15 U.S.C. § 77s–Special Powers Of Commission Under The Securities Act Of 1933

As a resource for the class action defense lawyer who defends against securities class actions, we provide the text of the Securities Act of 1933. Congress described the special powers afforded to the Commission in 15 U.S.C. § 77s, which provides:

§ 77s. Special powers of Commission

(a) The Commission shall have authority from time to time to make, amend, and rescind such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this subchapter, including rules and regulations governing registration statements and prospectuses for various classes of securities and issuers, and defining accounting, technical, and trade terms used in this subchapter. Among other things, the Commission shall have authority, for the purposes of this subchapter, to prescribe the form or forms in which required information shall be set forth, the items or details to be shown in the balance sheet and earning statement, and the methods to be followed in the preparation of accounts, in the appraisal or valuation of assets and liabilities, in the determination of depreciation and depletion, in the differentiation of recurring and nonrecurring income, in the differentiation of investment and operating income, and in the preparation, where the Commission deems it necessary or desirable, of consolidated balance sheets or income accounts of any person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by the issuer, or any person under direct or indirect common control with the issuer. The rules and regulations of the Commission shall be effective upon publication in the manner which the Commission shall prescribe. No provision of this subchapter imposing any liability shall apply to any act done or omitted in good faith in conformity with any rule or regulation of the Commission, notwithstanding that such rule or regulation may, after such act or omission, be amended or rescinded or be determined by judicial or other authority to be invalid for any reason.

Statutes & Rules Uncategorized

Class Action Defense Issues–Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act

Class Action Defense Attorneys Urged to Advise Clients about FACTA Requirements The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), enacted by Congress to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act, will become effective in only a matter of days. FACTA requires that credit card receipts provided to customers be modified so that the credit card number shown on the receipt is truncated and so that the expiration date is omitted. Defense attorneys and in-house counsel are encouraged to ensure compliance with FACTA; the author predicts class action lawsuits will be filed alleging FACTA violations within months of its effective date.

Class Actions In The News FCRA Class Actions Uncategorized

Class Action Defense Cases- In re Electrical Carbon: Class Members Who Opt Out Of Class Action Settlement May Rejoin Class With Court Approval New Jersey Federal Court Holds

In Case of First Impression New Jersey Federal Court Permits Class Members Who Opted Out of Initial Proposed Class Action Settlement to Rejoin Class for Amended Class Action Settlement Finding it in the Best Interests of the Class Plaintiffs filed putative class action lawsuits against several defendants alleging a conspiracy to fix prices of electrical carbon products in violation of the Sherman Act following the investigation and criminal prosecution of various entities by the United States Department of Justice.

Certification of Class Actions Class Action Court Decisions Uncategorized

E*Trade Class Action Defense Case-Murray v. E*Trade: Illinois Federal Court Rejects Defense Objections To Motion For Certification Of Class Action Alleging Violations Of Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

Rule 23 Requirements Met in Class Action Alleging FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) Violations Against E*Trade Illinois Federal Court Holds

Plaintiff filed a class action against ETrade alleging violations of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) arising out of a solicitation mailer he received stating that he was pre-approved for a home equity loan and stating that “[i]nformation from a consumer credit report was used in connection with this offer.” _Murray v. ETrade Fin, Corp._, 240 F.R.D. 392, 2006 WL 3354039, *1 (N.D. Ill. November 20, 2006). Defense attorneys filed a motion for judgment on the pleadings as to the claim for relief in the class action complaint that E*Trade violated the FCRA’s disclosure requirements; the district court granted the motion agreeing with the defense that no private right of action exists for such violations under 15 U.S.C. § 1681m(d). Id. The court denied defense efforts to obtain dismissal of the balance of the class action complaint. Plaintiff’s lawyer then moved the court to certify the lawsuit as a class action; the court rejected defense arguments in opposition to the motion and granted class action certification, finding that the requirements of Rule 23(a) were met and that the class action satisfied also the requirements of Rule 23(b)(3).

The district court analyzed each of the Rule 23 requirements for certification of a class action, but ” E*Trade refutes only the adequacy of Murray as class representative,” Murray, at *2, so we do not here discuss the court’s analysis supporting its finding that numerosity, commonality and typicality were met. See id., at *2-*4. With respect to the adequacy requirement of Rule 23(a)(4), a district court must examine the adequacy of both the proposed class representative and the proposed class counsel, and determine whether “the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interest of the class.” Id., at *5. The court readily concluded that proposed class counsel would adequately represent the class based on the firm’s class action experience, and noted that even E*Trade “praised” its experience. Id.

