Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Supreme Court Hears Challenge to Fraud-on-the-Market Presumption in Securities Fraud Litigation

By Eric Rieder
February 28, 2014

When the U.S. Supreme Court 25 years ago decided Basic, Inc. v. Levinson, 485 U.S. 224 (1988), it adopted a legal theory that commentators would describe as revolutionizing securities law in the United States. By accepting the “fraud-on-the-market” theory, the Basic Court made it much easier for plaintiffs to get their cases certified as class actions, increasing the potential exposure of corporations and their officers and directors.

This month, the Court will hear argument in a case that seeks to overthrow Basic's revolutionary regime. The Court last year agreed to hear the appeal of the corporate defendants in Halliburton v. Erica P. John Fund; they directly put to the Court the question of whether Basic and the fraud-on-the-market theory it adopted should be overruled.

If the Court ultimately decides to overturn Basic , it will likely have a significant impact on securities fraud class actions, depriving plaintiffs' lawyers of a critical doctrinal weapon and giving corporate defendants far greater leverage in settlement negotiations.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.

Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin Image

With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.

The Article 8 Opt In Image

The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.

Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York Image

In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?

Fresh Filings Image

Notable recent court filings in entertainment law.