When a corporation is sued and loses its case, what is the financial impact on the owners (shareholders)?

• A. Owners must pay the corporation's legal penalties from their personal assets.
• B. Owners are only at risk of losing the amount they invested in the corporation.
• C. Owners automatically lose their shares regardless of the lawsuit outcome.
• D. Owners are personally liable for all the corporation's debts and legal obligations.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of limited liability in corporations. In a corporation, shareholders (owners) are protected by limited liability, meaning their financial risk is restricted to the amount they have invested in the corporation.
2. Step 2: Analyze the scenario where the corporation is sued and loses its case. The corporation itself is responsible for paying legal penalties or debts incurred as a result of the lawsuit, not the shareholders personally.
3. Step 3: Clarify that shareholders do not lose their shares automatically due to a lawsuit outcome. Share ownership remains intact unless specific legal actions or agreements dictate otherwise.
4. Step 4: Emphasize that shareholders are not personally liable for the corporation's debts or legal obligations. This is a key feature of the corporate structure, distinguishing it from sole proprietorships or partnerships.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the financial impact on shareholders is limited to the potential loss of their investment in the corporation, as the corporation's liabilities do not extend to their personal assets.