Certification of Class Actions Class Action Court Decisions FCRA Class Actions Uncategorized

Federal Court Trial Date Of Class Action Law Firm Milberg Weiss Set

As previously reported, class action plaintiff law firm Milberg Weiss Bershad & Schulman LLP and two of the firm’s top partners, David Bershad and Steven Schulman were indicted in mid-May 2006 for paying millions of dollars in kickbacks to clients to serve as plaintiffs. Prosecutors allege that the class action firm paid people to serve as class representatives and recruited people to purchase stock in anticipation that share prices would fall, thereby positioning itself to play a lead role in any subsequent securities fraud class action lawsuits and, concomitantly, realize greater attorney fees.

Class Actions In The News Uncategorized

Huber v. Taylor Class Action Defense Case: Third Circuit Reverses Order Granting Defense Motion For Summary Judgment In Malpractice Class Action Against Prior Class Counsel Because District Court’s Choice Of Law Determination Was Flawed

Class Action Plaintiffs’ Failure to Argue Choice of Law in District Court and in Opening Brief did not Waive Issue on Appeal, and District Court Erroneously Granted Defense Summary Judgment Motion and Erroneously Denied Class Certification in Breach of Fiduciary Duty Class Action Against Plaintiffs’ Prior Attorneys Based on its Incorrect Determination of Applicable Choice of Law

Based on a complicated fact pattern, plaintiffs filed a putative class action against some of their prior counsel in an asbestos mass action for breach of fiduciary duty, specifically, the breach of fiduciary duty of undivided loyalty and candor in the settlement of asbestos claims. Huber v. Taylor, ___ F.3d ___, 2006 WL 3071384, *4 (3rd Cir. October 31, 2006). In broad terms, the class action complaint alleged that prior counsel had negotiated settlements in which counsel received as attorney fees a smaller percentage of the payments made to putative class members than they received in fees from other clients in related actions, thus creating the incentive for counsel to negotiate higher settlements in cases in which they would receive a larger contingent fee. _Id._, at *3. Plaintiff’s lawyers sought class certification, which the District Court denied. The parties thereafter filed cross motions for summary judgment; the court agreed with defense attorneys that plaintiffs had failed to demonstrate actual harm – specifically, that the settlements received by plaintiffs would have been more favorable but for the alleged breaches of fiduciary duties – and therefore granted judgment for the defense. _Id._, at *4. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals reversed because the district court erred in its choice of law determination.

The Circuit Court opinion defines the “Northerners” as plaintiffs in asbestos actions filed in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana, Huber, at *1, __and as “Southerners” those plaintiffs in asbestos actions filed in Mississippi and Texas, id., at *2. The class action complaint alleged that “Northerners received payouts that were between 2.5 and 18 times lower than those received by [Southerners],” id. In cases involving Northerners, class counsel had to share their attorney fee award with local counsel but they did not have to utilize local counsel in cases involving Southerners. The Court of Appeal summarized plaintiffs’ arguments at *2 and *3 as follows:

Certification of Class Actions Class Action Court Decisions Uncategorized

Philip Morris Defense Team Solidifies Victory In Illinois Class Action Against Tobacco Giant

The New York Times reports on the decision of the United States Supreme Court to let stand the decision of the Illinois Supreme Court that reversed a $10 billion judgment against Philip Morris. The judgment against Philip Morris had been entered in a class action that alleged smokers “were misled about the health risks of ‘light’ cigarettes.” The Illinois Supreme Court reversed the judgment, agreeing with defense attorneys that a statutory exemption for conduct authorized by a governmental regulatory agency applied because “the Federal Trade Commission had endorsed the ‘light’ and ‘low tar’ descriptions in settlements with other cigarette makers.

Class Actions In The News Uncategorized

Philip Morris Class Action Defense Case-Price v. Philip Morris: U.S. Supreme Court Denies Petition For Writ Of Certiorari

Illinois Supreme Court Decision Reversing Billion Dollar Class Action Award Against Tobacco Giant Now Final The Philip Morris defense team secured victory in the Illinois class action involving the sale of “light” cigarettes today when the United States Supreme Court denied the petition for writ of certiorari filed plaintiffs’ attorneys. Price v. Philip Morris Inc., ___ U.S. ___, 2006 WL 2843774 (November 27, 2006). The class action originated in 2000, when plaintiffs filed a class action lawsuit in Illinois state court alleging violations of the Consumer Fraud Act and the Deceptive Practices Act based on the packaging, marketing, promotion and sale of “light” cigarettes as having less tar and nicotine than “regular” cigarettes.

