In a ruling that may have potential significance for the many claims that have been filed against the rating agencies in the subprime litigation wave, on February 17, 2010, Southern District of New York Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed all but one of the claims that had been filed against the individual defendants in the Lehman
Subprime Litigation
MoneyGram Settles Subprime-Related Securities Suit for $80 Million
In one of the largest subprime-related securities lawsuit settlements so far, Moneygram Corporation has agreed to settle its subprime-related securities class action and accompanying derivative suit for $80 million, according to the company’s February 25, 2010 press release (here).
Background
As reported here, the MoneyGram case represented the distinct group of…
Ambac Financial Subprime Securities Suit Dismissal Motions Substantially Denied
In an interesting and potentially significant February 22, 2010 opinion (here), Southern District of New York Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald denied defendants’ motions to dismiss the plaintiffs’ ’34 Act claims in the Ambac Financial subprime-related securities suit. Judge Buchwald also denied the motion to dismiss the plaintiffs’ ’33 Act claims relating to the…
Two More Subprime-Related Securities Suits Dismissed
Just when it seemed as if the dismissal motion rulings in the subprime-related securities suits might be breaking more favorably to the plaintiffs, two February 18, 2010 rulings granted the defendants’ motions to dismiss in two separate subprime cases. While only one of the two dismissals was with prejudice, both represent substantial defense victories.
Previously Dismissed Credit Suisse Subprime Securities Suit Allowed to Proceed
In an interesting February 11, 2010 decision (here), Southern District of New York Judge Victor Marrero allowed plaintiffs, whose subprime-related securities class action lawsuit Marrero had previously dismissed, leave to file a second amended complaint against Credit Suisse Global and certain of its directors and officers.
Judge Marrero also found the securities…
Rating Agencies Are Not ’33 Act “Underwriters”
Rating agencies are not susceptible to ’33 Act liability as "underwriters," even if they helped structure the mortgage backed securities at issue, according to February 1, 2010 ruling (here) by Southern District of New York Judge Lewis Kaplan in which he dismissed Moody’s and McGraw-Hill (S&P’s parent) from the Lehman Brothers Mortgage-Backed Securities…
Dismissal Motions in Thornburgh Mortgage Subprime Securities Suit Denied in Part, Granted in Part
In a 90-page January 27, 2010 opinion (here) District of New Mexico Judge James Browning granted substantial parts of the defendants’ motions to dismiss in the Thornburgh Mortgage subprime securities suit, while also denying the motions to dismiss in connection with certain claims against Larry Goldstone, who served as the company’s President…
Subprime-Related Section 11 Claim Dismissed
In a January 14, 2010 order (here), Southern District of New York Judge Robert W. Sweet granted the motion to dismiss in the ACA Capital Holdings subprime-related securities class action lawsuit. The decision is noteworthy in and of itself, but also because the plaintiffs’ securities claims were asserted under the ’33 Act. Subprime…
Who’s Winning and Who’s Losing the Dismissal Motions in Subprime Securities Suits?
“Subprime litigation” “dismissal motion rulings” “lawsuit trends”…
Continue Reading Who’s Winning and Who’s Losing the Dismissal Motions in Subprime Securities Suits?
Beazer Homes Settles Subprime-Related Derivative Lawsuit
Beazer Homes has announced in its December 22, 2009 filing on Form 8-K (here) that it has settled the subprime-related shareholder’s derivative lawsuit that had been filed against the company, as nominal defendant, and certain of its directors and officers. According to the filing, the case has been settled in recognition of the…