246 F.R.D. 156 | S.D.N.Y. | 2007
This Opinion considers the petition of the lead plaintiffs for class certification and final approval of a proposed settlement and plan of allocation in twenty putative securities class actions brought on behalf of direct purchasers of securities that were the subject of allegedly false or misleading Merrill Lynch research reports. The Court also considers Lead Counsels’ application for an award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of litigation expenses. For the reasons that follow, the Court (i) grants class certification to the settling plaintiffs, (ii) approves the settlement and plan of allocation, (iii) awards attorneys’ fees in the amount of 24% of the settlement fund, and (iv) awards reimbursement of litigation expenses to counsel.
BACKGROUND
These twenty securities class actions (collectively, the “Actions”) were among numerous securities class actions brought against Merrill Lynch on behalf of classes of direct purchasers of stock in Internet-based companies that were the subject of allegedly misleading research reports written and disseminated by the defendants. The cases originally were assigned to the late Honorable Milton J. Pollack for pre-trial purposes, in In re Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., 02 MDL 1484, pursuant to an order of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“MDL”) which consolidated before Judge Pollack numerous claims, alleging securities fraud against Merrill Lynch and other defendants. The cases were reassigned to me upon Judge Pollack’s death. This is the second global settlement of the eases consolidated under this MDL. The first global settlement involved three consolidated cases, relating to claims brought on behalf of shareholders of three different Merrill Lynch proprietary mutual funds (the “Mutual Fund Cases”) and was approved by this Court on February 1, 2007. See In re Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., 02 MDL 1484(JFK), 2007 WL 313474, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9450 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 1, 2007) (the “MF Decision”).
Plaintiffs in these Actions are shareholders who held stock, during the relevant class periods, in twenty different internet-based companies that were the subject of allegedly false and/or misleading Merrill Lynch research reports.
Procedural History
The first of these Actions commenced on July 26, 2001, with the filing of a complaint on behalf of shareholders of the stock InfoSpace (the “InfoSpace Complaint”). The InfoSpace Complaint alleged that the defendants had recommended the purchase of InfoSpace stock despite being in possession of negative material information regarding an impending merger of InfoSpace and Go2Net, another internet company. On April 8, 2002, while the defendants’ motion to dismiss the InfoSpace Complaint was pending, the Office of the New York Attorney General (the “NYAG”) submitted an affidavit in New York Supreme Court, in support of the NYAG’s attempt to compel the defendants’ to produce certain records (the “Dinallo Affidavit”). The Dinallo Affidavit alleged in detail the defendants’ practice of regularly publishing misleading and/or false recommendations on Internet-based stocks in order to generate investment banking business for Merrill Lynch. The NYAG’s investigation into Merrill Lynch’s conduct received a great deal of publicity and led to the filing of over one hundred class action complaints, in courts throughout the country, on behalf of purchasers of approximately two dozen Internet-based securities that had been the subject of allegedly false Merrill Lynch research reports. In October 2002, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred all the cases to Judge Pollack for pre-trial proceedings, under the caption In re Merrill Lynch Research Reports Securities Litigation, No. 02 MDL 1484.
On December 9, 2002, Judge Pollack issued Case Management Order # 1, directing that the cases be consolidated according to the security that was the subject of each complaint. On February 5, 2003, March 31, 2003, and July 22, 2003, Judge Pollack issued Orders that, among other things, appointed Lead Plaintiffs in each of the twenty Actions; appointed firms to act as Lead Counsel in these Actions
On March 13, 2003, Lead Plaintiffs filed consolidated amended complaints in each of the Actions. On April 30, 2003, the defendants filed motions to dismiss the complaints in two cases designated as “test cases” by Judge Pollack, In re Merrill Lynch 24/7 Real Media Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig. No. 02 Civ. 3210(MP), and In re Merrill Lynch Interliant Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 3221(MP) (the “Test Cases”). On June 30, 2003, Judge Pollack dismissed the complaints in the Test Cases with prejudice, on the grounds, inter alia, that the plaintiffs had failed adequately to plead loss causation;
The defendants then filed motions to dismiss nine of the Actions (the “Phase I Cases”). On October 29, 2003 and November 17, 2003, Judge Pollack dismissed the Phase I Cases with prejudice, and Lead Plaintiffs in those cases timely filed notices of appeals. Those appeals were pending at the time the parties agreed upon the instant settlement.
On December 8, 2003, the defendants moved to dismiss the complaints in seven additional Actions (the “Phase II Cases”). Those motions to dismiss were pending at the time the parties agreed upon a settlement.
Four of the instant Actions, brought on behalf of purchasers of Merrill Lynch-created “baskets” of Internet-based securities (the “HOLDRs Cases”), were not subjected to motions to dismiss.
On October 6, 2004, following Judge Pollack’s death, the Judicial Panel for Multidistrict Litigation reassigned the eases consolidated in In re Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., 02 MDL 1484, including these Actions, to this Court.
On January 20, 2005, the Second Circuit issued its decision in the appeal of Judge Pollack’s dismissal-with-prejudiee of the Test Cases. In Lentell v. Merrill Lynch, 396 F.3d 161 (2d Cir.2005), cert. denied, 546 U.S. 935, 126 S.Ct. 421, 163 L.Ed.2d 321 (2005), the Circuit affirmed Judge Pollack’s dismissal on the ground of loss causation. Id. at 178. The Second Circuit, however, reversed Judge Pollack’s ruling that the claims were time-barred.
Appeal of the dismissals of the Phase I cases had been stayed pending the Circuit’s ruling in the appeal of the dismissals of the Test Cases. On June 21, 2005, the Circuit lifted the stay of the appeal in the Phase I cases.
Settlement
The parties began conducting settlement discussions prior to the Second Circuit’s ruling in Lentell. The first settlement discussion occurred on October 1, 2003. Counsel for the defendants and the Co-Chairs continued settlement discussions throughout 2004 and 2005. On February 16, 2006, the Co-Chairs and the defendants came to a preliminary agreement regarding settlement of the Actions, and the terms of that preliminary agreement were set forth in a letter of understanding. The preliminary agreement called for a cash payment of $125 million, with interest to begin accruing at rate equal to the three-month London Offered Interbank Rate (“LIBOR”) rate as of March 30, 2006. On January 11, 2007, the parties executed a Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement (“Stipulation”). The parties submitted the Stipulation to the Court, along with a Proposed Preliminary Order Approving the Settlement (“Preliminary Order”), to which were attached as exhibits a Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Actions (“Notice”), a Proof of Claim and Release Form (“Proof of Claim”), and a Summary Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement and Hearing Thereon (“Summary Notice”).
