Supreme Court's Decision in Erica P. John Fund v. Halliburton

By James Wilson

Introduction:  On June 6, 2011, the Supreme Court unanimously rejected the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal's requirement that plaintiffs in securities class actions prove "loss causation" at the class certification stage of the case. In order for investors to proceed as a class action under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, they must demonstrate that the elements of Section 10(b) may be proven on a class-wide basis and that the court will not be required to examine each investor's individualized claim. Loss causation - similar to "proximate causation" - is one of several elements that plaintiffs ultimately must prove to establish liability in a Section 10(b) case. "Loss causation" means that a defendant's deceptive conduct caused investor losses. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals established in 2007 that investors pursuing securities fraud claims in that circuit were required to demonstrate not only that loss causation was capable of being proved on a class-wide basis, but also to actually prove that loss causation existed. This was a draconian approach. Other circuit courts of appeals had rejected this stringent requirement mandating investors only to show that, as with the other elements of a Section 10(b) claim, they could ultimately prove loss causation later on at trial on a class-wide basis. The Supreme Court rejected the Fifth Circuit's approach as not in line with the requirements of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (which governs class actions in federal courts) and prior precedent.

Access the full version of "Wilson on Supreme Court's Decision in Erica P. John Fund v. Halliburton" with your lexis.com ID

If you do not have a lexis.com ID, you can purchase the Emerging Issues Analysis content on the LexisNexis Store

For more information about LexisNexis products and solutions connect with us through our corporate site.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR(S):
James M. Wilson Jr. is a partner in Chitwood Harley Harnes LLP, in the firm's Atlanta office. The firm works closely with institutional funds to monitor their investments in public companies and pursues securities class actions on behalf of institutions and individuals under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act ("PSLRA") when appropriate. The firm also is a leader in litigating non-PSLRA securities cases in state and federal courts, including derivative and corporate governance actions, as well as antitrust and consumer protection class actions. Mr. Wilson previously practiced for many years in New York City working on complex business litigation and securities arbitrations before the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers. He received his B.A. from Georgia State University in 1988, his J.D. from the University of Georgia in 1991, and his LL.M. in Tax Law from New York University in 1992. Mr. Wilson is admitted to practice law in the States of Georgia and New York, before the United States District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Georgia, and before the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.