Investor Fraud Lawsuits Stemming $50 Billion Ponzi Scheme May Name Madoff’s Family Members as Additional Defendants

The civil lawsuits that will be brought by the victims of Bernard Madoff’s $50 billion fraud scam are expected to be numerous and massive. Not only will they likely target Madoff and his firm, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC., but a number of his family members who work for the firm could also be named as defendants.

The company’s chief compliance officer and senior managing director is Madoff’s brother Peter. Madoff’s sons, Mark and Andrew, also are employed by the firm, as is Shana Madoff, Peter’s daughter. While Madoff has maintained that no family members were involved in the Ponzi scheme and that he acted alone, actual knowledge doesn’t have to be involved when there is a fiduciary relationship or if recklessness or negligence is a factor for someone to be held liable.

According to Securities and Exchange Commission staff attorney Peter J. Henning, two main types of litigation are expected from the Madoff scheme. One type of securities fraud litigation will target Madoff, his company, and his family members. Another kind of investor fraud lawsuit will target third parties, such as investment advisers, feeder funds connected to Madoff’s company, and other parties that sent investors Madoff’s way.

Complications are expected. Determining the liability of people who acted in an agent role but did not receive compensation when they referred investors to Madoff, differentiating between claimants that invested in feeder funds and those who directly invested with Madoff, and determining whether money can be gotten back from investors who redeemed their funds earlier, are just some of the difficulties that are likely to arise.

Already, a number of investors have filed class action and group lawsuits against the 70-year-old financial adviser, who remains under house arrest. In October, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC., was the 23rd biggest market maker on Nasdaq.

Related Web Resources:
Suits From Madoff Fraud Will Be Massive, Will Involve Family Members, Attorneys Say, BNA, December 22, 2008
Bernie Madoff Victim List, Huffington Post, December 15, 2008
Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC

Our securities fraud attorneys at Shepherd Smith Edwards & Kantas LTD LLP would like to offer Madoff investors a free case evaluation to assess their recovery options.