Stock investors rely on the statements of companies, auditors, and financial advisors when deciding where to invest their money. If one of these professionals offers false or inaccurate information, you could lose your money. Although suing the wrongdoer is often not cost-effective for an individual investor, the law offers a mechanism for investors to work together to hold the fraudsters accountable.
Investors in Washington DC can talk to our securities fraud class action lawyers about your legal options. The experienced securities fraud attorneys at Silver Law Group are leaders in investors’ rights and represent clients nationwide in class action cases to recover compensation for defrauded investors.
When many people have similar legal claims, managing them as individual claims is inefficient and could lead to unfairness. Individual claims require each plaintiff to secure sufficient evidence to prove their cases, which benefits the party with more resources, which is usually the defendant.
A class action lawsuit allows people with similar legal claims arising out of the same set of facts to bring a lawsuit together. They need only conduct one investigation, and the plaintiffs share the expenses and the proceeds. The attorneys at Silver Law Group have extensive experience representing investors from Washington DC and across the country in class action lawsuits alleging securities fraud.
We handle these lawsuits on a contingency basis, meaning we take our fees as a percentage of the money we recover for you. There are no out-of-pocket costs to you, so you can work with us at no risk.
Federal law explicitly provides investors with the opportunity to file a class action lawsuit when they believe they have been defrauded. All investors who bought or sold the relevant securities during a specified period, called a class period, are automatically included in the class action unless they choose to opt out. The class period typically begins when the incorrect information became public and ends when it is corrected.
A federal judge will review the initial claims to determine whether the lawsuit should be certified as a class action. The judge considers whether the claims arise out of the same facts, how the market responded to the inaccuracy or omission, and whether the legal issues are the same for all the investors. The defendants can present evidence seeking to prevent class certification.
If the judge certifies the class, there will be significant pressure on the defendant to settle the claim. If the judge does not certify a class, you will need to pursue an individual lawsuit to recover your lost investment.
Sometimes there is something unique about your securities fraud claim that needs addressing. You might feel that the lead plaintiff’s goals in the litigation are misaligned with your own, or you believe you could get a higher payout pursuing an individual claim.
When you receive a notice that you are included in a class action lawsuit, you have the opportunity to opt out. If you reside in Washington DC and have suffered financial losses due to securities fraud, the attorneys at Silver Law Group could discuss the risks and benefits of opting out of a class action. Opting out means greater expense, but could be worthwhile if an individual claim is the only way to meet your goals.
Class action lawsuits are a powerful tool that protect small investors and ensure accountability. If you live in Washington DC and believe you have sustained losses due to fraudulent actions, contact Silver Law Group to speak with a securities fraud class action lawyer today.
