Through an investment bank (acting as broker), clients invested in Reverse Convertible Notes (RCNs). RCNs are a complex “structured financial product” that is sometimes championed as a high-yield, short-term investment...more
On November 15, 2019, Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr. of the United States District Court for the District of Nebraska dismissed a putative class action brought by investors who maintained investment accounts at a brokerage...more
Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Chris Lazarini reviewed a putative class case filed against a brokerage firm alleging that the firm breached its client agreement by purchasing risky reverse convertible notes (RCNs) for clients...more
On January 24, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a putative securities class action against several investment advisory and financial services firms for allegedly...more
On September 4, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the partial denial of a motion to dismiss a putative class action against investment services provider Vanguard Group (the “Company”). ...more
On August 17, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a putative class action asserting breach of contract and tort claims against the managers, auditors, consultant, and...more
During two weeks in April, two different courts — the Second Circuit and the New Jersey Superior Court — considered nearly identical allegations regarding variable products and reached diametrically opposed conclusions about...more
In O’Donnell v. AXA Equitable Life Insurance Co., No. 17-cv-1085, 2018 WL 1720808 (2d Cir. Apr. 10, 2018), the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed an order dismissing a variable annuity...more
On April 10, 2018, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit revived and remanded to state court a putative class action brought against AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company. O’Donnell v. AXA Equitable Life...more
Market and Product Developments - Securities Industry Implements T+2 Settlement Cycle - On September 5, 2017, the securities industry transitioned to a shorter settlement cycle for most broker-dealer securities...more
The Southern District of New York recently granted defendant’s motion to dismiss a putative class action claiming that AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company breached its contractual obligation by implementing a volatility...more
In a complete victory for Defendants, on February 23, 2016, a federal district court dismissed with prejudice the final remaining claims in Northstar Financial Advisors, Inc. v. Schwab Investments et. al., which had been...more
In Freeman Investments, LP v. Pacific Life Insurance Co., No. 09-55513, 2013 WL 11884 (9th Cir. Jan 2, 2013), the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act...more
The Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act of 1998 (“SLUSA”) is a federal law that bars state law securities class actions alleging misrepresentations or omissions related to the purchase or sale of certain covered...more