Quo warranto proceedings may be brought against corporations where the company has abused or failed for a long time to exercise its franchise. In the case of an official, it may be brought to cause him or her to forfeit an office for misconduct. If in these cases a quo warranto proceeding determines that a company no longer properly holds a franchise or that an officer no longer properly holds his or her office, it will oust the wrongdoer from enjoying the franchise or office. The purpose of the writ is not to prevent an improper exercise of power lawfully possessed; its purpose is to prevent an official, corporation or person acting as such from usurping a power that they do not have.
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Source: Barron's Dictionary of Legal Terms, Steven H. Gifis, 5th Edition; ©