The Stipulation provides for the cash payment of $125 million plus accruing interest
Pursuant to the Stipulation, the Settlement Fund will be used to pay taxes and tax expenses; administrative costs of the Actions, including the costs of providing notice; and attorneys’ fees and litigation expenses. The remaining amount of the Settlement Fund (“Net Settlement Fund”) then will be distributed to valid claimants pursuant to the Plan of Allocation. The Stipulation also contains a release and waiver, barring any participating Class Members from bringing against any defendant or former defendant in these Actions any future claims, known or unknown, that arise out of or relate to the Actions.
Plaintiffs moved for preliminary approval of the Settlement on January 17, 2007. On January 24, 2007, the Court entered the Preliminary Order. The Preliminary Order granted preliminary class certification to the Actions for settlement purposes and certified the Lead Plaintiffs in the Actions as class representatives. The Preliminary Order also approved the form of the proposed Notice, the Proof of Claim, and the Summary Notice, and scheduled a Fairness Hearing for July 18, 2007, 2006.
Notice to Class
On April 3, 2007, pursuant to the Preliminary Order, counsel, through the Court-approved claims administrator, Analytics, Inc. (“Analytics”), began the process of identifying potential Class Members and mailing claim packets to identifiable class members. Each claim packet contained the Notice and the Proof of Claim. As of June 27, 2007, Analytics mailed 1,818,781 claim packets to potential Class Members. On April 16, 2007, Analytics published the Summary Notice in the national editions of The Wall Street Journal and USA Today, and on the PR Newswire. Analytics also posted downloadable copies of the Notice and Proof of Claim on Analytics’ website and on a website created for purposes of the Settlement (http://www. merrilllynchsettlement.com) (last visited August 22, 2007).
The Notice provided a background of the Actions, described the circumstances leading up to the Settlement, supplied the details of the Settlement, gave notice of the Fairness Hearing, and provided instructions for Class Members regarding submissions of claims, exclusion from the Settlement, objection to the terms of Settlement and/or the application for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of expenses, and attendance at the Fairness Hearing. The Notice also stated that Lead Counsel would apply for attorneys’ fees not to exceed 30% of the Settlement Fund, and reimbursement of attorneys’ costs and expenses incurred in connection with the litigation of the Actions not to exceed $1,750,000.
Plan of Allocation
The Notice included the proposed Plan of Allocation. The Notice explains that, under the Plan of Allocation, the Net Settlement Fund will be distributed to those Class Members who submit timely, valid Proof of Claim forms that demonstrate net losses on transactions of the stocks at issue in the Actions during the relevant class periods. Under the
The Notice sets forth in detail the percentage of the Net Settlement Fund that will be allocated to each Action and the Recognized Loss amount that Class Members in each Action will be entitled to claim. The Recognized Loss for each Class Member is based on when the Class Member purchased the shares at issue; when the shares were sold; the amount of loss incurred; and the number of shares, if any, held by the Class Member at the end of the relevant class period.
Reaction of Class to the Notice of Proposed Settlement
The response of the classes to the proposed settlement has been extremely positive. After mailing over 1.8 million claim packets to potential Class Members, as of June 27, 2007, Analytics received only 299 requests for exclusion. As of July 25, 2007, the date of the Fairness Hearing, only twelve individual investors and one institutional investor had filed objections to either the settlement or the request for an award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of expenses.
Fairness Hearing
On July 25, 2007, the Court held the Fairness Hearing. Lead Counsel spoke in favor of the settlement and in support of the application for an award of attorneys’ fees of 24%, and reimbursement of litigation expenses. Counsel for defendants appeared but did not argue in favor of the settlement or the application for attorneys’ fees. Counsel for the sole institutional objector, the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, appeared and stated an objection to the Settlement. No other objectors attended the hearing.
DISCUSSION
(i) Certification of the Settlement Class
The Stipulation contemplates certification of the settlement class. “Before certification is proper for any purpose-settlement, litigation, or otherwise-a court must ensure that the requirements of Rule 23(a) and (b) have been met.” Denney v. Deutsche Bank, AG, 443 F.3d 253, 270 (2d Cir.2006). Rule 23(a) imposes four threshold requirements on putative class actions: numerosity, commonality, typicality, and adequacy of representation. Id. at 267. In addition, Rule 23(b)(3) imposes the following two requirements: “Common questions must ‘predominate over any questions affecting only individual members’; and class resolution must be ‘superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of the controversy.’ ” Id. (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3)). The Court considers each requirement in turn.
Numerosity
Rule 23(a)(1) requires that the putative class be “so numerous that joinder of all class members is impracticable.” Fed.R.Civ.P.
Commonality
Under Rule 23(a)(2), class certification is appropriate where “there are questions of law or fact common to the class.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(2). The commonality requirement of Rule 23(a)(2) is satisfied if “all class members are in a substantially identical factual situation and the questions of law raised by the plaintiff[s] are applicable to each class member.” In re Playmobil Antitrust Litig., 35 F.Supp.2d 231, 240 (E.D.N.Y.1998). The rule does not require that every question of law or fact be common to each class member. Id. “The commonality requirement has been applied permissively in the context of securities fraud litigation.” In re Veeco Instruments, Inc., Sec. Litig., 235 F.R.D. 220, 238 (S.D.N.Y.2006). Here, the Actions raise questions of law and fact that are common to each class member. Plaintiffs are suing under the same federal securities laws, alleging the same misrepresentations and/or omissions of material statements in the Merrill Lynch research reports, and alleging that the misrepresentations artificially inflated the prices of the stocks at issue, thereby resulting in the plaintiffs’ financial losses. Thus, “the success of each plaintiffs claim turns on establishing the existence, nature and significance of the same alleged misrepresentations and omissions.” Id. The commonality requirement is satisfied.
Typicality
Rule 23(a)(3) is satisfied if “the claims or defenses of the representative parties are typical of the claims or defenses of the class.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(3). The “typicality” requirement is met where “the claims of the named plaintiffs arise from the same practice or course of conduct that gives rise to the claims of the proposed class members.” Schwab v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., 449 F.Supp.2d 992, 1104 (E.D.N.Y.2006) (internal quotations and citation omitted). Here, there is no indication that the claims of the lead plaintiffs differ in any respect from the claims of the rest of the putative Class Members. Thus, the typicality requirement is satisfied.
