181.25(1)(1) The officers of a corporation shall consist of a president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary, each of whom shall be elected or appointed at such time and in such manner and for such terms not exceeding 3 years as may be prescribed in the articles of incorporation or the bylaws. In the absence of any such provision, all officers shall be elected or appointed annually by the board of directors. If the bylaws so provide, any 2 or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of president and secretary, and the offices of president and vice president.
181.25(2)
(2) All officers and agents of the corporation, as between themselves and the corporation, shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the corporation as may be provided in the articles of incorporation or in the bylaws, or as may be determined by resolution of the board of directors not inconsistent with the articles of incorporation or the bylaws.
181.25(3)
(3) The articles of incorporation or the bylaws may provide that any one or more officers of the corporation shall be members of the board of directors.
181.25(4)
(4) The officers of a corporation may be designated by such other titles as may be provided in the articles of incorporation or the bylaws; and in such case any document required or permitted by this chapter to be signed by the president, vice president, secretary or assistant secretary may be signed by such officer as may be stated in such document to correspond to the officer so required or permitted to sign.
181.25 History
History: 1979 c. 110.
181.26
181.26
Removal of officers. Any officer or agent elected or appointed may be removed by the persons authorized to elect or appoint such officer whenever in their judgment the best interests of the corporation will be served thereby. The removal of an officer shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the officer so removed. Election or appointment shall not of itself create contract rights.
181.26 Annotation
See note to 181.20, citing Attoe v. Madison Pro. Policemen's Asso. 79 W (2d) 199, 255 NW (2d) 489.
181.265
181.265
Report of names and addresses of officers or directors. Whenever initial officers are selected, or changes are made in the principal officers or directors of a corporation, the corporation may file with the department a report setting forth the names and addresses of all the principal officers or directors, or both if there have been changes in both.
181.265 History
History: 1983 a. 27;
1995 a. 27.
181.27
181.27
Books and records. 181.27(1)(1) Each corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of its members, board of directors and committees having any of the authority of the board of directors; and shall keep at its principal office or at the office of its secretary a record giving the names and addresses of members entitled to vote, or records showing where such information can be obtained. Any books, records or minutes may be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. All relevant books and records of a corporation may be inspected by any member, or the member's agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.
181.27(2)
(2) In any pending action or proceeding, or upon petition for such purpose, any court of record in this state may, upon notice fixed by the court, hearing and proper cause shown, and upon suitable terms, order any or all of the books and records of account, minutes, and record of members of a corporation, and any other pertinent documents in its possession, or transcripts from or duly authenticated copies thereof, to be brought within this state, and kept therein at such place and for such time and for such purposes as may be designated in such order; and any corporation failing to comply with such order shall be subject to involuntary dissolution under this chapter, and all its directors and officers shall be liable to be punished for contempt of court for disobedience of such order.
181.27 History
History: 1973 c. 128;
1993 a. 482.
181.27 Annotation
Member of corporation was properly denied access to contents of legal opinion given to corporation. Belth v. American Risk & Ins. Assn., 141 W (2d) 65, 413 NW (2d) 654 (Ct. App. 1987).
181.28
181.28
Shares of stock and dividends prohibited. A corporation shall not have or issue shares of stock. No dividend shall be paid and no part of the income of a corporation shall be distributed to its members, directors or officers. A corporation may pay compensation in a reasonable amount to members, directors or officers for services rendered, may confer benefits upon its members in conformity with its purposes and may make distributions upon dissolution or final liquidation as permitted by this chapter, and no such payment, benefit or distribution shall be deemed to be a dividend or a distribution of income.
181.283
181.283
Reliance by directors or officers. Unless the director or officer has knowledge that makes reliance unwarranted, a director or officer, in discharging his or her duties to the corporation, may rely on information, opinions, reports or statements, any of which may be written or oral, formal or informal, including financial statements and other financial data, if prepared or presented by any of the following:
181.283(1)
(1) An officer or employe of the corporation whom the director or officer believes in good faith to be reliable and competent in the matters presented.
181.283(2)
(2) Legal counsel, public accountants or other persons as to matters the director or officer believes in good faith are within the person's professional or expert competence.
181.283(3)
(3) In the case of reliance by a director, a committee of the board of directors of which the director is not a member if the director believes in good faith that the committee merits confidence.
181.283 History
History: 1987 a. 13.
181.285
181.285
Consideration of interests in addition to members' interests. In discharging his or her duties to the corporation and in determining what he or she believes to be in the best interests of the corporation, a director or officer may, in addition to considering the effects of any action on members, consider the following:
181.285(1)
(1) The effects of the action on employes, suppliers and customers of the corporation.
