Aiding & Abetting Breach of Fiduciary Duty (BoFD)

AIDING AND ABETTING BREACH OF FIDUCIARY DUTY When a defendant knowingly participates in the breach of a fiduciary duty, he becomes a joint tortfeasor and is liable as such. Kastner v. Jenkens & Gilchrist, P.C., 231 S.W.3d 571, 580 (Tex. App.--Dallas 2007, no pet.); see also Kinzbach Tool Co. v. Corbett-Wallace Corp., 138 Tex. 565, 160 S.W.2d 509, 513-14 (Tex. 1942). Knowing participation in actionable conduct A cause of action based on a contribution to a breach of fiduciary duty must involve the defendant's knowing participation in such a breach. Kaster, 231 S.W.3d at 580; Cox Tex. Newspapers, L.P. v. Wootten, 59 S.W.3d 717, 722 (Tex. App.--Austin 2001, pet. denied). A claim that a defendant knowingly participated in a breach of fiduciary duty by a third party necessarily hinges on the existence of a fiduciary duty owed by the third party to the plaintiff. Cox Tex. Newspapers, 59 S.W.3d at 722. In addition to the existence of a fiduciary duty, the plaintiff must show the defendant knew of the fiduciary relationship and was aware of his participation in the third party's breach of its duty. Id. SOURCE: Dallas Court of Appeals - 05-10-00369-CV - 5/26/11