Hodder v. George Hogg Co.

Citations

• 223 Pa. 196
• 72 A. 553
• 1909 Pa. LEXIS 505

Syllabus

<p>Corporations — Stockholders—Inspection of books — Mandamus.</p> <p>1. A stockholder of a corporation has the right to inspect the books of the company at a proper time and in a proper way, even though his only object be to ascertain whether the business has been properly conducted; and the fact that he is interested in a competing company is not a good and sufficient reason for refusing him.</p> <p>2. A petition for mandamus to secure an inspection of the books of a corporation will be granted where the petitioner avers that during his former official connection with the company, he had knowledge of instances where funds had been improperly applied; that while large profits had been made the statements of the company did not show it; that the salaries of the officers had been irregularly and improperly increased; that the company had earned large sums of money in which dividends should have been declared; that as a stockholder he desired to inspect the books in order to be advised as to the management; and that he might be enabled to file a bill in equity if the result of his examination would justify him in so doing.</p>