Piercing the corporate veil is an equitable remedy so you cannot plead it like you can plead breach of contract, negligence or fraud. It becomes an option to a creditor when it cannot satisfy a judgment against the corporation.
Thereof, can the corporate veil be pierced?
Veil piercing is most common in close corporations. While the law varies by state, generally courts have a strong presumption against piercing the corporate veil, and will only do so if there has been serious misconduct.
Besides, how do you prove piercing the corporate veil?
The Five Most Common Ways to Pierce the Corporate Veil and Impose Personal Liability for Corporate Debts
- The existence of fraud, wrongdoing, or injustice to third parties. …
- Failure to maintain the separate identities of the companies. …
- Failure to maintain separate identities of the company and its owners or shareholders.
Why is piercing the corporate veil important?
A key reason that business owners and managers choose to form a corporation or limited liability company (LLC) is so that they won’t be held personally liable for debts should the business be unable to pay its creditors. … When this happens it’s called “piercing the corporate veil.”
Is piercing the corporate veil a cause of action?
Piercing the corporate veil is not a cause of action but instead a “means of imposing liability in an underlying cause of action.” … In piercing the corporate veil, the objective is to reach assets of an affiliated corporation or individual shareholders.
When the corporate veil of a company is lifted?
This is known as ‘lifting of corporate veil‘. It refers to the situation where a shareholder is held liable for its corporation’s debts despite the rule of limited liability and/of separate personality. The veil doctrine is invoked when shareholders blur the distinction between the corporation and the shareholders.
How do you protect against the piercing of the corporate veil?
5 steps for maintaining personal asset protection and avoiding piercing the corporate veil
- Undertaking necessary formalities. …
- Documenting your business actions. …
- Don’t comingle business and personal assets. …
- Ensure adequate business capitalization. …
- Make your corporate or LLC status known.
What is reverse piercing the corporate veil?
The term “reverse piercing” the corporate veil refers to a doctrine whereby courts disregard the corporation as an entity separate from one of its shareholders.
What are the exceptions to the doctrine of corporate fiction?
The exception to this rule is when the separate personality of the corporation is used to “defeat public convenience, justify wrong, protect fraud or defend crime.
Can breach of contract pierce corporate veil?
Commingling one entity’s assets with another entity’s assets is a signifi-cant factor in favor of veil piercing. … A mere breach of contract was not enough to justify piercing the corporate veil, and Smith’s use of another company’s check did not rise to the level of “commingling” in light of all the evidence presented.
