Regular readers know that I have been tracking subprime-related class-action lawsuits (here). In a recent post, I noted my interest in trying to develop a similar list of subprime-related derivative lawsuits. In response to my request, a number of readers supplied helpful information, and as a result I have been able to develop
Shareholders Derivative Litigation
Do Derivative Lawsuits Still Matter?
In the world of directors’ and officers’ liability, securities class action lawsuits dominate the dialogue. Securities lawsuits generate headlines and produce eye-popping settlements. There are even websites (refer here and here) devoted exclusively to providing the latest information about securities lawsuits. The same cannot be said for derivative lawsuits, but it has not always…
U.K. Enacts New Directors’ Duties Law
On November 8, 2006, a sweeping bill affecting U.K. companies went into affect when the Companies Bill, which at 696 pages is Britain’s longest piece of legislation, received royal approval. (The House of Lords site reflecting all information pertaining to the Bill may be found here.) The Bill contains a statutory statement of directors’…
Yes, But WHY Are They Filing Derivative Suits?
In recent days, there has been extensive media attention (here and here) focused on the fact that plaintiffs’ lawyers seeking to exploit the options backdating scandal are filing shareholders’ derivative suits in preference to securities fraud class action lawsuits. Indeed, The D & O Diary’s running tally of options backdating lawsuits (here…
AOL Time Warner Derivative Litigation Settlement: More to It Than Meets the Eye?
On May 12, 2006, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York preliminarily approved the settlement of the consolidated derivative litigation filed on behalf of AOL Time Warner against 25 of the company’s present and former directors and officers as well as other third party defendants. The various derivative lawsuits alledged…