In an appraisal proceeding, the court decides and allocates court costs and may shift expenses based on the parties’ conduct and the corporation’s compliance. A shareholder may sue for unpaid required payments and, if successful, recover suit expenses, but enforcement is perempted after five years from when payment became due.
§1-1331. Court costs and expenses A. The court in an appraisal proceeding commenced under R.S. 12:1-1330 shall determine all court costs of the proceeding, including the reasonable compensation and expenses of appraisers appointed by the court. The court shall assess the court costs against the corporation, except that the court may assess court costs against all or some of the shareholders demanding appraisal, in amounts which the court finds equitable, to the extent the court finds such shareholders acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith with respect to the rights provided by this Part. B. The court in an appraisal proceeding may also assess the expenses of the respective parties in amounts the court finds equitable against either of the following: (1) The corporation and in favor of any or all shareholders demanding appraisal if the court finds the corporation did not substantially comply with the requirements of R.S. 12:1-1320, 1-1322, 1-1324, or 1-1325. (2) Either the corporation or a shareholder demanding appraisal, in favor of any other party, if the court finds the party against whom expenses are assessed acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith with respect to the rights provided by this Part. C. If the court in an appraisal proceeding finds that the expenses incurred by any shareholder were of substantial benefit to other shareholders similarly situated and that such expenses should not be assessed against the corporation, the court may direct that such expenses be paid out of the amounts awarded the shareholders who were benefitted. D. To the extent the corporation fails to make a required payment pursuant to R.S. 12:1-1324, 1-1325, 1-1326, or 1-1330(A), the shareholder may sue directly for the amount owed, and to the extent successful, shall be entitled to recover from the corporation all expenses of the suit. The shareholder's right to enforce the corporation's payment obligation under this Subsection is perempted five years after the date that the payment by the corporation becomes due under the relevant provision. Acts 2014, No. 328, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2015.