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HRS §414-245When a court can order a company to pay a director's legal costs
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗A director who is sued because of their role can ask a court to order the company to pay their legal costs or advance them money for those costs. The court will order payment if the law or the company's rules require it, or if it is fair. The court can also order the company to pay the director's costs of asking the court.
courts
The statute, as written — Court-ordered indemnification and advance for expenses
A copy, taken August 20, 2026. The version published by the Legislature is the one that governs, and it may have changed since. Check it before relying on anything here.
(a) A director who is a party to a proceeding because the director is a director may apply for indemnification or an advance for expenses to the court conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. After receipt of an application and after giving any notice it considers necessary, the court shall: (1) Order indemnification if the court determines that the director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under section 414-243; (2) Order indemnification or advance for expenses if the court determines that the director is entitled to indemnification or advance for expenses pursuant to a provision authorized by section 414-249(a); or (3) Order indemnification or advance for expenses if the court determines, in view of all the relevant circumstances, that it is fair and reasonable: (A) To indemnify the director; or (B) To advance expenses to the director, even if the director has not met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in section 414-242(a), failed to comply with section 414-244 or was adjudged liable in a proceeding referred to in section 414-242(d)(1) or (2), but if the director was adjudged so liable the director's indemnification shall be limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding. (b) If the court determines that the director is entitled to indemnification under subsection (a)(1) or to indemnification or advance for expenses under subsection (a)(2), it shall also order the corporation to pay the director's reasonable expenses incurred in connection with obtaining court-ordered indemnification or advance for expenses. If the court determines that the director is entitled to indemnification or advance for expenses under subsection (a)(3), it may also order the corporation to pay the director's reasonable expenses to obtain court-ordered indemnification or advance for expenses.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026 Sections this one refers to
§414-242 When a company can pay a director's legal costs
§414-243 Mandatory indemnification
§414-244 When a company can pay a director's legal costs upfront
§414-249 How a corporation can promise to cover legal costs in advance
LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.