securities suit filing trends

The torrid pace of securities class action lawsuit filings continued in the first half of 2018, coming in at a rate only very slightly below last year’s record-setting pace. While a significant number of the first half filings are attributable to merger objection lawsuit lawsuits, the number of traditional filing alone during the first half of the year were well above historical levels. If the first half’s pace continues in the second half of the year, the projected number of year-end filings would approach last year’s elevated total.
Continue Reading Torrid Securities Suit Filing Pace Continues in Year’s First Half

rising numbersSecurities class action lawsuit filings have been going crazy. Securities suit filings during the first quarter 2017 set a pace that if continued would mean an unprecedented number of securities lawsuit by year end. But even more significant than the sheer number of lawsuits is the rate of litigation. The percentage of listed companies sued in the first quarter, if annualized, would mean that U.S. public companies are being sued at four times the long-term historical rate. As discussed below, three factors account for much of the upsurge in securities suit filings.
Continue Reading You Need to Know This: YTD Securities Class Action Lawsuit Filings are Off the Charts

cornerstoneAccording to the latest annual securities litigation survey, securities class action lawsuit filings were at “record” levels in 2016. A surge of federal court merger objection lawsuit filings during the year accounted for much of the activity, but even so-called “traditional” securities lawsuit filings were at elevated levels, according to report, which was release jointly by Cornerstone Research and the Stanford Law School Class Action Clearinghouse. The January 31, 2017 report, entitled “Securities Class Action Filings: 2016 Year in Review,” can be found here. Cornerstone Research’s and the Stanford Law School Class Action Clearinghouse’s January 31, 2017 press release can be found here.
Continue Reading Cornerstone Research: Securities Lawsuit Filings Rise to Highest Level in 20 Years

cornerstone reserach pdfSecurities class action lawsuit filings in the first half of 2016 leapt to their highest level in years, according to a recent report from Cornerstone Research. According to the report, which is entitled “Securities Class Action Filings: 2016 Midyear Assessment,” both the number of lawsuit filings and the rate of litigation were well above long-term historical semiannual averages in the first six months of 2016. The increases are attributable in part to the increase in federal court M&A-related securities litigation, as discussed below. The report can be found here. Cornerstone Research’s July 26, 2016 press release about the report can be found here. Cornerstone Research’s analysis is largely consistent with my own review of the first half securities suit filings, which can be found here.
Continue Reading Cornerstone Research: First Half Securities Suit Filings at Highest Level in Years