Adequacy of Representation
Rule 23(a)(4) requires that “the representative parties will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the class.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(a)(4). This necessitates a two-part inquiry: (1) whether the lead plaintiffs’ interests are antagonistic to the interests of other members of the class, and (2) whether plaintiffs’ attorneys are qualified, experienced and able to conduct the litigation. Baffa v. Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Sec. Corp., 222 F.3d 52, 60 (2d Cir.2000). Regarding the first prong, there is no indication that the lead plaintiffs’ claims conflict in any way with the claims of other Class Members. As stated above, the claims of the named plaintiffs appear to be typical of the claims of the remainder of the class. The second prong also is satisfied. As the resumes submitted by Lead Counsel clearly show, counsel have wide experience in the field of securities class litigation. Further, as discussed below and as is clear from the record of this litigation, counsels’ skillful and zealous representation over a six-year period enabled the settling classes to obtain a favorable and certain cash recovery. Thus, the final requirement of Rule 23(a) has been met.
Rule 23(b)(3): Predomination and Superiority
Rule 23(b)(3) requires “[1] that common questions of law or fact predominate over individual questions and [2] that a class action is superior to other methods of adjudication.” In re Veeco Instruments, Inc., 235 F.R.D. at 240. “In determining whether
Rule 23(b)(3) sets forth the following factors to be considered in making a determination of superiority: “(A) The interest of members of the class in individually controlling the prosecution ... of separate actions; (B) The extent and nature of any litigation concerning the controversy already commenced by ... members of the class; (C) The desirability ... of concentrating the litigation of the claims in the particular forum; and (D) The difficulties likely to be encountered in the management of a class action.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(b)(3). As the court observed in In re Blech Sec. Litig.,
In general, securities suits ... easily satisfy the superiority requirement of Rule 23. Most violations of the federal securities laws ... inflict economic injury on large numbers of geographically dispersed persons such that the cost of pursuing individual litigation to seek recovery is often not feasible. Multiple lawsuits would be costly and inefficient, and the exclusion of class members who cannot afford separate representation would neither be ‘fair’ nor an adjudication of their claims. Moreover, although a large number of individuals may have been injured, no one person may have been damaged to a degree which would induce him to institute litigation solely on his own behalf.
The reasoning of the court in Blech applies in these Actions, where there are potentially hundreds of thousands of Class Members and the expected recovery per share is low. Because of the large number of potential claimants and the relatively small damage suffered by potential individual claimants, it is unlikely that individual plaintiffs would endure the expense of litigation in order to bring their claims. There is no indication that counsel are likely to encounter any difficulties in administering the settlement of the actions. Therefore, because class action treatment is superior to any other method for the fair and efficient adjudication of these Actions, the requirements of Rule 23(b)(3) are satisfied.
Because the factors for class certification set forth in Rule 23(a) and Rule 23(b)(3) have been met, the application to certify the classes for settlement is granted.
(ii) Approval of Final Settlement
Federal Rule 23(e) governs the settlement of class actions and requires court approval before a settlement is executed. Adequate notice of the proposed settlement must be provided and the proposed settlement must be the subject of a fairness hearing. Fed.R.Civ.P. 23(e)(1). In addition, a court may approve a settlement that is binding on the class only if it determines that the settlement is “fair, adequate, and reasonable” and not a “product of collusion.” Joel A. v. Giuliani, 218 F.3d 132, 138 (2d Cir.2000). This evaluation requires the court to consider both “the settlement’s terms and the negotiating process leading to settlement.” Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Visa U.S.A. Inc., 396 F.3d 96, 116 (2d Cir.2005). The determination of the fairness of a settlement is a matter addressed to the Court’s discretion. Joel A., 218 F.3d at 139.
Adequacy of Notice
While there are no rigid rules to determine the adequacy of notice in a class action, the standard is generally that of reasonableness. Wal-Mart, 396 F.3d at 113-14.
In these Actions, counsel provided potential Class Members with adequate notice of the Settlement. Counsel, through a Court-approved claims administrator, disseminated the Notice to more than 1.8 million potential claimants. In plain language that is easily understood by the average person, the Notice set forth essential information, including the background of the Actions, the terms of the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, and the various rights of Class Members under the Settlement (including the right to opt out, file objections, and attend the Fairness Hearing). Appended to each Notice was a form for Proof of Claim, which contained detailed instructions for filing claims under the Settlement, including a “Reminder Checklist” that summarized the steps that a Class Member needed to take in order to submit a claim. Counsel also complied with the publication requirement, causing the Summary Notice to be published in appropriate national print and online publications. The Summary Notice contained the required information regarding the Settlement terms and process and provided clear instructions on how potential claimants could obtain a copy of the Notice and Proof of Claim. The Court finds that Notice of the proposed settlement of the Actions was reasonable.
Procedural Fairness
“A ‘presumption of fairness, adequacy, and reasonableness may attach to a class settlement reached in arm’s-length negotiations between experienced, capable counsel after meaningful discovery.’ ” Wal-Mart, 396 F.3d at 116 (quoting Manual for Complex Litigation, Third, § 30.42 (1995)). “ ‘The experience of counsel, the vigor with which the case was prosecuted, and the coercion or collusion that may have marred the negotiations themselves’ shed light on the fairness of the negotiating process.” Hicks v. Stanley, No. 01 Civ. 10071, 2005 WL 2757792, at *5, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24890, at *13 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 24, 2005) (quoting Malchman v. Davis, 706 F.2d 426, 433 (2d Cir.1983)).
It is clear from the record of this case that the negotiations leading to the Settlement were procedurally fair. The parties first discussed the potential for settlement in October 2003 and continued negotiations in 2004 and 2005, pausing only to re-evaluate their positions after the Second Circuit issued its crucial ruling in Lentell in 2005. After agreeing on key settlement terms in February 2006, the parties spent nearly one year conducting further negotiations before executing the Stipulation, in January 2007. In sum, counsel with wide experience and demonstrated skill in the field of class action securities litigation represented both sides in reaching the Stipulation after protracted negotiations. There is nothing in the record of this litigation to rebut the presumption of procedural fairness that attaches to the negotiation process. The Court thus finds that the process by which the parties negotiated the proposed settlement was fair and reasonable.
Substantive Fairness
Courts of the Second Circuit examine the well-established “Grinnell factors” to determine whether a settlement is substantively fair and reasonable as required by Rule 23(e). The factors that a district court considers are:
(1) the complexity, expense and likely duration of the litigation, (2) the reaction of the class to the settlement, (3) the stage of the proceedings and the amount of discovery completed, (4) the risks of establishing liability, (5) the risks of establishing damages, (6) the risks of maintaining the class action through the trial, (7) the ability of the defendants to withstand a greater judgment, (8) the range of reasonableness of the settlement fund in light of the best possible recovery, (9) the range of reason*167 ableness of the settlement fund to a possible recovery in light of all the attendant risks of litigation[.]
