35-18-325. Duties of trustees and officers. - Montana Statutes

     35-18-325. Duties of trustees and officers. (1) A trustee or officer shall discharge the duties of the office, including the trustee's or officer's duties as a member of any committee:
     (a) in good faith;
     (b) with the care that an ordinarily prudent person in a similar position would exercise under similar circumstances; and
     (c) in a manner that the trustee or officer reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the cooperative.
     (2) In discharging duties, a trustee or officer is entitled to rely on factual information, opinions, reports, or statements, including but not limited to financial statements and other financial information, if prepared and presented by:
     (a) one or more officers or employees of the cooperative whom the trustee or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the subject matter presented;
     (b) attorneys, public accountants, engineers, or other persons with regard to subject matters that the trustee or officer reasonably believes are within the person's professional or expert competence; or
     (c) a committee of the board of trustees or officers of which the trustee or officer is not a member if the trustee or officer reasonably believes that the committee merits confidence.
     (3) A trustee or officer is not acting in good faith if the trustee or officer has knowledge concerning the matter in question that makes reliance otherwise permitted by subsection (2) unwarranted.
     (4) A trustee or officer is not liable for any action taken as a trustee or officer or for any failure to take any action if the trustee or officer performs the duties of the office in compliance with this section.

     History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 173, L. 2001.