181.285(2)
(2) The effects of the action on communities in which the corporation operates.
181.285(3)
(3) Any other factors the director or officer considers pertinent.
181.285 History
History: 1987 a. 13.
181.287
181.287
Limited liability of directors and officers. 181.287(1)(1) Except as provided in
subs. (2) and
(3), a director or officer is not liable to the corporation, its members or creditors, or any person asserting rights on behalf of the corporation, its members or creditors, or any other person, for damages, settlements, fees, fines, penalties or other monetary liabilities arising from a breach of, or failure to perform, any duty resulting solely from his or her status as a director or officer, unless the person asserting liability proves that the breach or failure to perform constitutes any of the following:
181.287(1)(a)
(a) A wilful failure to deal fairly with the corporation or its members in connection with a matter in which the director or officer has a material conflict of interest.
181.287(1)(b)
(b) A violation of criminal law, unless the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
181.287(1)(c)
(c) A transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal profit.
181.287(2)
(2) Except as provided in
sub. (3), this section does not apply to any of the following:
181.287(2)(a)
(a) A civil or criminal proceeding brought by or on behalf of any governmental unit, authority or agency.
181.287(2)(b)
(b) A proceeding brought by any person for a violation of state or federal law where the proceeding is brought pursuant to an express private right of action created by state or federal statute.
181.287(3)
(3) Subsection (2) (a) and
(b) does not apply to a proceeding brought by a governmental unit, authority or agency in its capacity as a private party or contractor.
181.287 History
History: 1987 a. 13.
181.287 Annotation
Director was not immune from personal contract liability where he acted as agent of corporation whose corporate status was partially disclosed in negotiating contract. Benjamin Plumbing, Inc. v. Barnes, 162 W (2d) 837, 456 NW (2d) 628 (1991).
181.287 Annotation
For the exemption to immunity under sub. (2) (d) for willful misconduct to apply, a creditor must show something additional to the dishonesty necessary to pierce the corporate veil. IGL-Wisconsin Awning v. Milwaukee Air & Water Show, 185 W (2d) 864, 524 NW (2d) 140 (Ct. App. 1994).
181.287 Annotation
Cooperative indemnification. La Rowe and Weine. WBB Sept. 1988.
181.29
181.29
Directors' liability on loans to officers and directors. In addition to any other liabilities imposed by law, directors who vote in favor of making a loan to an officer or director of the corporation shall be jointly and severally liable to the corporation for the amount of the loan until repaid, unless the directors prove that the loan was made for a proper purpose in furtherance of the corporation's affairs.
Section 181.287 does not apply to the liability of a director under this section.
181.29 History
History: 1987 a. 13.
181.295
181.295
Members' derivative actions. 181.295(1)
(1) No action may be instituted or maintained in the right of any corporation by a member of such corporation unless:
181.295(1)(a)
(a) The plaintiff alleges in the complaint that the plaintiff was a member at the time of the transaction or any part thereof of which the plaintiff complains, or that the plaintiff's membership thereafter devolved upon the plaintiff by operation of law from a member who was a member at the time of the transaction or any part thereof complained of.
181.295(1)(b)
(b) The plaintiff alleges in the complaint with particularity the plaintiff's efforts to secure from the board of directors such action as the plaintiff desires and alleges further that the plaintiff has either informed the corporation or such board of directors in writing of the ultimate facts of each cause of action against each such defendant director or delivered to the corporation or such board of directors a true copy of the complaint which the plaintiff proposes to file, and the reasons for the plaintiff's failure to obtain such action or the reasons for not making such effort.
181.295(1)(c)
(c) The complaint in any such action shall be filed within 20 days after the action is commenced.
181.295(2)
(2) The action shall not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the court.
181.295(3)
(3) If anything is recovered or obtained as the result of the action whether by means of a compromise and settlement or by a judgment, the court may, out of the proceeds of the action, award the plaintiff the reasonable expenses of maintaining the action, including reasonable attorneys' fees, and may direct the plaintiff to account to the corporation for the remainder of such proceeds.
181.295(4)
(4) In any action brought in the right of any corporation by fewer than 3% of the members, the defendants shall be entitled on application to the court to require the plaintiff or plaintiffs to give security for the reasonable expenses, including attorney fees. The amount of such security may thereafter from time to time be increased or decreased in the discretion of the court having jurisdiction of such action upon showing that the security provided has or may become inadequate or is excessive.
181.295 History
History: 1973 c. 128;
1993 a. 482,
490.
181.297
181.297
Limited liability of volunteers. 181.297(1)
(1)
Definition. In this section, "volunteer" means a natural person, other than an employe of the corporation, who provides services to or on behalf of the corporation without compensation.
