ARTICLE
5 March 2013

Supreme Court Holds That Securities Fraud Plaintiffs Need Not Show Materiality At Class Certification

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Today, in Amgen Inc. v. Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, No. 11-1085, the Supreme Court held that proof of materiality is not a prerequisite for class certification in a securities fraud class action under Section 10(b), even though materiality is a predicate of the fraud-on-the-market presumption of reliance.
United States Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration

Keywords: Amgen v. Conn. Retirement Plans, securities, Supreme Court

Today, in Amgen Inc. v. Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, No. 11-1085, the Supreme Court held that proof of materiality is not a prerequisite for class certification in a securities fraud class action under Section 10(b), even though materiality is a predicate of the fraud-on-the-market presumption of reliance.  The opinion for the majority of the Court was authored by Justice Ginsburg.  Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Kennedy dissented.  Justice Alito wrote a concurring opinion indicating that, in an appropriate case, he (like the three dissenting justices) would be open to reconsidering the fraud-on-the-market presumption. For more, see our report on the decision. (See also our report and article on the argument.)

Originally published February 27, 2013

Edited by Archis A. Parasharami and Kevin S. Ranlett

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