The recent trend toward declining numbers of corporate and securities lawsuit filings continued in the first quarter of 2015, according to a report from the insurance industry information firm, Advisen. If the level of activity in the year’s first quarter were to continue for the rest of the year, the number of new corporate and
PwC Report Reviews 2014 Securities Suit Filings and Settlements, Analyzes Trends Likely to Drive Future Suits
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,
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
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
Takeover Litigation Continued at Heightened Levels in 2014
One of the most distinctive corporate and securities litigation trend in recent years has been the surge in M&A-related litigation, with virtually every deal attracting at least one lawsuit. This trend continued again in 2014, according to a recently updated study from Matthew Cain, an economic fellow at the SEC, and University of California Berkeley law professor Steven Davidoff Solomon. As reflected their February 20, 2015 paper entitled “Takeover Litigation in 2014” (here), takeover litigation continued at a “steady state” and at an extremely high rate during 2014. Lawsuits were brought in 94.9% of takeovers in 2014 versus 39% in 2005. The 2014 figures are consistent with but slightly down from the filings in 97.3% of all takeovers in 2013.
Continue Reading Takeover Litigation Continued at Heightened Levels in 2014
NERA Releases Canadian Securities Class Action Litigation Report
The number of securities class action lawsuit filed in Canada during 2014 was consistent with the recent annual average number of filings, and because case filings exceeded case resolutions, the aggregate total of unresolved class actions continued to grow during the year, according to a February 10, 2015 report from NERA Economic Consulting. According to
Advisen Releases 2014 Corporate and Securities Litigation Report
New corporate and securities lawsuit filings and enforcement actions were down for the third consecutive year in 2014, according to the latest annual report from the insurance information firm, Advisen. According to the report, which is entitled “D&O Claims Trends: 2014 End of Year Wrap-Up,” and which can be found here, the decrease in
NERA Securities Litigation Report: Filings Flat, Number and Value of Settlements Plunge
The number of securities class action filings in 2014 was level with recent years’ filings but the number and dollar value of settlements during the year plunged, according to the latest annual report from NERA Economic Consulting. This year’s report is quite detailed and contains a number of new analyses of lawsuit filings and case
The Top Ten D&O Stories of 2014
The year just ended was an eventful one in the world of directors’ and officers’ liability. Many of the year’s key events represented significant changes in the D&O liability environment. Many of the changes during 2014 have important implications for 2015 – and possibly for years to come. The list of the Top Ten D&O