On April 10, 2015, PwC released the latest in what is now a series of annual securities class action litigation reports. PwC’s report is generally consistent with the reports previously published by Cornerstone Research and NERA. What makes the PwC report noteworthy is its commentary on the trends the report’s authors believe could contribute to
Cornerstone Research: Accounting-Related Securities Suits Jump in 2014
The number of securities class action lawsuit filings raising accounting allegations rose by 47 percent in 2014 compared to the prior year, according to a new report from Cornerstone Research. The March 31, 2015 report, entitled “Accounting Class Action Filings and Settlements: 2014 Review and Analysis,” can be found here. Cornerstone Research’s March 31,
Facts, Opinions, Omissions, and Context: The U.S. Supreme Court Issues Omnicare Opinion
In a March 24, 2015 opinion in Omnicare, Inc. v. Laborers District Council Construction Industry Pension Fund (here), the U.S. Supreme Court set aside the Sixth Circuit’s ruling that allegations of “objective falsity” were sufficient to make a statement of opinion in securities offering documents actionable. The Supreme Court remanded the case to
Guest Post: Omnicare Decision Clarifies Pleading Standard for Section 11 Claims Based on Statements of Opinion in Registration Statements
As I discuss in the accompanying post, on March 24, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issues its opinion in the Omnicare case. In the following guest post, the Skadden law firm summarizes the case and its holding. A version of the guest post previously was published as a Skadden client alert. I would like
Cornerstone Research: Average and Aggregate Securities Suit Settlements Plunged in 2014
The aggregate amount of all securities class action settlements during 2014 declined to the lowest level in years and there also was a “dramatic” decrease in the average securities suit settlement amount during the year, according to a March 24, 2014 report from Cornerstone Research. The report, which is entitled “Securities Class Action Settlements: 2014
Yet Another U.S. Securities Suit Arising From a Latin American Corruption Investigation
In yet another U.S. securities class action lawsuit involving a non-U.S. company and a corruption investigation in the company’s home country, on March 19, 2015 a shareholder of Chemical & Mining Company of Chile, Inc. (Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, S.A, or SQM), the world’s largest producer of iodine and lithium and a
Thinking About the Data Breach Securities Class Action Lawsuits Yet to Come
There has been extensive litigation filed in the wake of the many high-profile data breaches over the last several years, but by and large the lawsuits have been filed on behalf of consumers or employees. Along the way, there have also been lawsuits filed against the directors and officers of the companies that experienced the
Life Sciences Companies and Securities Litigation: 2014 Update
Life sciences companies are “an increasingly popular target” of securities class action lawsuits, according to the annual securities litigation survey from the David A. Kotler of the Dechert law firm. According to the March 16, 2015 report, entitled “Dechert Survery of Securities Fraud Class Actions Brought Against U.S. Life Sciences Companies,” the number of 2014
Circuit Splits, Arbitration Clauses, and Other Notes from Around the Web
Circuits Split on Pleading Loss Causation: In a December 16, 2014 opinion written by Judge Milan D. Smith, Jr. for a unanimous three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit, the appellate court affirmed the dismissal of the securities class action lawsuit that had been filed against Apollo Group and certain of its directors and officers. In
In Latest Jumbo Merger Suit Settlement, Duke Energy Agrees to Pay $146 Million to Settle Suit Over “Boardroom Coup” Following Progress Energy Merger
One of the hot topics in the world of corporate and securities litigation in recent years has been the rise of M&A-related litigation. Among the many themes that are part of the discussion of this topic has been the fact that the M&A lawsuits often settle for the defendant company’s agreement to additional disclosures about the merger, with no cash payment to shareholders. The disclosure-only settlements continue to be a concern, but at the same time there recently have been a number of merger-related lawsuit settlements in which there has been very significant cash components.
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