West Virginia stockholder derivative actions refer to legal proceedings initiated by shareholders of a corporation against its directors and officers on behalf of the corporation itself. These actions are designed to address alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, corporate fraud, mismanagement, or other harmful actions that negatively impact the corporation's interests. In West Virginia, there are two types of stockholder derivative actions: direct derivative actions and derivative actions on behalf of a closely-held corporation. Direct derivative actions involve a shareholder bringing a lawsuit against the directors and officers of a publicly held corporation for breaching their fiduciary duties and causing harm to the corporation. The purpose of this action is to seek a remedy, such as monetary damages, for the corporation's losses resulting from the directors' or officers' actions or omissions. Derivative actions on behalf of a closely-held corporation, on the other hand, involve shareholders of a closely-held corporation initiating legal action against its directors and officers. These actions aim to address alleged wrongdoings that harm the interests of the closely-held corporation and its shareholders. In such cases, the shareholders act as representatives of the corporation, seeking relief on its behalf. To initiate a stockholder derivative action in West Virginia, certain requirements must be met. These typically include demonstrating standing as a shareholder, good faith and reasonable investigation, exhaustion of internal corporate remedies, and showing that the derivative action is in the best interests of the corporation. In these types of legal proceedings, it's crucial to have an experienced attorney who specializes in corporate law and shareholder rights. An attorney can guide shareholders through the complex process, assist in gathering evidence, and represent their interests effectively in court. Overall, West Virginia stockholder derivative actions allow shareholders to hold directors and officers accountable for actions that harm corporations and their stakeholders. These actions help promote corporate governance and ensure that the interests of shareholders and the corporation are protected.