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The article states that the U.S. entertainment firm Walt Disney Co. submitted a regulatory filing against its proxy-advisory firm, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (ISS), on March 1, 2012. The article states that Disney shareholders were scheduled to meet on March 13, 2012, concerning a vote of confidence regarding executive pay. The article offers comments from ISS spokesman Ted Allen.

Focuses on a shareholder derivative lawsuit filed by stockholders of the Walt Disney Co., contending that Disney board members were lax when CEO Michael Eisner hired Michael Ovitz as the company's No. 2 executive in 1995. Excerpts from a deposition of Eisner, suggesting the hiring of Ovitz was a mistake; Size of severance package received by Ovitz; Damages being sought by the plaintiffs from the directors for allowing a no-fault termination of Ovitz; Claims made by Ovitz' attorney; Potential impact of the case on directors' personal liability; Assessment of the Court of Chancery in Delaware, where the suit is being heard, noting the growing clout of investors and the scrutiny of corporate governance has caused a shift in the court's rulings and judgments.

Reports the California Public Employees' Retirement System (Calpers), America's largest public pension fund, is escalating its campaign for better corporate governance by targeting directors it says don't act in the best interests of shareholders at several companies -- many of which are in its investment portfolio. Percentage of American companies within its portfolio, of which Calpers will withhold support for the re-election of certain directors, including Apple Computer Inc., Lockheed Martin Corp., Coca-Cola Co. and Citigroup Inc.; View of author that Calpers is returning to its activist roots; Concerns of Calpers' managers regarding accounting firms and auditors used by companies; Comments from Christy Wood, as senior investment advisor for Calpers, regarding the auditing process; Details of the fund's campaign to effect change in corporate governance.

Assesses the growing movement toward more shareholder democracy on companies' boards of directors. Details of a plan proposed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that would allow shareholders put their own nominees for the board of directors alongside management's choices on a company's official ballot; View of corporate executives and business lobbies regarding shareholders on boards, suggesting they could bring certain agendas that could prove costly to companies; Comments from Stephen Odland, chief executive of AutoZone Inc., regarding shareholders on boards; Comments from Joel Seligman, dean of Washington University law school in St. Louis (Mo.), regarding shareholder involvement company-management; History of shareholder involvement in running companies;.

Profiles Walt Disney Co. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner and troubles he faces as Disney shareholders gather for a meeting to decide his future with the company. Description of a shareholders' meeting several years ago at which irate stockholders were angry at Eisner for hiring Michael Ovitz; Other instances where Eisner's management style created acrimony from shareholders, board members and executives; Percentage of the voting shareholders that are likely to withhold support from Eisner, according to estimates of the company; View of author that March 3rd's shareholder vote will represent an indictment of Eisner's recent leadership; Speculation about changes in corporate governance at Disney as the result of upcoming shareholders' vote.

Focuses on the upcoming Walt Disney Co. shareholders' meeting, at which they will decide the future of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Eisner. Estimated percentage of shareholder vote to go against Eisner, according to Disney officials; Efforts of former Disney board members, Stanley Gold and Roy E. Disney, to persuade shareholders to withhold support for Eisner; Shareholder groups and institutional shareholders that have come out against Eisner, including Institutional Shareholder Services, the California Public Employees' Retirement System, the California State Teachers' Retirement System and the New York State Common Retirement Fund; Details of an unsealed court document in a Delaware shareholder lawsuit related to Eisner's actions when Disney hired Michael Ovitz; Options facing the board of directors with respect to corporate-governance.

Examines the corporate-governance at Walt Disney Co. and whether former board members, Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold, did enough as insiders to prevent the mistakes they are currently attacking. Efforts of Gold and Disney to convince shareholders to withhold support at the company's March 3 annual meeting since they left the board; Details of allegations made by Gold and Disney against board members; Analysis of decisions made by the board while Gold and Disney were still there, indicating Gold held a pivotal role setting Chief Executive Michael Eisner's compensation; Establishment of Shamrock Holdings Inc. by Disney and Gold, designed to invest in troubled companies.

Focuses on the succession of family-controlled, publicly-traded companies in light of the recent family dispute at News Corp. Details of the family strife at News Corp. involving Rupert Murdoch and his son, Lachlan Murdoch; Question as to why the leadership of shareholder-owned companies should be passed on to family members of retiring executives; How some families retain control through the issuance of voting stock; Comments from Thomas Eisenmann, a Harvard Business School professor, regarding executive succession within families; Claims of advocates for executive succession; Impact of recent governance reforms, according to Charles Elson, a corporate-governance specialist at the University of Delaware's business school.

Focuses on the annual stockholders' meeting of the Walt Disney Co. and potential outcomes for Disney chairman and chief executive officer Michael Eisner. Percentage of the company's voting shareholders that are expected to withhold support for re-electing Eisner to the company's board of directors; Speculation regarding corporate governance at Disney, including the removal of Eisner's title as chairman; Description of conference involving former Disney board members Roy E. Disney and Stanley Gold, who are attempting to rally shareholders to oust Eisner.

Assesses the future of Walt Disney Co. Chief Executive Michael Eisner in light of the tender offer made by Comcast Corp. to purchase Disney. Change in the value of Comcast's bid due to recent fluctuations in each company's share price; Law firms hired by Disney to help with the company's anti-takeover strategy; Comments from Disney's chairman of the board of directors, former U.S. Senator George Mitchell, regarding the company's response to Comcast's bid; Brief recap of Eisner's employment at Disney, including relationships with some former co-workers; Indication of support among the shareholders at an investor conference in Orlando at Walt Disney World.