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Conference nyoss1::market_investing

Title:Market Investing
Moderator:2155::michaud
Created:Thu Jan 23 1992
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1060
Total number of notes:10477

563.0. "Class Action Law Suit and Broker" by SWLAVC::HOSSEINI () Thu Sep 02 1993 18:45

    Through the annual reports we found out that 2 companies in which we
    have owned stocks were the subject of Class Action Lawsuits.  The
    problem is we never received anything from our broker.  After calling
    the broker, they said they will investigate and let us know.  That was
    in May, 1993.  So far no answer.  I have a two part question:
    
    1.  Is there a centralized place that one could call to see what class
    action lawsuits have been filed?
    
    2.  What course of action do we have against this broker? Are they
    legally responsible?
    
    We have mailed them all the information in writing.  
    
    Any help, hint would be appreciated.
    
    
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563.1BRAT::REDZIN::DCOXThu Sep 02 1993 19:0213
Only two companies?

Depending on the industry, many companies are subjects of class action suits.  
Many of those suits are baseless.  Most suits are settled out of court.  Most 
companies have funds set aside to settle claims and case losses are seldom 
reflected in the share price,  I would NOT expect a broker to inform me of
class action suits against companies in which I own shares; that is not a
broker's job. 

If the broker promised to do something and has not, then you have in issue with 
the quality of his service.  Go somewhere else.

As Always, For What It's Worth,,,,,
563.2Shares in Street NameSWLAVC::HOSSEINIThu Sep 02 1993 20:057
    .1 Agree.  The only problem is that my shares are kept in Street name
    and all the literature goes to them which they in turn will mail me
    annual reports, proxies, etc.  The other funny think that a friend with
    same broker had received the law suit material (infact that's how we
    learned about SUN Mircosystems' class action).
    
    Hossein
563.3SDSVAX::SWEENEYKeep back 200 feetThu Sep 02 1993 23:5316
    There is no responsibility for a broker to do anything but provide you
    with a proxy when the company issues one as far as "notice" goes.
    
    In most cases, a (pre-trial/pre-settlement) class action notice applies
    only to people who want to "opt out".
    
    On the other hand, if there was a cash settlement arrived at by a
    company sued by its shareholders to which you are entitled, and your
    broker cashed the check, then that's a serious matter of fraud.
    
    The rules vary: in some cases a legal notice has to be placed in
    newspapers like the Wall Street Journal or New York Times or a local
    newspaper.
    
    There may also be shareholder litigation newsletters that really track
    this but I don't know of any.
563.4what's the suit with SUNW?YUPPIE::CHANDRASEKHAWed Sep 08 1993 12:286
    Re 563.2
    
    I know this is unrelated to the base note, but I am curious. What is
    the class suit regarding Sun Micrsystems?
    
    ... Kris Chandrasekhar.
563.5$25 Mil SettlmntSWLAVC::HOSSEINIWed Sep 08 1993 21:233
    There is a settelement of about $25 Million for those who bought SUN's
    stock between January 12, 1989 through July 27, 1989.  Looks like
    they were ALLEDGEDLY (sp?) misleading investors ;)  So they say.