The financial relationship between plaintiffs’ securities firms and the clients they represent has long been questioned, and not only because of the kinds of improper kickback payments for which Bill Lerach and Mel Weiss, among others, wound up in jail. Another practice that has raised recurring concerns is what is referred to as "pay-to-play" &ndash
More Aiding and Abetting Liability Legislation and Other Web Notes and Updates
In an earlier post (here), I discussed legislation that Senator Arlen Specter introduced in July 2009 to legislatively overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Stoneridge and allow private actions for aiding and abetting liability. Though this proposed legislation is a matter for serious concern, there was always the possibility that given everything
Securities Lawsuits “Down Sharply” According to 2009 Cornerstone Report
Securities class action lawsuit filings were "down sharply" according to the annual study of securities class action litigation released jointly today by the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse and Cornerstone Research. The full report can be found here and the January 5, 2010 press release accompanying the report can be found here.
A Closer Look at the 2009 Securities Lawsuits
What a difference a year makes. Just 12 months ago, the subprime and credit crisis litigation wave was in full spate, and the onslaught of Madoff and other Ponzi scheme cases had just begun to surge. And while both of these lawsuit filing trends continued well into 2009, by year’s end both of these phenomena
Broadcom Settles Options Backdating Securities Class Action Suit
Broadcom Corporation, which previously settled its options backdating related derivative suit for $118 million, announced on December 29, 2009 (here) that it had settled the separate options backdating related securities class action lawsuit pending against the company and certain of its directors and officers in exchange for its agreement to pay $160.5
Huntington Bancshares Subprime Securities Suit Dismissed With Prejudice
In a December 4, 2009 order (here), Southern District of Ohio Judge Michael H. Watson granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss the consolidated subprime-related securities class action lawsuit against Huntington Bancshares. Judge Watson granted the motion based on his findings that plaintiffs had failed to adequately allege both falsity and scienter. The dismissal
NERA Releases 2009 Securities Litigation Study
On December 15, 2009, NERA Economic Consulting released its annual study of securities class action litigation trends. The study, entitled "Recent Trends in Securities Class Action Litigation: 2009 Year-End Update," and written by my friends Stephanie Plancich and Svetlana Starykh, can be found here. The study concludes that, notwithstanding the decline in credit
In Landmark Rulings, Ontario Court Allows IMAX Securities Suit to Proceed, Certifies Class
In a landmark development for private securities litigation in Canada, a Justice of the Ontario Superior Court has ruled that a proposed securities suit against IMAX under Ontario’s new statutory provisions allowing private securities litigation may proceed. The court separately certified a global class of IMAX investors on whose behalf the case will now proceed.
According to a December 14
House Financial Reform Bill Includes Securities Law Reforms
On December 11, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives approved by a 223-202 vote "The Wall Street Report and Consumer Protection Act of 2009," H.R. 4173 (here). The sprawling 1279-page Bill, which must be reconciled with competing financial reform legislation pending in the Senate, would institute a number of reforms and initiatives that
NERA Releases SEC Settlement Trends Update
On December 7, 2009, NERA released its most recent update on trends in the numbers and values of settlements of SEC enforcement actions. The latest study, which is as of September 30, 2009 and complete through the end of the SEC’s 2009 fiscal year, shows that the number of settlements during the year declined for