D’Amato v. Deutsche Bank, 236 F.3d 78, 86 (2d Cir.2001) (citing City of Detroit v. Grinnell Corp., 495 F.2d 448, 463, abrogated on other grounds by Goldberger v. Integrated Resources, Inc., 209 F.3d 43 (2d Cir.2000)). A court need not find that every factor militates in favor of a finding of fairness; rather, a court “consider[s] the totality of these factors in light of the particular circumstances.” In re Global Crossing Sec. & ERISA Litig., 225 F.R.D. 436, 456 (S.D.N.Y.2004).
Application of the Grinnell factors in these Actions leads ineluctably to the same conclusion that this Court reached in the MF Decision: namely, that given the dire procedural posture of this case, “[t]here is little question that the settlement agreements ... are fair and adequate to the class because they would provide what further litigation could not-any recovery for class members.” In re Stock Exchs. Options Trading Antitrust Litig., No. 99 Civ. 0962, 2006 WL 3498590, at *8, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 87825, at *26 (S.D.N.Y. Dec. 4, 2006) (internal quotations and citation omitted). The proposed settlement in this case provides Class Members with the immediate and certain benefit of a substantial cash settlement. Had the plaintiffs not settled and pursued the litigation of these Actions, the almost certain result would have been complete non-recovery. As discussed above, the Second Circuit, in Lentell, affirmed Judge Pollack’s dismissal-with-prejudice of the complaints in the Test Cases on loss causation grounds. Similarly, Judge Pollack dismissed with prejudice the complaints in the Phase I cases on the ground, inter alia, that the plaintiffs had failed adequately to plead loss causation. Given the Circuit’s ruling in Lentell, the dismissals of the Phase I eases were highly likely to be upheld by the Second Circuit on appeal. The Phase II cases probably would have suffered the same fate: that is, dismissal with prejudice in this Court on the ground, inter alia, of failure to plead loss causation, followed by affirmance of the dismissal in the Second Circuit. Similarly, the HOLDRs cases, when subjected to motions to dismiss, were also highly likely to have suffered dismissals-with-prejudice and affirmance of those dismissals on appeal. In light of the high likelihood of non-recovery faced by the plaintiffs at the time the Stipulation was executed, the Settlement represents a fair recovery for the plaintiffs.
The size of the Settlement Fund, in light of the risk faced by the plaintiffs were they to proceed with these Actions, militates in favor of approval. Here, the Settlement Fund will amount to over $133 million. The alternative, as noted above, is an extremely high risk, if not a certainty, of complete non-recovery. According to the plaintiffs’ damages experts (Financial Market Analysis LLC (“FMA”)), the total claimed damages in these actions were estimated at a high of $4,134,800,000, and a low of $1,735,800,000. Thus, the Settlement Fund represents between approximately 3% and 7% of the claimed damages. A recovery of between approximately 3% and 7% of estimated damages is within the range of reasonableness for recovery in the settlement of large securities class actions. See Hicks, 2005 WL 2757792, at *7, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24890, at *19 (finding a settlement representing 3.8% of plaintiffs’ estimated damages to be within range of reasonableness); see also Ellen M. Ryan & Laura E. Simmons, Cornerstone Research, Securities Class Action Settlements: 2006 Review and Analysis, at 6, available at http://securities.cornerstone. com/pdfs/settlements_2006.pdf (last visited August 23, 2007) (reporting that, in 2006, the median settlement as a percentage of estimated damages was 0.7% in securities class actions where estimated damages ranged between $1.001 and $5 billion). Thus, the substantial recovery of $125 million, plus accrued interest, weighs in favor of approval.
The overwhelmingly positive reaction of the class also weighs heavily in favor of approval of the Settlement. After over 1.8 million Notices were mailed to potential Class Members, only eleven objections to the fairness of the Settlement were submitted, and only 299 investors requested to be excluded from the Settlement. “If only a small number of objections are received, that fact can be viewed as indicative of the adequacy of the settlement.” Wal-Mart, 396 F.3d at 118. Here, the relatively small number of
In sum, after considering the relevant Grinnell factors, the Court finds that the Settlement is substantively fair and reasonable.
Objections to Settlement
The eleven objections to the fairness of the proposed Settlement have been rendered moot or are without merit and do not weigh against approval of the Settlement. All of the objections to the fairness of the Settlement were filed by individuals, none of whom attended the Fairness Hearing. Although several of the objections were improperly filed (for example, served on counsel but not filed with the Court, filed with the Court but not served on counsel, or filed untimely), the Court will ignore any procedural defects and address each on its merits.
Manning Warren: Mr. Warren simply objects to the Settlement on the ground that the amount of the Settlement Fund is less than the fines paid by Merrill Lynch to settle the NYAG’s action. This is factually incorrect: Merrill Lynch paid $100 million in settlement, see NYAG Press Release, Spitzer, Merrill Lynch Reach Unprecedented Agreement to Reform Investment Practices: Merrill Lynch to Pay $100 Million Penalty, May 21, 2002, available at http://www.oag.state.ny. us/press/2002/may/may21a_02.html (last visited August 23, 2007). The Settlement Fund, without interest, amounted to $125 million. Mr. Warren further states that the settlement is “unreasonably low and is not in the investors class’ best interests.” (Objection of Manning Warren.) These conclusory statements are not sufficient to weigh against approval of the Settlement as fair and reasonable.
David Race: Mr. Race objects on the ground that the settlement classes should include acquirers of shares in the stock, Openwave, through a merger. As plaintiffs point out, Mr. Race is simply mistaken. Even though Mr. Race acquired his shares through a merger, he is nevertheless deemed a member of the class under the provisions of the Settlement. Lead Counsel have represented to the Court and have informed Mr. Race and his attorney that Mr. Race will be included in the Settlement. Accordingly, I consider Mr. Race’s objection to be dismissed as moot.
Frank Cordingley: Mr. Cordingley states that a recovery equivalent to “10% return on initial investment would be considered good faith for believing that no criminal activities would occur during this American institution called our stock exchange....” (Objection of Frank Cordingley.) Mr. Cordingley does not otherwise explain why the terms of settlement are unfair. Mr. Cordingley’s statement does not constitute a valid ground for objection.
Frank Arcuri: Mr. Arcuri objects to the Plan of Allocation for shareholders of CMGI stock. Mr. Arcuri states that his losses in the stock exceeded $20,000 and that the one cent/share recovery provided for shareholders of CMGI during the relevant class period by the Plan of Allocation is “without merit, and frivolous, and should be dismissed.” (Objection of Frank Arcuri.) Mr. Arcuri proposes that a larger recovery for each CMGI shareholder can be obtained by proportionately reducing attorneys’ fees. Plaintiffs assert that the recovery for CMGI shareholders is appropriately low because it “reflects the weakness of plaintiffs’ allegations” during the relevant class period. As counsel note, Judge Phillips classified the CMGI case as a “low-tier liability/zero damage case.” (Pl. Mem. in Support of Settlement at 25.)
