Last year, a shareholder proposal at Berkshire Hathaway's annual meeting took an unexpected turn, leading to a lawsuit against Warren Buffett and the company. The presenter, who was cut off during his presentation and later arrested for trespassing, decided to take legal action to stand up for shareholder rights.
The incident occurred when the presenter questioned the character of Bill Gates, a close friend of Buffett and former Berkshire board member. The presenter suggested that Gates' association with Jeffrey Epstein could harm Berkshire's reputation and proposed a change in leadership roles within the company.
Despite the lawsuit, Berkshire officials did not address the issue during this year's meeting. The company rejected all six proposals presented, including ones related to climate change risks, diversity and inclusion efforts, and railroad safety.
One proposal that garnered attention was the call for Berkshire to produce a report on the risks of doing business in China. The presenter argued that the current disclosures about Berkshire's operations in China were insufficient.
Overall, Berkshire Hathaway remains firm in its stance against the proposals, citing the decentralized nature of the company's operations and existing safety measures in place. The meeting highlighted the challenges faced by shareholders in influencing decision-making within the conglomerate.
