Securities Litigation

Creating Victory In Some Of History’s Most Complex Cases

It’s no secret that successfully litigating securities cases requires something extra. The ability to dig deeper. The insight to craft innovative strategies. And the simple willingness to outwork the opposition. Those attributes are what make the attorneys at Markovits, Stock & DeMarco, LLC, the right choice.

We’ve been at the forefront of some of the largest securities litigation matters in U.S. history, which, of course, means that our attorneys have unmatched experience in securities fraud class action and other complex securities litigation.

We’ve been uniquely successful in prosecuting some of the largest and most complex cases in securities litigation history.

Successes At A Glance

• In re Fannie Mae Securities Litigation, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, Consolidated Civil Action No. 04-cv-01639. The Ohio attorney general appointed Markovits, Stock & DeMarco, LLC, to serve as lead counsel for lead plaintiffs Ohio Public Employees Retirement System and State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio and the class in this securities fraud class action against Fannie Mae, three former senior officers of Fannie Mae and KMPG (Fannie’s former auditor). Markovits, Stock & DeMarco, LLC, settled this case for $153 million.
• Ohio Public Employees Retirement System v. Freddie Mac, et al., Case No. 4:08CV0160, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio. The Ohio attorney general appointed Markovits, Stock & DeMarco, LLC, to serve as co-lead counsel for lead plaintiff Ohio Public Employees Retirement System in this securities class action. This case arises out of defendants’ misrepresentations and reckless conduct during the class period concerning Freddie Mac’s subprime investments. Without public disclosure, defendants are alleged to have repeatedly violated Freddie Mac’s own underwriting guidelines and had virtually no responsible credit management or fraud detection in loans, leading to billions of dollars of losses for the company and the appointment of a conservator for Freddie Mac. Markovits, Stock & DeMarco, LLC, obtained a reversal of a motion to dismiss at the Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit and discovery is now being conducted.
• In Re Choice Care Litigation, United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Western Division. Bill Markovits served as one of the lead trial attorneys for a class of Ohio physicians in a securities fraud, antitrust and RICO class action litigation. Through Markovits’ efforts, a jury awarded his clients over $100 million.
• In Re Mutual Funds Investment Litigation (Putnam Track), Case Nos. 1:04-cv-15863-JFM and 1:04-cv-00560-JFM, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland. After reassignment from Milberg Weiss in June 2006, Louise M. Roselle represented the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority and the class in litigation against Putnam Investments, Prudential Securities, Inc., and Banc of America Securities regarding the “market timing” of Putnam mutual fund transactions. The parties settled the case in 2010.

Fundamentals Of Securities Litigation

Securities litigation covers disputes tied to buying or selling investments such as stocks or bonds. These cases often start when investors claim that a company shared false or missing information. Some claims involve misleading statements.

Others involve insider trading or failures by officers to act in the best interests of investors. Courts examine what the company said and what investors knew when they made their decisions.

Securities Class Actions And Investor Claims

Many securities cases move forward as class actions because the same conduct may affect many investors at once. A class action case allows one court to review shared issues in a single case.

Investors who bought or held the same security during a set time period may take part if the court approves the class. This process helps courts manage large cases without forcing each investor to file a separate lawsuit.

Ohio Securities Act And Investor Protections

Ohio regulates securities activity under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 1707, often called the Ohio Securities Act. This law sets rules for registration and disclosure in securities sales involving Ohio investors. In some situations, the statute allows investors to seek civil remedies.

The Act also sets time limits that may control when a claim can move forward. Certain provisions reference a two-year period tied to the discovery of the alleged violation and an outside limit measured from the date of sale, depending on the statute involved. Courts review these questions based on the facts of each case.

Federal Courts Handling Ohio Securities Cases

Federal courts often hear securities cases tied to Ohio investors or businesses. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, including matters such as the Freddie Mac securities litigation and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, both handle these matters. These courts manage motions, discovery and class certification issues. Familiarity with these courts helps shape how securities cases proceed through litigation.

Speak With A Securities Class Action Lawyer

If you are considering whether a securities class action may apply to your situation, Markovits, Stock & DeMarco, LLC, offers free consultations to discuss the process and key considerations. Our firm represents plaintiffs only and regularly serves as appointed class counsel in securities and consumer-focused class actions across the country. With more than 100 years of combined experience and a history of significant recoveries, our attorneys approach class actions with a focused and aggressive litigation strategy.

Call us at 855-843-5442 to request a free consultation or reach our office at for general information about securities class action matters.