Cornerstone Research News

Why Not Much Change in Securities Class Actions?

Plaintiffs brought 85 federal class action securities cases in the first half of this year, or seven fewer than they did last year. The 85 filings in the first six months of 2015 falls 10 percent below the semiannual average …

Securities Class Action Settlement Amounts Plummet

Bringing a securities class action became less lucrative last year. According to a new Cornerstone Research report, total settlements in such cases hit their lowest point in 16 years. The aggregate amount of settlements dropped 78 percent to $1.07 billion …

Securities Class Actions Held Steady in 2014

Deals often beget securities class actions. Yet, despite the active mergers-and-acquisitions market in 2014, the number of new federal securities class actions barely budged from the level in 2013. Last year, 170 securities cases were filed, four more than in …

Securities Class Action Lawsuits, Settlements Get Smaller

The size of federal class action lawsuits accusing companies of securities fraud has dropped significantly, new studies show, as the bull market in stocks approaches its sixth birthday. Losses claimed by shareholders, measured by how much stock prices fell when …

Accounting Class Action Settlements Stable But Associated Market Losses Double

The number of accounting case settlements in 2013 increased for the second year in a row, but remained low compared with the previous ten years, according to Cornerstone Research’s latest report According to the report, “Accounting Class Action Filings and …

Shareholders Sue in 94% of M&As; 75% Settle Before Closing: Cornerstone Research

Shareholders challenged more than 94 percent of U.S. merger and acquisition (M&A) deals valued over $100 million in 2013, according to a new M&A report by Cornerstone Research. Deals worth $100 million or more attracted an average of five lawsuits, …

Securities Class Actions Up 9% in 2013 But Below Average

Plaintiffs filed 166 new federal securities class actions in 2013, a nine percent increase over 2012, however, the 2013 total is still 13 percent below the average from 1997 to 2012 despite being boosted by a second-half surge. The slump …

D&O Lawsuits by FDIC on Record-Setting Pace: Cornerstone Research

This year’s Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) litigation over failed financial institutions is already exceeding that of the previous three years. According to a new report by Cornerstone Research — Characteristics of FDIC Lawsuits against Directors and Officers of Failed …

Class Action Suits Against Accountants Declined in 2012

Fewer class-action lawsuits alleging accounting improprieties were filed last year in the United States, but those that were settled in 2012 carried a higher price tag, according to a study from Cornerstone Research. As two major trends driving accounting class …

Securities Fraud Class Actions Declined in 2012

Fewer investors are taking corporate America to court for fraud. The number of new federal securities fraud lawsuits seeking class-action status fell to a 7-year low in 2012, according to a study by Stanford Law School and Cornerstone Research released …