Opinion
02 Civ. 7052 (GEL), (and related cases)
March 20, 2003
ORDER
I. LEAD PLAINTIFF
WHEREAS the Court has severed the claims against Defendant Morgan Stanley that were pending in In re Salomon Smith Barney Analyst Level 3 Litigation 02 Civ. 6919 (GEL) ("SSB Level 3") and consolidated them in this action by Order of this date; and WHEREAS the shareholders who wish to be appointed Lead Plaintiff is this action have now submitted their motions and supporting documentation to the Court and have appeared before the Court on March 12, 2003; and WHEREAS, in accordance with its statutory obligations under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA), the Court hereby adopts the presumption that the plaintiff group composed of Richard Garland, Douglas Lippold and Charles Fuller (the "Level 3 Group") is the most adequate plaintiff because it has the largest interest in the financial relief sought by the proposed class and otherwise satisfies the requirements of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;
Those claims were pending in the following pre-consolidation actions: Pfeiffer v. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. et al., 02 Civ. 6919; Pinger v. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. et al., 02 Civ. 7052; Arneson v. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. et al., 02 Civ. 7714; Delater v. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. et al., 02 Civ. 7905; Fuller v. Salomon Smith Barney Inc. et al., 02 Civ. 7906.
It is hereby ORDERED that:
In accordance with the requirements of the PSLRA, the Court appoints the Level 3 Group as Lead Plaintiff in In re Morgan Stanley Analyst Level 3 Litigation ("MS Level 3"). This appointment is subject to later modification or revision by the Court.
II. LEAD COUNSEL
The Level 3 Group seeks the Court's approval for its choice of Weiss Yourman and Beatie and Osborn, L.L.P. as co-lead counsel.
It is further ORDERED that:
The Court approves Lead Plaintiff's choice of co-lead counsel as Weiss Yourman and Beatie and Osborn, L.L.P.
III. PLEADINGS SCHEDULE
It is further ORDERED that:
(1) The Lead Plaintiff shall file a consolidated amended complaint no later than May 15, 2003 and shall deliver one courtesy copy of the complaint to Chambers;
(2) The defendant shall respond to the consolidated amended complaint by motion or answer, no later than July 15, 2003;
(3) If the defendant moves to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint, plaintiff shall respond to such motion no later than August 15, 2003; and
(4) The Defendant shall reply to plaintiff's response no later than September 22, 2003.
In order to preserve judicial economy, every effort will be made to keep the briefing schedule for MS Level 3 on the same track as the briefing schedule for SSB Level 3.
Pursuant to the Court's Individual Practice Rules, courtesy copies of motions or responses need not be provided to Chambers at the time of filing. When the reply or replies are served and filed, the defendant shall supply two courtesy copies of all motion papers to Chambers.
IV. MISCELLANEOUS
It is further ORDERED that:
(1) The claims against Morgan Stanley previously filed in complaints in any of the Salomon Smith Barney Analyst Level 3 Litigation cases already before this Court shall be deemed withdrawn and shall be dismissed two weeks after the filing of the consolidated amended complaint in this action, unless the plaintiff(s) filing said complaints, no later than May 29, 2003 (or, if the date of filing the consolidated amended complaints is extended by further Order of this Court, within ten days of the adjourned filing date): (i) show(s) cause for why the complaint should not be dismissed; and (ii) deliver(s) to Chambers a courtesy copy of the original complaint.
(2) Counsel should be advised that this Court does not look favorably upon and will not permit double-charging by multiple firms or local counsel for the same work or representation. Each counsel that has been appointed Lead Counsel must maintain complete and accurate records of all time charges pertaining to its representation in this litigation. All counsel are reminded of this Court's statutory obligation, upon final adjudication of this litigation, to make specific findings upon the record regarding the compliance of every party and attorney with each requirement of Rule 11(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure with respect to any complaint, responsive pleading, or dispositive motion. Any violations found will be subject to appropriate sanctions. 15 U.S.C. § 78-u-4(c).
(3) This Order disposes of all pending motions for appointment as lead plaintiff, approval of lead counsel, and all scheduling and organizational matters presently pending in all cases consolidated under the docket number above, and the Clerk of Court is respectfully directed to mark all such motions as closed for purposes of all internal reports.
SO ORDERED.