Context Matters: Fiduciaries and the Rule Against Self-Dealing

Fiduciary duties can arise out of many different relationships. Aside from defining the terms of the fiduciary’s responsibilities, the nature of that relationship can provide important policy context in the event of a dispute. The rule against self-dealing is one example of how policy considerations can change the outcome of a case.

In Smith Angus Ranch, Inc. v. Hurst,1 the South Dakota Supreme Court discussed the differences in the fiduciary duties owed by a corporate officer to a closely held company and its shareholders, and the fiduciary duties owed by a person acting as a power of attorney.

Dee Smith was the sole shareholder, director, and officer of Smith Angus Ranch. Travis Hurst began working for the Smiths in 1994. Travis was eventually added as a signatory to the ranch’s checking account and made purchases on that account. When Dee began to experience health issues in 2013, she added Travis as a director and officer of the ranch, although the changes in title roles did not meaningfully alter the operation of the ranch.

While serving as a director and officer, Travis wrote checks from the ranch’s account to, among other things, purchase a vehicle for his son, a vehicle for himself, and other supplies for a different ranch that Travis himself owned. According to Travis, Dee had authorized the self-dealing transactions. Dee also transferred land, vehicles, and cattle to Travis.

When Dee passed away in 2015, her will passed her shares in the ranch to her sons. It also forgave the outstanding amounts that Travis owed Dee for the ranch land. Dee’s sons, the new owners of the ranch, filed suit against Travis, alleging, among other claims, that he breached his fiduciary duties to the ranch by engaging in self-dealing transactions and usurping corporate opportunities.

As a general rule, fiduciaries may not engage in self-dealing and may not prioritize their own personal interests at the expense of their obligations The primary issue on appeal before the South Dakota Supreme Court was a rule, most recently stated in Stoebner v. Huether,2 that no extrinsic oral evidence may be introduced to raise a factual issue as to whether an attorney-in-fact was authorized to self-deal under a power of attorney. In other words, a person acting under a power of attorney (who is a fiduciary) cannot give things to himself or herself and later claim that the principal said it was OK.

In distinguishing between a fiduciary acting under a power of attorney and a fiduciary who is a corporate officer, the court focused on the vulnerability of a principal who is represented by a person acting under a power of attorney: the vulnerability that merits a heightened protection against self-dealing by the fiduciary.3 By contrast, state statute does not require a corporate fiduciary to obtain written authorization to avoid liability for self-dealing—a legislative recognition that the risk of abuse by a corporate fiduciary is lower than the risk of abuse by a fiduciary acting under a power of attorney.

In the Smith Angus Ranch case, because Travis was acting as a corporate director and officer, he was not subject to the bright-line rule against the introduction of extrinsic oral evidence authorizing self-dealing, and the South Dakota Supreme Court remanded for further consideration.

If you are a fiduciary, whether in a corporate context or a power-of-attorney or trust context, policy considerations can impact your exposure to a potential claim for breach of fiduciary duty. If you have questions on how to protect yourself and limit exposure to future claims, contact a member of our Wealth Planning and Disputes Group.