Wamu Investment fraud case moves forward
Earlier this week, Seattle Federal District Court Judge Marsha Pechman, ruled that the case against several former Washington Mutual executives and Deloitte & Touche could move forward. She dismissed some of the claims, however, denied defense requests to dismiss any defendants.
In May 2009, Judge Pechman, dismissed the initial 388 page plaintiff complaint as “verbose” and “disorganized”. In her earlier decision, she wrote the following: “The Court remains mystified at counsel’s failure to allege cohesive claims, submit helpful briefing, or prepare a response to the court's inquiry in advance of oral argument. Plaintiffs' counsel cannot expect the court to engage in the necessary analysis when counsel is not prepared to do so."
In the revised 267 page complaint, submitted by the plaintiff’s counsel, Judge Pechman, finds that it is cogent and concise”. The heart of the case involves Washington Mutual’s residential lending practices and alleges that greed to raise the bank’s stock price is a major factor in why proper standards were ignored to meet consumer demand.
This case is on behalf of individuals who purchased securities issued by Wamu or its subsidiaries from October 19, 2005 to July 23, 2008 (the “Class Period”).
After reading the complaint, one can see that there are several issues on who should be held accountable for protecting Wamu investors from fraud. Many lawyers are involved in this legal battle that can last for several years.
Fraudsters Beware: Investors will hold you accountable for your actions and justice will be served.
According to a recent report issued by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) enforcement division needs to improve its processes and procedures for investigating and managing the fight against securities fraud. The main example cited in the report was the most current and most blatant example of the SEC’s failure to properly investigate securities fraud complaints - Bernard Madoff’s multi-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme. The report issued by the OIG stated that complaints about Mr. Madoff’s possible involvement in securities fraud were received by the SEC as long ago as 1999. Even though complaints of alleged fraud were made to the SEC in regard to Mr. Madoff, SEC staff failed to recommend that the SEC take action on these complaints.
Brian F. LaBovick, Esq.
Esther Uria LaBovick, Esq.
Mark R. Hanson, Esq.
Scott R. Haft, Esq.
Joseph R. Fields Jr., Esq.
Marcie Dodson, J.D.