A federal District Court in Indiana has entirely dismissed a suit brought by the son of the founders of a family foundation who claimed that the foundation’s board was not properly constituted and that grants awarded by the board are unlawful.  He complained particularly about grants to a university on whose board one of the foundation’s directors sits.  (Doermer v. Callen, N.D. IN, No. 2:15-CV-154, 11/9/15.)

An attorney suing a nonprofit agency for the wrongful discharge of his client may not send a claim notice to the entire board of the agency asserting that they could be personally liable for a “false and libelous” counterclaim filed “with malice” against his client.  An appellate court in Connecticut has affirmed a protective order issued by the trial judge preventing the lawyer from having further contact with the directors without the consent of their lawyer.  (

A group of trustees elected by Penn State alumni has the right to review the background data developed by Louis B.

The Internal Revenue Service does not have the statutory power to withdraw a previously issued letter revoking the charitable status of a nonprofit organization or the accompanying report that spelled out the reasons for the decision.  The Tax Court has denied the request from an organization that reached a settlement with the IRS that involved withdrawing the original notice and issuance of a new one.

The right to claim damages from a retaliatory discharge is a right of employees whose firing violates a clear mandate of public policy, an appellate court in Illinois has said.  It is not a right that extends to a volunteer officer of a nonprofit professional association.