As discussed below, Judge Phillips’ analysis of the relative strength of each Action and the resulting Plan of Allocation were reasonable and fair. Mr. Arcuri has not shown why
Cliff Bamford: Mr. Bamford simply requests that the Court exclude him from the settlement, mainly on the ground that the proposed settlement enriches class counsel while providing little justice or relief to injured investors such as himself. As plaintiffs point out, Mr. Bamford’s application does not comply with the requirements set forth in the Notice, namely because Mr. Bamford has failed to state the type and number of shares he owned of a particular security that is the subject of these Actions, nor when he bought or sold the security. To the extent that Mr. Bamford’s submission is deemed an objection, it has no merit.
Ernest Michaud: Mr. Michaud reports that, as a result of his purchase of Exodus stock, he ended up losing “12 to 15 thousand dollars. Money I had earmarked to help pay for my children’s college expenses.” (Objection of Ernest Michaud.) He describes the proposed settlement, from which he stands to recover only five dollars, as a “joke” and regrets that the notice has reminded him of “this bad memory” that he had almost succeeded in forgetting. (Id.) Although Mr. Michaud clearly has expressed his displeasure with the outcome of his investment and this Settlement, his objection does not state any valid reason why the Court should not approve the settlement.
Bryan Fitzpatrick: Mr. Fitzpatrick states that he bought and sold 200 shares of CGMI and 100 shares of ICGE during the relevant class periods. Mr. Fitzpatrick primarily objects that he stands to recover nothing because he did not sell his securities at a net loss. He cites to Dura Pharmaceuticals v. Broudo, 544 U.S. 336, 125 S.Ct. 1627, 161 L.Ed.2d 577 (2005), for the proposition that a shareholder may recover on a claim for securities fraud when a shareholder, despite having incurred no out-of-pocket loss, nevertheless realizes a gain that was less than it would have been but for the fraud. Mr. Fitzpatrick protests that it is unfair to extinguish the claims of shareholders who did not incur net losses; he states that the proper course would have been to “exclude such persons from the definition of the class and permit them to pursue their claims in another action if they so choose.” (Objection of Fitzpatrick.) He also states that the Settlement, which treats shareholders of CMGI and ICGE stock differently depending upon when the shares were bought and sold, constitutes a conflict of interest that is violative of constitutional due process.
As plaintiffs note, it is well-settled in the Second Circuit that it is not inequitable for a plan of allocation to provide for distribution of the proceeds of a settlement fund only to claimants who suffered out-of-pocket losses as a result of the defendants’ alleged fraudulent conduct. See Official Comm. Of Unsecured Creditors of WorldCom, Inc. v. SEC, 467 F.3d 73 (2d Cir.2006). Thus, the Settlement does not violate Mr. Fitzpatrick’s right to due process of law. As plaintiffs further note, had Mr. Fitzpatrick wished to preserve his claims and commence his own action against the defendants, he could have opted out of the Settlement. The Court finds that Mr. Fitzpatrick’s objections to the fairness of the Settlement have no merit.
Bonita Bates: Ms. Bates purchased and sold ICGE shares prior to November 8, 2000, the date on which previously undisclosed risks relating to ICGE were revealed. Ms. Bates objects to the Plan of Allocation’s failure to distribute settlement proceeds to investors who purchased and sold ICGE stock prior to November 8, 2000. As plaintiffs note, shareholders who sold their ICGE stock prior to the disclosure of previously undisclosed risks would be unable to prove loss causation. Therefore, the Plan of Allocation reasonably provides no recovery for claimants who, like Ms. Bates, sold their ICGE stock prior to the date of disclosure. Accordingly, Ms. Bates’ objection has no merit.
Thomas & Catherine Quaranta: The Quarantas appear to object to the fact that the class period during which they purchased and sold shares of CMGI stock allows them to obtain no recovery under the Plan of
Susan Borstein: Like the Quarantas, Ms. Borstein purchased and sold her CMGI shares prior to the defendants’ revelation of previously undisclosed risks; thus, she would be unable to prove loss causation, her recognized loss is zero, and her objection to the Settlement has no merit.
Slayden Yarbrough: Mr. Yarbrough also objects to the absence of recognized loss, under the Plan of Allocation, for his purchase of CMGI shares. Mr. Yarbrough purchased his CMGI shares after the defendants revealed previously concealed negative facts regarding CMGI. Thus, Mr. Yarbrough would be unable to prove loss causation and his recognized loss is, appropriately, zero.
In sum, the eleven individual investors’ objections to the fairness of the Settlement do not weigh against approval of the Settlement as fair and reasonable.
Plan of Allocation
“In approving an allocation plan, the Court must ensure that the distribution of funds is fair and reasonable.” Hicks, 2005 WL 2757792, at *7, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24890, at *19-20 (citations omitted). A plan of allocation that is devised by competent and experienced class counsel “need have only a reasonable, rational basis.” Id. (internal quotations and citation omitted).
The Plan of Allocation was developed by Lead Counsel with the significant participation of a retained neutral arbiter, former United States District Court Judge Phillips. As noted above, the Plan of Allocation is the result of extensive proceedings conducted before the former Judge Phillips and his subsequent assessment of counsels’ arguments and the relative factual strengths and weaknesses of each Action. The Plan of Allocation calls for the Settlement Fund to be distributed to Class Members in each Action on the basis of each Class Member’s pro rata loss of value in shares for each Action during relevant class periods for which there existed a recognized loss. A plan of allocation that calls for the pro rata distribution of settlement proceeds on the basis of investment loss is reasonable. See In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Research Reports Sec. Litig., 2007 WL 313474, at *11-12, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9450, at *39-40; Hicks, 2005 WL 2757792, at *7-8, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24890, at *21 (citing In re Global Crossing, 225 F.R.D. at 462). Further, the Court notes that the Plan of Allocation was described in detail in the Notice that was sent to each potential class member, and as discussed above, the few objections to the Plan have no merit. Accordingly, the Court approves the Plan of Allocation as fair and reasonable.
(Hi) Attorneys’ Fees
Lead Counsel request an award of attorneys’ fees in the amount of 24% of the Settlement Fund, or approximately $31,994,609, as of June 15, 2007. The requested award translates to a multiple of 1.985 of counsels’ total lodestar and an hourly rate of $912.80 for all the legal and paraprofessional work expended on these Actions. Lead Counsels’ request comports with the terms of the Notice provided to potential class members, which stated that counsel would not request fees in excess of 30% of the Settlement Fund.
