I.          Introduction

I’ve seen many changes during the more than 30 years I’ve defended securities class actions. The types of claims have evolved.  From the indiscriminate claims that led Congress to pass the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“Reform Act”), to the IPO laddering claims of the late 1990s, to the corporate-scandal claims

Bill Lerach gave the best motion to dismiss oral argument I’ve ever seen.  Using a stock-price chart with key events and allegations plotted along the alleged class period, he told the complaint’s story with a wooden pointer and his superb narrative skill.  Far too often, plaintiffs’ and defense lawyers get bogged down in the nitty-gritty