The March 2008 collapse of Bear Stearns was, in the words of Southern District of New York Judge Robert Sweet, “an early and major event in the turmoil that has affected the financial markets and the national and world economies.” The securities class action litigation that followed the company’s collapse was among the highest profile
credit crisis litigation
Though Case Previously Dismissed , Wells Fargo Settles Wachovia Investor Suit for $75 Million
In an interesting twist on a long –running credit-crisis related securities suit, Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $75 million to settle the Wachovia equity investor securities class action lawsuit, even though their suit had been dismissed at the district court level and was on appeal at the time of the settlement. The parties’ November …
Lehman Execs Seek $90 Million in D&O Insurance for Securities Suit Settlement
In a development that undoubtedly will attract comment and controversy, fourteen former Lehman Brothers executives – including former Lehman Chairman and CEO Dick Fuld (pictured) –have reached an agreement to settle the consolidated securities class action litigation that has been filed against them for $90 million. In a separate development, seventeen former Lehman executives have agreed…
Lehman Brothers Credit Crisis-Related Securities Suit to Proceed
In a detailed 106-page opinion dated July 27, 2011 (here), Southern District of New York Judge Lewis Kaplan granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motions to dismiss in the consolidated Lehman Brothers Securities Litigation. Though Judge Kaplan knocked out certain of the plaintiffs’ allegations, what Judge Kaplan called the “core&rdquo…
Flash From the Past?: New Credit Crisis-Related Securities Suits Filed
As the worst days of the financial crisis (if not their ill effects) receded into the past, the accompanying credit crisis-related litigation wave appeared to lose its momentum. By late 2010, new credit crisis-related lawsuit filings seemingly had dwindled away. But now at the midpoint of 2011, two new credit crisis related lawsuit have arisen.
Catching up on Rulings in Key Subprime-Related Securities Cases
Over the last few days, there have been a series of rulings in high-profile lawsuits arising out of the subprime meltdown and credit crisis. As discussed below, just in the past week there were dismissal motion rulings in cases involving Freddie Mac, Wachovia/Wells Fargo, and AIG. Though some or all of the claims in these cases…
Failed Financial Institution D&O Lawsuit – But It’s A Credit Union, Not a Bank
Many observers have been waiting to see whether and to what extent the FDIC will pursue claims against former directors and officers of banks that have failed during the current bank failure wave. So far, the FDIC has filed just a single suit, against former officers of a subsidiary of IndyMac.
However, on…
Dismissal Motions Denied in Failed and Troubled Bank Securities Cases
Though we are in the midst of the dog days of summer (at least in the northern hemisphere), the federal courts, at least, have been busy. In the last several days alone, several courts have issued dismissal motion rulings in lawsuits arising out of the subprime meltdown and the credit crisis.
As noted below, several…
Credit Crisis Securities Suits Still Coming In
As the dramatic events in the financial marketplace during fall 2008 recede further into the past, the wave of related litigation activity has also clearly started to slow. But a newly filed lawsuit arising directly from the financial crisis suggests that there may still be further credit crisis cases yet to come, particularly as plaintiffs&rsquo…
A Single New Securities Lawsuit, Many Current Trends
It is always useful to look at aggregate securities lawsuit filing data to try to determine what trends and themes can be discerned, but occasionally it is also useful to look at a single new filing whether it might suggest anything. To choose one example, a closer look at a new securities class action lawsuit…