Class Action Court Decisions Uncategorized

Sears Class Action Defense Case-Santamarina v. Sears: Seventh Circuits Holds Class Action Not Removable By Defense Because Under California Law Amendments To Class Action Complaint Related Back To Original Filing

Error in Refusing to Remand Class Action is not Jurisdictional Error but Defense Improperly Removed Class Action under CAFA (Class Action Fairness Act of 2005) Because Amendments to Complaint Related Back Original Filing Which Predated CAFA’s Effective Date

In January 2005, prior to the effect date of the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 (CAFA), plaintiff filed a barebones class action in California state court against Sears alleging false representations that certain Craftsman tools are made in the U.S. when they are manufactured abroad. Santamarina v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 466 F.3d 570, 571 (7th Cir. 2006). Defense attorneys demurred, and plaintiff’s lawyer filed an amended complaint after CAFA became effective. The defense then removed the class action to federal court arguing that the amended complaint did not relate back and was therefore removable under CAFA. The California federal court denied plaintiff’s motion for remand and plaintiff did not appeal that ruling. However, after the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) transferred the case to Illinois, plaintiff asked the district court to reconsider the California court’s ruling. The Illinois federal court held that the defense removal had been improper and remanded the class action to California state court. Id. Sears appealed, and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed.

Sears first argued that the Illinois federal court should not have reconsidered the ruling of the California federal court. Santamarina, at 571-72. The Seventh Circuit disagreed, explaining that a court has inherent power to reconsider prior rulings in the same lawsuit, even the rulings of a different judge, “if there is a compelling reason, such as a change in, or clarification of, law that makes clear that the earlier ruling was erroneous.” Id., at 572. The Circuit Court reasoned at page 572, “Not to reconsider in such circumstances would condemn the parties to the unedifying prospect of continued litigation when they knew that a possibly critical ruling was in error and, unless it became moot in the course of the proceedings, would compel a reversal of the final judgment at the end of the case.” The Court of Appeals was critical of plaintiff’s delay in seeking reconsideration “almost 15 months since the case was removed to the federal court and 13 months since it was transferred to Chicago,” but held that “some latitude” was warranted because the class action was removed and remand denied “only a few months after the promulgation of the Class Action Fairness Act.” Id.

Class Action Court Decisions Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) Removal & Remand Uncategorized

In re Vioxx Class Action Defense Cases: Louisiana Federal Court Hands Merck Defense Crucial Victory By Denying Motion To Certify Nationwide Class Action Involving Vioxx

Federal Court Agrees with Defense that Vioxx Class Action Claims Lack Typicality and Fail to Satisfy Predominance and Superiority Requirements of Rule 23(b)

The Vioxx litigation against Merck – consisting of thousands of individual and numerous class action lawsuits filed in state and federal courts – is well known. Merck withdrew Vioxx from the market in September 2004, following clinical reports that Vioxx led to an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes. By that time, however, an estimated 20 million people had used the prescription drug. The individual and class action lawsuits assert various tort and products liability claims against Merck. In February 2005, the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation transferred the cases to the federal court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Judge Eldon Fallon, for pretrial proceedings. In re Vioxx Products Liab. Litig., ___ F.Supp.2d ___ (E.D. La. November 22, 2006) [Slip Opn., at 1-2]. Plaintiffs moved for certification of a nationwide class action against Merck; defense attorneys opposed the motion on two grounds: (1) that each claim must be litigated under the substantive law of each class members’ respective state (rather than New Jersey law, as plaintiffs’ claimed) thus defeating commonality of law, and (2) that each claim “involves separate and distinct factual issues.” _Id._, at 6. On November 22, 2006, the district court agreed with Merck’s defense team and refused to certify a nationwide Vioxx class action.

Merck secured FDA approval for the sale of the prescription drug Vioxx in May 1999 for relief of pain caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual pain, and migraine headaches. In re Vioxx, at 1. Following centralization by the Judicial Panel, the Plaintiffs Steering Committee filed a Master Class Action Complaint alleging that Vioxx was defective, that Merck misrepresented its safety in that it knew or should have known that Vioxx was unsafe, and that Vioxx caused medical problems, injury and death. Id., at 4. In December 2005, plaintiffs moved to certify a nationwide class action under Rule 23(b)(3) consisting of all U.S. residents who used Vioxx and who claim personal injuries or assert wrongful death claims arising from such use, id. Merck opposed the motion on the grounds summarized above, see id., at 6.

Certification of Class Actions Class Action Court Decisions Uncategorized