a membershipliable to the corporationnonconsenting creditorslegal rate on judgments

Related Statutes

  • § 7420 Improper Distribution Liability
  • § 28210 Licensee Governing Body Requirements
  • § 28211 Annual Licensee Board Meetings
  • § 28212 Investment Advisor Contract Approval
  • § 5420 Distribution Liability Recovery

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 12455.
View Official Source