Since 1918, the US Supreme Court has recognized corporations as having the same rights as natural persons to make contracts and enforce contracts. See Dartmouth College v. Woodward (1819). The underlying reasoning is that corporations are organizations of people, and they should not be denied constitutional rights when acting collectively. Thus Corporations are people in that they are further protected under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution which forbids a state from denying any person the equal protection of the law. So although corporations are not literally people, they do have many constitutional rights and are considered living entities, which explains the statement “corporations are people”.
What are Some of the Constitutional and Common Law Rights of Corporations?
Corporations have the right to sue and be sued, associate in groups, fund political campaigns, and receive equal protection. An experienced Utah business attorney can assist with corporations and LLC entity formation.
How is a Corporation Like a Person?
Corporations can be created and they can also die. They are created when they are registered in a state. Corporations are created when they are registered. Corporations can die through insolvency, shareholder actions, and court order. So, in a legal way, corporations are people.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer in Utah Regarding Your Corporation
If you desire to create a corporation, create or enforce contracts for a corporation, or want to wind down a business corporation, call the Utah lawyer team at Pearson, Butler & Carson to schedule a consultation at (800) 265-2314. We have offices conveniently located in South Jordan and Layton, Utah.
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