NERA Economic Consulting has released a year end report which shows that the 18 month trend of declines in shareholder class actions has definitely reversed course. In an article posted on BusinessWire, the report projects that a total of 207 federal filings will be made by year end, up from 131 filings in 2006. You can read a brief synopsis of the report from BusinessWire by clicking this link.  For more information about this report, you can contact Benjamin Seggerson from NERA.

William Katt, an Associate with the law firm of Foley & Lardner LLP, has written a brief overview of what can be expected in the upcoming United States v. Ferguson trial. His assessment of the trial is that it “will be the most prominent example to date of the skeptical eye government regulators at the federal and state levels have cast toward some kinds of finite reinsurance transactions in the last few years.” To view the full article, please click on this link.

According to BusinessWeek online, the top business story of 2007 is the state of the U.S. housing market (and related effects on the debt markets worldwide). You can read brief reviews of this and the BusinessWeek to 10 business stories of the year by following this link.

If you're looking for the top D&O story of 2007, Kevin LaCroix, Senior Member of the Management Team at OakBridge Insurance Services has posted his list at The D&O Diary, and interestingly enough his top story is also related to the US housing market.  You can view his list and insightful commentary by following this link.

TJX Companies have settled with nearly all of the banks and related bank associations over a breach of credit card data.

Ford Motor Company, two related companies and the UAW (United Auto Workers) have settled a race discrimination lawsuit by paying 1.6 million dollars and providing other relief. The United States EEOC charged that a written test to determine eligibility for an apprenticeship program discriminated against blacks. More information about this settlement can be found here on the BusinessWeek website.

  February 6 & 7, 2008
Marriott Marquis Hotel, New York

Please follow this link to register.

 

 

In addition to the outstanding panels, PLUS is pleased to present Keynote Addresses from William H. Donaldson, 27th Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (left) and William R. Berkley, Founder, Chairman and CEO of W.R. Berkley Corporation (right).

 

 

PLUS has reserved a limited number of rooms for attendees at the Marriott Marquis Hotel (1535 Broadway). Please make your reservations as soon as possible at 1-800-843-4898 and indicate that you are part of the PLUS block to secure the special rate of $251 plus taxes.

 

Due to the success of previous events, it is expected that registration will be limited in 2008.