Traditionally the courts have applied the no-conflict, no-profit, rules with unyielding strictness ... . Notwithstanding that starting point, the position is not one of unremitting severity ..." (B. Hannigan, Company Law 5th edn, 2018); Critically assess this statement on directors’ duties, including consideration of how this position is reflected in Companies Act 2006.
The statement "the position is not one of unremitting severity" refers to the fact that courts have traditionally applied the no-conflict, no-profit rules with unyielding strictness. However, this does not mean that the position is always one of strict liability. There are cases where directors may be found not liable for breaching their duties if they can show that they acted in good faith and took all reasonable precautions to avoid the breach. For example, in the case of Re D'Oench Duhme & Co Incorporated v FDIC, 315 U.S. 447 (1942), the US Supreme Court held that a director could not be held liable for breach of duty if he or she took all reasonable steps to avoid the breach. The Court held that the director had a duty to act in good faith and take all reasonably precautions to prevent the occurrence of the event which gave rise to the liability.
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