Debarring Faithless Corporate and Religious Fiduciaries in Bankruptcy

27 Pages Posted: 20 Feb 2012

See all articles by Lyman Johnson

Lyman Johnson

Washington and Lee University - School of Law; University of St. Thomas, St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN - School of Law

Date Written: 2012

Abstract

Fiduciary duties for the top governance officials of both business and religious organizations demand faithfulness to the institution’s mission, a seemingly strict demand. Meaningful sanctions for breach, however, are difficult to obtain and may not deter future misconduct, including that kind of conduct leading to organizational bankruptcy. This article advocates that, to attain both special and general deterrence, bankruptcy law should look to other regulatory regimes and permit a bankruptcy court to debar faithless secular and ecclesiastical fiduciaries from holding certain leadership positions. Although written shortly before the 2012 Supreme Court Hosanna-Tabor decision, that opinion – addressing the “ministerial exception” for employees − does not alter the constitutional assessment of the position argued for in this article with respect to harm-causing, non-ministerial governing officials.

Keywords: fiduciary duty, breach of fiduciary duty, bankruptcy, bankruptcy law, law and religion, religious fiduciaries

Suggested Citation

Johnson, Lyman P. Q., Debarring Faithless Corporate and Religious Fiduciaries in Bankruptcy (2012). American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review, Vol. 19, p. 523, 2011, U of St. Thomas Legal Studies Research Paper No. 12-04, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2006750

Lyman P. Q. Johnson (Contact Author)

Washington and Lee University - School of Law ( email )

Lexington, VA 24450
United States
540-458-8515 (Phone)
540-458-8488 (Fax)

University of St. Thomas, St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN - School of Law

MSL 400, 1000 La Salle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN Minnesota 55403-2005
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
95
Abstract Views
1,136
Rank
495,746
PlumX Metrics