181.297(2)
(2) Immunity. Except as provided in
sub. (3), a volunteer is not liable to any person for damages, settlements, fees, fines, penalties or other monetary liabilities arising from any act or omission as a volunteer, unless the person asserting liability proves that the act or omission constitutes any of the following:
181.297(2)(a)
(a) A violation of criminal law, unless the volunteer had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
181.297(2)(c)
(c) If the volunteer is a director or officer of the corporation, an act or omission within the scope of the volunteer's duties as a director or officer.
181.297(2)(d)
(d) An act or omission for which the volunteer received compensation or anything of substantial value in lieu of compensation.
181.297(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), this section does not apply to any of the following:
181.297(3)(a)1.
1. A civil or criminal proceeding brought by or on behalf of any governmental unit, authority or agency.
181.297(3)(a)2.
2. A proceeding brought by any person for a violation of state or federal law where the proceeding is brought pursuant to an express private right of action created by state or federal statute.
181.297(3)(a)3.
3. Claims arising from the negligent operation of an automobile, truck, train, airplane or other vehicle by a volunteer.
181.297(3)(a)4.
4. A proceeding against a volunteer who is licensed, certified, permitted or registered under state law and which is based upon an act or omission within the scope of practice under the volunteer's license, certificate, permit or registration.
181.297(3)(b)
(b) Paragraph (a) 1. and
2. does not apply to a proceeding brought by or on behalf of a governmental unit, authority or agency in its capacity as a contractor.
181.297 Annotation
For the exemption to immunity under sub. (2) (b) for willful misconduct to apply, a creditor must show something additional to the dishonesty necessary to pierce the corporate veil. IGL-Wisconsin Awning v. Milwaukee Air & Water Show, 185 W (2d) 864, 524 NW (2d) 140 (Ct. App. 1994).
181.30
181.30
Incorporators. One or more natural persons of the age of 18 years or more may act as incorporator or incorporators of a corporation by signing, acknowledging and filing articles of incorporation for such corporation.
181.30 History
History: 1971 c. 213 s.
5;
1981 c. 337.
181.31
181.31
Articles of incorporation. 181.31(1)
(1) The articles of incorporation shall set forth:
181.31(1)(c)
(c) The purpose or purposes for which the corporation is organized. It shall be a sufficient compliance with this paragraph to state, either alone or with other purposes, that the corporation may engage in any lawful activity within the purposes for which corporations may be organized under this chapter, and all such lawful activities shall by such statement be deemed within the purposes of the corporation, subject to expressed limitations, if any.
181.31(1)(d)
(d) If the corporation is to have no members, a statement to that effect.
181.31(1)(e)
(e) If the corporation is to have one or more classes of members, any provision desired to be set forth designating the class or classes of members and stating the qualifications and rights of the members of each class.
181.31(1)(f)
(f) If the directors or any of them are not to be elected or appointed by one or more classes of members, a statement of the manner in which such directors shall be elected or appointed, or that the manner of such election or appointment shall be provided in the bylaws.
181.31(1)(g)
(g) The mailing address and county of the principal office of the corporation in some city, village or town in this state and the name and address, including street and number, if any, of its initial registered agent.
181.31(1)(h)
(h) The number of directors or manner of fixing the number of directors, or a provision that the number of directors shall be fixed by or in the manner provided in the bylaws, and the name and address of each of the initial directors.
181.31(1)(i)
(i) The name and address, including the street and street number, if any, of each incorporator.
181.31(2)
(2) It shall not be necessary to set forth in the articles of incorporation any of the corporate powers enumerated in this chapter. The articles of incorporation may include any provision, not inconsistent with law, which the incorporators elect to set forth in the articles of incorporation including any provision which under this chapter is required or permitted to be set forth in the bylaws and any provision for distribution of assets on dissolution or final liquidation. Whenever a provision of the articles of incorporation is inconsistent with a bylaw, the provision of the articles of incorporation shall be controlling.
181.32
181.32
Filing and recording articles of incorporation. 181.32(1)(1) The articles of incorporation shall be filed and recorded as provided in
s. 181.67. Duplicate originals of the articles of incorporation shall be submitted to the department. The department shall file one original and forward the other within 5 days to the register of deeds of the county in which the corporation's principal office is located for recording. On filing an original, the department shall issue a certificate of incorporation.
181.32(2)
(2) Upon issuing a certificate of incorporation, the department shall inform the corporation of the reporting requirements under
s. 440.42 for charitable organizations that solicit contributions.
181.32 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See s.
14.38 (14) for provision that certain corporate documents may not be filed with secretary of state unless they bear the drafter's name.
