The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has reinstated a would-be class action securities lawsuit accusing Goldman Sachs (GS) (in the role of underwriter) and related entities of misstating the risks involving mortgage-backed securities certificates. The revival is based on 7 of 17 challenged offerings, causing the appeals…
Investor Lawyers Blog
Citigroup Inc.’s $590M CDO Putative Class Action Settlement Gets Preliminary Approval from District Court
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has given preliminary approval to the putative class action settlement reached between Citigroup Inc. (C) and its shareholders. Citigroup has agreed to pay $590 million over allegations that it misled the plaintiffs about its exposure to tens of billions…
IRS Pays Whistleblower $104M for Exposing Tax Evasion at UBS AG
In the largest individual federal payout in our nation’s history, the Internal Revenue Service has awarded ex-UBS AG (UBSN) Bradley Birkenfeld $104 million for acting as a whistleblower and exposing wide scale tax evasion involving the Swiss Bank. Birkenfeld, who was released from prison last month after serving 2.5 years…
Securities Roundup: FINRA Fines Rodman & Renshaw $315K, Convictions Reached in $1B High Yield Fraud Scam Involving FBI, SEC Sues Wwebnet over $2.1M Fraud, and Ex-Hedge Fund Manager Settles Unsuitable Investment Recommendation Allegations for Over $421K
To settle Financial Industry Regulatory Authority allegations that it committed numerous violations involving dealings between investment banking and research functions, Rodman & Renshaw LLC has agreed to pay a $315,000 fine. According to the SRO, from January 2008 to March 2012, the financial firm did not have an adequate supervisory…
US Government Sells $18B of AIG Stock and Turns a $12.4B Profit
The United States Treasury Department has sold $18 billion of American International Group Inc. (AIG) stock in a public offering. The sale cut the government ‘s stake in the insurance company to approximately 21.5% while making it a $12.4B profit on the bailouts that occurred during the economic crisis. This…
Mutual Funds File Suit Against BP for Violating Texas Statute Prohibiting Fraud in the Sale of Stock
A number of mutual funds are suing BP (BP) in Texas for common fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and statutory fraud. They are contending that they wouldn’t have paid top price for the company’s shares if they’d known the “truth.” Plaintiffs include Skandia Global Funds, Yorkshire Pensions Authority, and GAM Fund Management.…
St. Louis Rams Quarterback AJ Feeley and US Soccer Player Heather Mitts Are Among Professional Athletes Allegedly Targeted in Ponzi Scam
St. Louis Rams Quarterback AJ Feeley, US Soccer Player Heather Mitts, Philadelphia Eagles Tight End Brent Celek, and NFL player Kevin Curtis have filed a securities lawsuit against their former financial advisor William Crafton Jr. for allegedly defrauding them in the Westmoore Capital Ponzi scam and other financial schemes and…
SEC Commissioners Paredes and Gallagher ‘Dismayed’ Over Chairman Schapiro’s Announcement Regarding Failed Money Market Mutual Fund Industry Overhaul Proposal
In a recent joint statement, Securities and Exchange Commissioners Troy Paredes and Daniel Gallagher expressed dismay over Chairman Mary Schapiro’s announcement regarding a staff proposal to revamp the money market mutual fund industry that she said would no longer move forward because it would have failed to garner the necessary…
SEC Study Reports that Many Retail Investors Are Financially Illiterate
According to the Study Regarding Financial Literacy Among Investors, which was recently released by the SEC, many US retail investors are confused or don’t know much about making informed financial choices and can be considered financially illiterate. The study, which was created to fulfill the Dodd Frank Act’s section 917,…
Ex-MF Global CEO John Corzine Says Bankruptcy Trustee’s Bid to Join Investors’ Class Action Securities Litigation is Hurting His Defense
According to Jon Corzine, the ex-CEO of MF Global Holdings Ltd. (MFGLQ), bankruptcy trustee James Giddens’s efforts to be part of some of the investor class action lawsuits against the firm’s former and current executives are negatively impacting his defense. Corzine, who is also Goldman Sachs Group Inc.’s (GS) (GS)…