Opinion ID: 2639084
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Failure to file list of directors

Text: Redl contends that because New York Owners failed to file its list of directors with the Secretary of State, the corporation should not have been revived. New York Owners claims that it did file its list of directors, as evidenced by the certificate of revival. However, the certificate of revival contains only the names and addresses of the corporate officers. The areas indicated for names and addresses of directors are blank. Under NRS 78.730(1)(b), the corporation must file a certificate with the Secretary of State that includes [a] list of its president, secretary and treasurer and all of its directors. We agree with the 1951 Attorney General's opinion to the extent that [w]hen papers are presented to the Secretary of State for filing and such papers substantially comply with the statutes, his discretion does not extend to the merits of the application. [29] The Secretary of State thus has the discretion to accept applications that substantially comply with NRS 78.730. [30] We have defined substantial compliance as compliance with essential matters necessary to ensure that every reasonable objective of the statute is met. [31] For the reasons set forth below, the Secretary of State's decision to revive New York Owners' corporate charter was not a manifest abuse of discretion. On November 6, 2002, New York Owners filed a certificate of revival pursuant to NRS 78.730. New York Owners paid the fees and penalties assessed by the Secretary of State. The certificate listed the names and addresses of New York Owners' president, secretary, and treasurer. It also listed the name and address of its resident agent; however, it did not list any directors. Since the directors must be listed under NRS 78.730(1)(b) for the purpose of revival, and no directors were listed on New York Owners' certification, Redl argues that New York Owners' corporate charter should not have been revived. However, the Secretary of State stated that it does not validate the information in the document, only that the information requisite for filing is present. [New York Owners'] documents clearly contain the information necessary for filing by this office. By listing its president, secretary, treasurer, and resident agent along with their addresses, New York Owners has fulfilled the essential elements necessary to ensure that every reasonable objective of NRS 78.730 has been met. New York Owners omitted only the list of directors, but met all other statutory requirements. Because New York Owners substantially complied with NRS 78.730, the Secretary of State lacked the discretion to review the merits of New York Owners' revival application. The Secretary of State made the decision to revive New York Owners' charter because New York Owners filed the necessary information. The Secretary of State's decision to revive New York Owners' corporate charter was not an arbitrary or capricious exercise of discretion. Accordingly, we deny the petition for a writ of mandamus.