Eliminating Securities Fraud Class Actions Under the Radar

Columbia Business Law Review, Vol. 2009, p. 802, 2009

U of Cincinnati Public Law Research Paper No. 09-08

46 Pages Posted: 7 Apr 2009 Last revised: 2 May 2010

See all articles by Barbara Black

Barbara Black

University of Cincinnati - College of Law

Date Written: April 15th, 2009

Abstract

At least since Basic, Inc. v. Levinson, the business community and many influential scholars have challenged the existence of the securities fraud class action on a variety of grounds. Recently, two proposals have been advanced to "fix" the problem of "abusive" securities fraud class actions. One proposal requires arbitration of all securities fraud class actions; the other eliminates the corporate defendant in most actions. Proponents assert that shareholders should have the right to adopt these proposals through amendment of the company's certificate of incorporation. In reality, adoption of either proposal would substantially curtail, if not eliminate, the securities fraud class action.

Part I of this paper first reviews the rationales - compensation and deterrence - for the federal securities class action, sets forth the critics' principal arguments as to why these goals are not achieved, and argues that the post-PSLRA securities fraud class action is reasonably effective in achieving both compensatory and deterrence goals. Part II then describes the two proposals. Part III explains why these proposals are impermissible under the anti-waiver clause, Section 29(a) of the Securities Exchange Act. Part IV explains why these proposals are also, under state law, illegal, unfair to current shareholders that do not vote in favor of them, and unenforceable as to future stock purchasers. Part V concludes by calling for a national debate on the future of the securities fraud class action. The arguments for and against the securities fraud class action involve complexities and uncertainties that make "quick and dirty" solutions like these two proposals inappropriate.

Suggested Citation

Black, Barbara, Eliminating Securities Fraud Class Actions Under the Radar (April 15th, 2009). Columbia Business Law Review, Vol. 2009, p. 802, 2009, U of Cincinnati Public Law Research Paper No. 09-08, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1373878

Barbara Black (Contact Author)

University of Cincinnati - College of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 210040
Cincinnati, OH 45221-0040
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
255
Abstract Views
4,963
Rank
217,190
PlumX Metrics