Business Interruption, Contingent

Temporary shutdown of an organization because of damage to another organization which is a major supplier or customer. For instance, if an organization sells all of its products to one customer, and that customer suffers a Fire which prevents it from using these products, then the supplier has suffered a contingent business interruption loss.

Business judgment rule

Refers to one of the primary defenses to a claim against directors and officers for breach of fiduciary duty. The defense generally bars judicial inquiry into conduct of disinterested directors and officers who act on an informed basis, in good faith and in the honest belief that the action taken was in the best interest of the company. In essence, this defense provides that courts should not examine the quality of the directors’ business decisions, but only the procedures followed in reaching that decision.

Business life insurance

Life insurance bought by a business on the life of a member of the company. It may be bought by partnerships to protect the surviving partners against loss caused by the death of a partner, or by a corporation to receive payment for loss caused by the death of a key employee.