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HRS §414D-164

How a company decides whether to pay a director's legal costs

This section explains who can decide if a corporation may pay a director's legal costs. The decision must be made by people who are not involved in the lawsuit. If the board cannot decide, a committee or a special lawyer can do it.

The statute, as written — Determination and authorization of indemnification

(a) A corporation may not indemnify a director under section 414D-160 unless authorized in the specific case after a determination has been made that the director has met the standard of conduct set forth in section 414D-160. (b) The determination shall be made by the board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not at the time parties to the proceeding. (c) The determination shall be made by majority vote of a committee duly designated by the board of directors (in which designation directors who are parties may participate) consisting solely of two or more directors not at the time parties to the proceeding if a quorum cannot be obtained under subsection (b). (d) The determination shall be made by special legal counsel selected by: (1) The board of directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in subsection (b) or (c); or (2) Majority vote of the full board (in which selection directors who are parties may participate) if a quorum of the board cannot be obtained under subsection (b) and a committee cannot be designated under subsection (c). (e) The determination shall be made by the members but directors who are at the time parties to the proceeding may not vote on the determination. (f) Authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible, except that if the determination is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made by those entitled under subsection (d) to select counsel.
Read the official text at capitol.hawaii.gov ↗as published Jan 6, 2026our copy taken Aug 20, 2026

Sections this one refers to

§414D-160 When a company can pay a director's legal costs

LawTrove is not legal advice. The summary above is a computer-generated restatement — the authoritative text is the official version linked above.