Recent Articles

Large Investors Flee $624 Million Countrywide Financial Settlement

February 24, 2011 16:38

In August 2007 investors filed a law suit against Bank of America's Countrywide Financial Corporation alleging, among other things, that Countrywide violated federal securities laws by making false and misleading statements concerning its business as an issurer of residential mortgages...

Securities Class Actions Today: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead

February 07, 2011 17:24

For securities class actions, 2010 was a hallmark year in many ways. Thought provoking statistical swings, precedent setting Supreme Court cases, and sweeping financial legislation paint a colorful picture of a changing global litigation landscape. In truth, it is a...

Multi-National Securities Class Actions Go Global

January 13, 2011 18:19

In June the Supreme Court in Morrison v. National Australia Bank held that federal securities fraud laws do not apply to  "transactions in securities listed on domestic exchanges, and domestic transaction in other securities." In the months that followed that decision...In June...

NERA Year End Report: Filings On Par and Settlements At All Time High

December 21, 2010 19:40

Last week NERA Economic Consulting released its year end assessment of securities class actions in 2010. The report (available here) provides a detailed review of statistical trends that developed over the course of the year (through November 30, 2010) based on NERA's data...

German Securities Class Actions: Status Quo Prevails

November 10, 2010 01:47

Between 2001 and 2003 more than 17,000 individual claims were filed in Germany in the Deutsche Telekom AG case by hundreds of different attorneys. The claims alleged that Telekom AG made misstatements in two prospectuses in 1999 and 2000 resulting in shareholder losses....

M&A Securities Class Actions Take 2

November 09, 2010 23:59

Securities Litigation Watch has recently noted that securities class actions related to M&A activity have been skyrocketing since 2009 (more information here). And, as Advisen's most recent Q3 report (here) observes, breach of fiduciary suits filed in state court are the...

Dodd-Frank: Whistleblowers, Clawbacks, and Morrison Developments

November 03, 2010 00:23

Whistleblowers and ClawbacksSecurities class actions may see a shot in the arm from a number of changes brought about by the Dodd-Frank Act (the "Act"). This is particularly true regarding fraud exposed by whistleblowers. As Kramer Levin Naflalis & Frankel LLP writes...

M&A Securities Class Actions On The Rise

October 27, 2010 19:31

Securities Litigation Watch has previously discussed the decrease in filings of securities class actions related to the credit crisis with the corresponding increase in future settlements for such suits (available here). However, increases in other security class...

Morrison Developments In The Lower Courts: A Quick Reference Guide

October 15, 2010 20:06

Roughly five months after the handing down of the Supreme Court's opinion in Morrison v. National Australia Bank (analysis here, opinion here) the lower federal district courts have had ample opportunity to hear arguments from plaintiffs and defendants alike regarding the...

Aiding and Abetting Battle Rages: Implications For Securities Class Actions Far Reaching

September 27, 2010 22:51

The right of private parties to sue aiders and abettors under federal securities fraud statutes has been a hotly debated issue in recent months. And, there is good reason for vigorous public debate. If such a right of action were available...The right of private parties to sue aiders and...