“[W]here an attorney succeeds in creating a common fund from which members of a class are compensated for a common injury inflicted on the class ... the attorneys whose efforts created the fund are entitled to a reasonable fee-set by the court-to be taken from the fund.” Goldberger, 209 F.3d at 47. A district court has broad discretion to award attorneys’ fees, and an award of fees will be overturned only for abuse of that discretion. Id. In the Second Circuit, a district court may calculate attorneys’ fees in one of two ways. Under the “lodestar” method, “an attorney fee award is derived by multiplying the number of hours reasonably expended on the litigation by a reasonable hourly rate.” A.R. v. N.Y. City Dep’t of Educ., 407 F.3d 65, 79 (2d Cir.2005) (internal
Both the lodestar and percentage methods are permissible methods of calculating reasonable attorneys’ fees. Goldberger, 209 F.3d at 50. The trend in the Second Circuit, however, has been to express attorneys’ fees as a percentage of the total settlement, rather than to use the lodestar method to arrive at a reasonable fee. Wal-Mart, 396 at 121; In re Elan Sec. Litig., 385 F.Supp.2d 363, 373 (S.D.N.Y.2005). The Second Circuit disfavors application of the lodestar method because the “lodestar create[s] an unanticipated disincentive to early settlements, tempt[s] lawyers to run up their hours, and compels] district courts to engage in a gimlet-eyed review of line-item fee audits.” Wal-Mart, 396 F.3d at 122 (internal quotations and citation omitted); see also In re AOL Time Warner, Inc. Sec. & “ERISA” Litig., No. 02 Civ. 5575, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 78101, at *24 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 28, 2006), report and recommendation adopted by 2006 WL 3057232, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 77926 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 25, 2006) (noting that “every significant Southern District opinion facing the issue since Goldberger has embraced the percentage approach”). The percentage method usually is deemed to be preferable “because it reduces the incentive for counsel to drag the case out to increase the number of hours billed; also, fewer judicial resources will be spent in evaluating the fairness of the fee petition.” Hicks, 2005 WL 2757792, at *8, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24890, at *23 (citation omitted). Use of the percentage method also comports with the statutory language of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (“PSLRA”) which specifies that “total attorneys’ fees and expenses awarded by the court to counsel for the plaintiff class shall not exceed a reasonable percentage of the amount of any damages and prejudgment interest actually paid to the class....” 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(a)(6) (emphasis added); Maley v. Del Global Tech., 186 F.Supp.2d 358, 370 (S.D.N.Y.2002) (noting that in amending the PSLRA, Congress “indicated a preference for the use of the percentage method”).
Whether the fee is calculated using the lodestar or percentage method, courts consider the following Goldberger factors in determining a reasonable award of fees: “(1) the time and labor expended by counsel; (2) the magnitude and complexities of the litigation; (3) the risk of litigation ...; (4) the quality of representation; (5) the requested fee in relation to the settlement; and (6) public policy.” Goldberger, 209 F.3d at 50. “Even when the percentage method is used, however, the Second Circuit ‘encourages the practice of requiring documentation of hours as a “cross-check” on the reasonableness of the requested percentage.’ ” In re Visa Check/MasterMoney Antitrust Litig., 297 F.Supp.2d 503, 520-21 (E.D.N.Y.2003), aff'd Wal-Mart, 396 F.3d at 96 (2d Cir.2005) (quoting Goldberger, 209 F.3d at 50). In evaluating the lodestar value for “crosscheck” purposes, the hours submitted by the attorneys are reviewed but not exhaustively scrutinized. Goldberger, 209 F.3d at 50. In determining a reasonable award of attorneys’ fees, the Court seeks to balance the “overarching concern for moderation with the concern for avoiding disincentives to early settlements.” In re Elan Sec. Litig., 385 F.Supp.2d at 376 (citations and internal quotations omitted). A fee award “should be assessed based on scrutiny of the unique circumstances of each case, and ‘a jealous regard to the rights of those who are interested in the fund.’ ” Goldberger, 209 F.3d at 53 (quoting Grinnell, 495 F.2d at 469).
Counsel argue that an award of 24% in these Actions is fair and reasonable in light of this Court’s award of a fee of 22.5% in the Mutual Fund Cases. Counsel contend that the Mutual Fund Cases, which were part of the same MDL as the instant Actions and were based on similar allegations of wrongful
The Court agrees that the MF Decision, and the award of fees in that litigation, provide a useful benchmark in determining an appropriate award of attorneys’ fees in the instant case. Thus, in analyzing the relevant factors, the Court will remain mindful of its application of those factors in the MF Decision. Here, as in MF Decision, the Court will determine attorneys’ fees using the percentage method. Each of the Goldberger factors will be considered, and the Court then will evaluate the lodestar figure as a “cross-check” on the reasonableness of the percentage requested.
(1) Time and Labor Expended
Plaintiffs’ counsel expended a total of 35,051.26 hours of legal and paraprofessional work over the course of approximately six years on this litigation.
The number of hours expended in the litigation of these actions is justified. Collectively, these Actions constitute a more massive litigation than did the Mutual Fund Cases. In contrast to the work performed in the Mutual Fund Cases, the labor in this case involved the preparation of more pleadings, more extensive motion practice, more arduous discovery, lengthier settlement negotiations, and more work in devising a fair and reasonable Plan of Allocation. In sum, the work performed in these Actions supports counsels’ request for an award that is higher than that granted in the MF Decision.
(2) Magnitude and Complexity
Securities class litigation “ ‘is notably difficult and notoriously uncertain.’ ” In re Sumitomo Copper Litig., 189 F.R.D. 274, 281 (S.D.N.Y.1999) (quoting In re Michael Milken and Assoc. Sec. Litig., 150 F.R.D. 46, 53 (S.D.N.Y.1993)). Counsel contend that these Actions presented greater complexity than that of the Mutual Fund Cases. In the MF Decision, I noted that the litigation did not involve particularly challenging issues, such as difficulties in obtaining discovery, and was
Lead Counsel also state that the magnitude of these actions is much greater than that of the Mutual Fund Cases, primarily because this case involved the litigation of twenty separate actions, each involving divergent facts. Counsel point to the fact that the merits of each complaint had to be litigated separately, for plaintiffs’ oppositions to the motions to dismiss and for plaintiffs’ separate briefs before former Judge Phillips in support of an award of allocation for each action. Counsel point to the intricate process which underlay the formulation of the Plan of Allocation as evidence of the overall complexity of the case.
