Labor Day has come and gone. The kids are back in school. The air is cooler and the nights are longer. There’s a definite autumnal feeling in the air. It is time to get back to work. Fortunately, The D&O Diary kept its eye on things over the summer. So if you are feeling the
Securities Litigation Risks in the Energy Sector
One of the trends I noted in my analysis of securities class action lawsuit filings in the first half of 2012 was the apparent rise in securities suits against companies in the natural resources sector. Among other things, I noted that about 14.5% of first half filings were against companies in the natural resources industries
Lawsuits in the Social Networking World Recall the Days of the Dot Com Crash
In a July 27, 2012 article entitled “In Sliding Internet Stocks, Some Hear Echo of 2000” (here), the New York Times detailed how the shares of some of the hottest publicly traded social networking and Internet companies have been hammered recently. The Times suggested that as the companies’ shares dropped “there were instant
Cornerstone Research Releases Mid-Year 2012 Securities Litigation Report
On July 25, 2012, Cornerstone Research in conjunction with the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse release it report entitled “Securities Class Action Filings: 2012 Mid-Year Assessment” (here). By contrast to other mid-year securities litigation reports, the Cornerstone Research study reports that securities class action litigation filings decreased by 6 percent
NERA Releases Mid-Year 2012 Securities Litigation Report
According to NERA Economic Consulting’s mid-year 2012 report, securities class action lawsuit filings were at or above historical levels in 2012, and though average securities class action lawsuit settlements during the year’s first half approached all times highs, the pace of securities suit settlements is “slowing down markedly.” NERA’s Report, which is entitled “Recent Trends
U.S.-Listed Chinese Companies: Bump-Up Claims Up Next?
One of the most distinctive recent securities litigation trends has been the surge of litigation involving U.S.-listed Chinese companies. As a result of the litigation threat, as well as beaten-down market valuations, many Chinese companies are now taking steps to de-list from the U.S. exchanges. However, this step could entail its own set of litigation
Securities Suit Filings Continue Apace in Year’s First Half
The number of securities class action lawsuit filings came in slightly above historical averages during the first half of 2012, with filings against natural resources companies, life sciences companies, and foreign issuers leading the way. Filings related to mergers and acquisitions transactions continued to be an important factor in the number of filings, although not as significant of
NERA Projects FDIC Failed Bank Litigation Could Ultimately Total 86 Lawsuits
In a May 31, 2012 study of the FDIC failed bank litigation that contains a number of interesting observations and projections, NERA Economic Consulting projects at the current filing rate, the FDIC’s failed bank litigation ultimately could total 86 lawsuits, or much as 20% of all banks that have failed as part of the current
Cornerstone Research Releases Study of Accounting Class Action Securities Cases
On the eve of the tenth anniversary of the enactment of The Sarbanes Oxley Act, Cornerstone Research has released a study of the filing trends and settlements of securities class action lawsuits involving accounting allegations. The May 2012 report entitled “Accounting Class Action Filings and Settlements: 2011 Review and Analysis” can be found here. A
The FDIC’s Failed Bank Litigation, So Far
The number of bank failures has been winding down for a while now, but at same time the FDIC’s failed bank litigation has been ramping up. Through April 20, 2012, the FDIC has filed a total of 29 lawsuits against former directors and officers of failed banks, involving 28 different institutions. In a May 4