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HomeCorporations CodeCh. 5Art. 2§ 12475 Nominee Material Publication Rules

§ 12475 Nominee Material Publication Rules

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

§ 12475 Nominee Material Publication Rules

This law says a company can't refuse to send out or publish stuff from someone running for a director spot just because they don't like what it says. If the stuff causes problems, the person who wrote it is responsible, not the company.

Key Takeaways

  • •Companies must send out or publish stuff from people running for director, even if they don't like what it says.
  • •If the stuff causes problems, the person who wrote it is responsible, not the company.
  • •The company can ask a court for help if they think the stuff will cause them big trouble.

Example

Imagine someone running for a spot on a company's board writes a letter saying bad things about the company. The company has to send this letter to everyone, even if they don't like what it says.

The company can't say no to sending the letter just because they don't like it. If the letter causes trouble, the person who wrote it has to fix it, not the company.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 12475 Nominee Material Publication Rules

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), no corporation may decline to publish or mail material, otherwise required to be published or mailed on behalf of any nominee under this article, on the basis of the content of such material. (b) Neither the corporation, nor its agents, officers, directors, or employees, may be held criminally liable, liable for any negligence (active or passive) or otherwise liable for damages to any person on account of any material which is supplied by a nominee for director and which it mails or publishes pursuant to Section 12473 or 12474 but the nominee on whose behalf such material was published or mailed shall be liable and shall indemnify and hold the corporation, its agents, officers, directors, and employees and each of them harmless from all demands, costs, including reasonable legal fees and expenses, claims, damages and causes of action arising out of such material or any such mailing or publication. (c) Nothing in this section shall prevent a corporation or any of its agents, officers, directors, or employees from seeking a court order relieving the corporation from its obligation under Section 12473 or 12474 on the ground the material will expose the moving party to liability. (Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 1625, Sec. 3. Operative January 1, 1984.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

corporationnomineeliabilitycourt order

Related Statutes

  • § 5525 Corporate Election Material Liability
  • § 7525 Corporate Election Material Liability
  • § 100 Member Director Nomination Rules
  • § 12466 Member Signature Acceptance Rules
  • § 12473 Corporate Director Nomination Fairness

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 12475.
View Official Source