The Court agrees here that “this Case is complex with difficult liability issues.” Levitt v. Bear Stearns & Co. (In re Sterling Foster & Co. Sec. Litig.), MDL No. 1208, 2006 WL 3193744, at *8, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 80861, at *25 (E.D.N.Y. Oct.31, 2006). Although the issues involved in the litigation of these Actions were not particularly novel or complex when compared with some other securities class actions, see In re Bristol-Myers Squibb Secs. Litig., 361 F.Supp.2d 229, 234 (S.D.N.Y. 2005) (evaluating the complexity of the class action relative to other securities actions), the magnitude and complexity of these Actions are certainly greater than were present in the Mutual Fund Cases. The greater number of Actions, each implicating different material facts, and the more arduous discovery undertaken in the course of this litigation militate in favor of an award higher than that granted in the Mutual Fund Cases. Accordingly, I find that this factor supports the requested award of 24%.
(3) Risk of Litigation
Courts of the Second Circuit have recognized the risk of litigation to be “perhaps the foremost factor to be considered in determining” the award of appropriate attorneys’ fees. In re Elan Sec. Litig., 385 F.Supp.2d 363, 374 (S.D.N.Y.2005) (internal quotations and citation omitted). There is generally only a very small risk of non-recovery in a securities class action. See Dreyfus Aggressive Growth Mutual Fund Litigation, No. 98 CV 4318, 2001 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8418, 2001 WL 709262, at *4 (S.D.N.Y. June 22, 2001) (‘What empirical data does exist indicates that all but a small percentage of class actions settle, thereby guaranteeing counsel payment of fees and minimizing the risks associated with contingency fee litigation.”) (citing S.Rep. No. 104-98, at 9 (1995), U.S.Code Cong. & Admin.News 1995, pp. 679, 688) (estimating that about 300 securities lawsuits are filed each year and that 93% of these cases reach settlements). In the MF Decision, I noted that “‘where claims were precipitated by public events,’ the risk undertaken by class counsel is especially slight.” In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Research Reports Sec. Litig., 2007 WL 313474, at *16, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 9450, at *54 (quoting In re Bristol-Myers Squibb Sec. Litig., 361 F.Supp.2d at 234). I found that the risk of non-recovery faced by the plaintiffs in the Mutual Fund Cases was minimal, given the NYAG’s highly publicized investigation into Merrill Lynch’s misconduct and the resulting settlement between Merrill Lynch and the NYAG, even though plaintiffs in the Mutual Fund Cases were faced with the daunting prospect of proving loss causation.
Here, counsel contend that the risk of litigation was significantly higher than that faced in the Mutual Fund Cases because the InfoSpace Action, which was the first action to be brought in these consolidated cases,
The Court agrees that the risk of litigation faced by plaintiffs in the InfoSpace Action at the time that case commenced was significantly higher than the risk faced in the Mutual Fund Cases and the other nineteen Actions that are the subject of the instant settlement. Although the InfoSpace Action is only one of twenty actions at issue, the Plan of Allocation calls for 20.4% of the Settlement Fund to be distributed to the InfoSpace plaintiffs. This is the largest distribution of the settlement proceeds among the Actions, and as a sheerly mathematical matter the allocation indeed renders the InfoSpace action the “most valuable”. (Pl. Mem. Attny Fees at 14.) Given the relative importance of the InfoSpace Action, and the clearly heightened risk faced by the plaintiffs in that case, there was a greater overall risk faced in these Actions than was faced at the outset of the Mutual Fund Cases. Thus, this factor supports a fee that is greater than the fee awarded in the Mutual Fund Cases.
(4) Quality of Representation
To evaluate the “quality of the representation,” courts review the recovery obtained and the backgrounds of the lawyers involved in the lawsuit. See In re Global Crossing Sec. & ERISA Litig., 225 F.R.D. at 467. “The quality of opposing counsel is also important in evaluating the quality of Class Counsels’ work.” In re KeySpan Corp. Sec. Litig., 2005 WL 3093399, at *11, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29068, at *35 (E.D.N.Y. Sept. 30, 2005) (citing Warner Communications Sec. Litig., 618 F.Supp. 735, 749 (S.D.N.Y.1985)).
Here, as noted above, counsel obtained a reasonable recovery for the Class Members of between approximately 3% and 7% of total claimed damages. Given the moribund procedural posture of these actions and the likelihood of complete non-recovery in the event that the litigation continued, the settlement obtained constitutes a favorable result for the Class Members.
Counsel assert that they have great experience in class securities litigation. The high quality of representation provided by Lead Counsel is evident from the extensive record of this case, as well as from firm resumes that counsel have submitted to the Court. Similarly, the defendants were represented by law firms of national repute, and defense counsel provided skilled and zealous representation. Accordingly, the Court finds that the quality of representation does not weigh against an award of the fee requested by Lead Counsel.
(5) Requested Fee in Relation to Settlement
Although a number of cases could be cited to support or oppose the argument that a 24% fee in a securities class action of this size is reasonable, “reference to awards in other cases is of limited usefulness.” In re KeySpan Corp. Sec. Litig., 2005 WL 3093399, at *13, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29068, at *40 (citing Goldberger, 209 F.3d at 53). This is because “fee awards should be assessed based on the unique circumstances of each case.” In re Bristol-Myers Squibb Secs. Litig., 361 F.Supp.2d at 236 (citing Goldberger, 209 F.3d at 52). Nevertheless, this Court’s award of fees of 22.5% of the Settlement Fund in the Mutual Fund Cases, which are very closely related to the instant Actions, provides a highly useful benchmark from which to assess the reasonableness of Lead Counsel’s request of a 24% fee in these Actions.
The award of 22.5% in the Mutual Fund Cases was based on a painstaking application of the Goldberger factors to the facts of those cases. The reasonableness of an award of 24% in these Actions, constituting a modest increase of 1.5% of the award granted in the Mutual Fund Cases, is born out by two crucial differences between the litigations.
In light of the more difficult discovery and the overall higher degree of risk faced by the plaintiffs in these Actions, an award slightly higher than that granted in the Mutual Funds Cases is reasonable.
(6) Public Policy
Public policy concerns favor the award of reasonable attorneys’ fees in class action securities litigation. See In re World-Com, Inc. Sec. Litig., 388 F.Supp.2d 319, 359 (S.D.N.Y.2005) (“In order to attract well-qualified plaintiffs’ counsel who are able to take a case to trial, and who defendants understand are able and willing to do so, it is necessary to provide appropriate financial incentives.”). As Judge Holwell explained in Hicks, 2005 WL 2757792, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24890,
Private actions to redress real injuries further the objectives of the federal securities laws by protecting investors and consumers against fraud and other deceptive practices. Such actions could not be sustained if plaintiffs’ counsel were not to receive remuneration from the settlement fund for their efforts on behalf of the class. Due to the dispersed, and relatively small, losses among a large pool of investors, the class action mechanism and its associated percentage-of-reeovery fee award solve the collective action problem otherwise encountered by which it would not be worthwhile for individual investors to take the time and effort to initiate the action. To make certain that the public is represented by talented and experienced trial counsel, the remuneration should be both fair and rewarding. The concept of a private attorney acting as a private attorney general is vital to the continued enforcement and effectiveness of the Securities Acts.
