In re Vivendi, S.A. Secs. Litig.

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Plaintiffs, investors in Vivendi's stock during the relevant time period, filed a class action suit against Vivendi, alleging that Vivendi’s persistently optimistic representations during the relevant period constituted securities fraud under section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act), 15 U.S.C. 78j(b), as well as the Securities Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Rule 10b–5 (Rule 10b–5) promulgated thereunder, 17 C.F.R. 240.10b–5. The court affirmed as to Vivendi's claims on appeal, concluding that: (1) plaintiffs relied on specifically identified false or misleading statements at trial and thus, contrary to Vivendi’s argument on appeal, did not fail to present an actionable claim of securities fraud; (2) Vivendi’s claim that certain statements constituted non‐actionable statements of opinion is not preserved for appellate review; (3) Vivendi’s claims that certain statements constituted non‐actionable puffery and that others fall under the Private Securities Law Reform Act’s safe harbor provision for “forward‐looking statements,” see 15 U.S.C. 78u‐5(c), is without merit; (4) the evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s determination that the fifty‐six statements at issue here were materially false or misleading with respect to Vivendi’s liquidity risk; (5) the district court did not abuse its discretion in admitting the testimony of plaintiffs’ expert, Dr. Blaine Nye; and (6) the evidence was sufficient to support the jury’s finding as to loss causation. As to plaintiffs' cross-appeal, the court affirmed and concluded that the district court did not abuse its discretion in excluding certain foreign shareholders from the class at the class certification stage; and did not err in dismissing claims by American purchasers of ordinary shares under Morrison v. Nat’l Austl. Bank Ltd. View "In re Vivendi, S.A. Secs. Litig." on Justia Law