Investments
EquiAlt Real Estate Securities Ponzi Scheme Class Action
The sales agents were unlicensed, the securities were unregistered, the investors were not accredited, and the investors’ money did not go where they thought it would go: This was EquiAlt and its Ponzi scheme, says the complaint for this class action. The first defendant is Paul Wassgren, who was a partner, at different times, at Read moreInvestments
WeWork Investors Claim Company Misled Them Class Action
The fall of the We Company, also known as WeWork, was described as “one of the most spectacular flameouts in recent corporate history.” Its company valuation fell by 90% in a single year. This class action claims that WeWork misled the public about the company’s actions and intentions, violating the California Corporations Code. Read moreInvestments
Robinhood Trading Systems Fail in Volatile Market Class Action
In recent months, the stock market has been very volatile, plunging downwards and shooting up again in connection with the coronavirus pandemic. Investors must make decisions—and trades—quickly. The complaint for this class action alleges that services for online trading firm Robinhood failed at important times, leaving investors unable to buy or sell securities for their Read moreInvestments
John Hancock 401(k) Plan Management ERISA Class Action
Those who manage retirement plans have a fiduciary duty to plan participants. This means that they must act in the interest of the plan participants and beneficiaries. The complaint for this class action alleges that those managing the John Hancock Life Insurance Company (USA) acted in the interests of the company instead, by inappropriately favoring Read moreInvestments
Shell Oil 401(k) Plan Fiduciary Duties ERISA Class Action
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) governs retirement plans and other benefits at large companies and specifies that plan administrators and trustees have a fiduciary duty to act for the exclusive benefit of plan participants. In this class action, the complaint alleges that Shell Oil Company and various other defendants, some associated with Fidelity Read moreInvestments
Conestoga Life Settlements Information to Investors Fraud Class Action
“A life settlement is a transaction in which an insured person sells his or her life insurance policy to a third party,” explains the complaint for this class action. Life settlements are at issue in this case for “fraud, conspiracy, aiding and abetting, civil theft, and breach of fiduciary duty,” against defendants Conestoga Settlement Services, Read moreInvestments
Merrill Lynch Spoofing to Manipulate Futures Contracts Class Action
On June 25, 2019, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a non-prosecution agreement with Merrill Lynch Commodities, Inc. in connection with a criminal investigation of the company. The complaint for this class action takes up its findings and brings suit against Merrill Lynch, its parent company Bank of American Corporation, and individuals on behalf of Read moreInvestments
People’s United Jay Peak Ski Resort Ponzi Scheme Class Action
Investors bring this class action against companies they believed would build a Jay Peak Ski Resort in Vermont—People’s United Financial, Inc. and People’s United Bank. But according to the complaint, the money they put up went to an alleged Ponzi scheme, finally uncovered in a two-year investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Read moreInvestments
Bank of New York Mellon Breach of Fiduciary Duty for Trust Class Action
Bank of New York Mellon is trustee for a trust established by the grandmother and great-grandmother of the plaintiffs in this case. BNY Mellon made poor investments, favoring an affiliate’s mutual funds, the complaint says, when better choices would have earned the trust another $100,000 in income or appreciation in the last five years alone. Read moreInvestments
HSBC Bank Payment of Legal Expenses from Trust Funds Class Action
This is the third in a series of class action suits filed by Royal Park Investments (RPI) based on other current lawsuits. The original lawsuits each allege that a certain bank has failed to fulfill its duties as trustees to RPI funds; these secondary suits allege that the defendant banks have been paying their legal Read moreInvestments