In 1995, public companies and their directors and officers received one of the greatest statutory gifts in the history of American corporate law: the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. The Reform Act established heightened standards for pleading falsity and scienter, among other protections, to allow for dismissal before discovery in a fair percentage of cases.
Safe Harbor
Practical Tips for Avoiding Securities Litigation, Understanding D&O Insurance, and Selecting Defense Counsel
In my last post of 2013, I thought I’d share some thoughts about how public companies can better protect themselves against securities claims – practical steps companies can take to help them avoid suits, mitigate the risk if they are sued, and to defend themselves more effectively and efficiently. I’ll share a few thoughts…
Falsity is Fundamental: The Case for Emphasizing Arguments against Falsity
In defending a securities class action, a motion to dismiss is almost automatic, and in virtually all cases, it makes good strategic sense. In most cases, there are only four main arguments:
- The complaint hasn’t pleaded a false or misleading statement
- The challenged statements are protected by the Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements
- The
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Public Companies Beware: Safe Harbor Protection Requires Thoughtful Warnings and a Sophisticated Defense
Public companies around the country labor under a misunderstanding: that the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act’s Safe Harbor protects them from liability for their guidance and projections if they simply follow the statute’s requirements. But the Safe Harbor is not so safe – because they think it goes too far, many judges go to great…