Id. at *9, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 24890 at *26-27 (citation and internal quotations omitted).
Here, where many if not most Class Members are individual investors, public policy supports an award sufficient to encourage counsel to act on behalf of such investors. See In re Bristol-Myers Squibb, 361 F.Supp.2d at 236; In re Visa Check/Master-Money, 297 F.Supp.2d at 524 (“The fees awarded must be reasonable, but they must also serve as an inducement for lawyers to make similar efforts in the future.”). An award of fees in excess of that required to encourage class litigation, however, does not necessarily serve public policy.
Here, the requested fee of 24% translates to an aggregate rate of $912.80 for every hour of legal and paraprofessional work expended during this litigation. This rate, though substantial, is less than the hourly rate of $959 that resulted from the award of 22.5% in the Mutual Fund Cases. Thus, I find that the fee requested by counsel is certainly sufficient to provide proper incentive to class counsel to undertake securities class actions but is not exorbitant. Accordingly, public policy concerns do not weigh against an award of fees of the percentage that counsel has requested.
Lodestar Cross-Check
Even in cases where the court applies the percentage method of fee calculation, documentation of hours remains a useful “cross-check” on the reasonableness of the requested percentage. Goldberger, 209 F.3d
Counsel have provided an account of the hours worked during this litigation by the partners, associates, and paraprofessionals from the firms of Lead Counsel. A total of 35,051.26 hours were expended during the litigation, for total billed charges, or a “lodestar”, of $16,116,234.75. Counsel’s requested fee of 24% of the Settlement Fund represents a multiple of approximately 1.985 of the aggregate loadstar.
Counsel’s lodestar represents an aggregate hourly rate of approximately $460. The rates charged by the Lead Counsel firms, though high, are not inordinate for top-caliber New York law firms. See Williamsburg Fair Hous. Comm. v. N.Y. City Hous. Auth., No. 76 Civ. 2125, 2005 WL 736146, at *12, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5200, at *35 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 31, 2005) (observing that “a recent billing survey made by the National Law Journal shows that senior partners in New York City charge as much as $ 750 per hour and junior partners charge as much as $ 490 per hour”) (citing In Focus: Billing; A Firm-by-Firm Sampling of Billing Rates Nationwide, Nat’l Law Journal, December 6, 2004, at 22).
As in the Mutual Fund Cases, the time records submitted by Lead Counsel reveal that senior personnel performed a sizeable percentage of the work in this litigation.
In cross-checking the requested percentage against the lodestar, the Court must “confirm that the percentage amount does not award counsel an exorbitant hourly rate.” In re Bristol-Myers Squibb Sec. Litig., 361 F.Supp.2d at 233 (citing In re NASDAQ
Objections to Requested Fees
Two individual investors and one institutional investor have objected to counsels’ request for attorneys’ fees. Each objection is examined in turn.
Brian Fitzpatrick: Mr. Fitzpatrick, who also objected to the fairness of the Settlement, states that the Court should award no more than 15% of the settlement fund. He cites to an article in the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies for the proposition that the median percentage of a settlement in class action suits, where the settlement range is $79 to $190 million, is 15%. Mr. Fitzpatrick notes that the settlement has occurred relatively early in litigation and that the requested percentage award would result in a windfall to counsel.
Mr. Fitzpatrick’s objection is without merit. The legal scholarship cited by Mr. Fitzpatrick appears to review class action settlements as a whole and does not reflect the “median” range of settlement for securities class actions. In any event, reference to settlement statistics in other cases is of limited usefulness. See Goldberger, 209 F.3d at 53. As discussed at length above, application of the Goldberger factors in this case supports an award of 24%.
Tor Jernudd: Mr. Jernudd objects that a fee in the amount of 30% of the Settlement Fund, which was the maximum amount counsel was permitted to request as stated in the Notice, is an “unreasonable sum that is disproportionate both to the labor involved and to any harm suffered by us as ‘class members.’” (Objection of Tor Jernudd.) Mr. Jernudd suggests that non-profit entities or governmental entities are better suited to bring class actions on behalf of injured shareholders. He makes no substantive arguments beyond these remarks. Mr. Jernudd’s objection does not address counsels’ actual request for 24% of the Settlement Fund and is insufficient to weigh against approval of the request as fair and reasonable.
New York State Teachers’ Retirement System: The New York State Teachers’ Retirement System (the “NYSTRS”), whose counsel addressed the Court at the Fairness Hearing, objects that the percentage of the Settlement Fund awarded as attorneys’ fees in these Actions should be no greater than the percentage awarded in the Mutual Fund Cases and, based on Second Circuit precedent, should in fact be significantly less. The NYSTRS cites to numerous eases in the Second Circuit in which courts have awarded substantially less than 30% of settlement funds. The NYSTRS also states that counsels’ lodestar is suspect and “may be inflated by unnecessary and duplicative work by numerous counsel battling over what is essentially the same turf.” (Objection of New York State Teachers’ Retirement System at 5.)
The NYSTRS’ arguments have no merit. As discussed above, the mere fact that courts have awarded lower fees in several other cases does not weigh against an award of a 24% fee in this case. The NYSTRS has not engaged in any analysis of the Goldberger factors, as applied to the facts of this case. Further, as explained at length in this Order, a fee of 24% in these Actions, which represents a modest increase of the percentage
Reasonable Fee Award
After applying the Goldberger factors and considering counsels’ lodestar, the Court finds that an award of 24% of the Settlement Fund constitutes a reasonable fee. This award will result in a fee of approximately $81,994,609, as of June 15, 2007, which equates to a reasonable lodestar multiplier of approximately 1.985 and a high but not exorbitant hourly rate of pay of $912.80.
(iv) Reimbursement of Litigation Expenses
Counsel request reimbursement of $1,376,255.97 in litigation costs and expenses. Counsel is entitled to reimbursement from the common fund for reasonable litigation expenses. Miltland Raleigh-Durham v. Myers, 840 F.Supp. 235, 239 (S.D.N.Y.1993) (quoting Reichman v. Bonsignore, Brignati & Mazzotta, P.C., 818 F.2d 278, 283 (2d Cir.1987)).
Counsels’ application is for an amount less than that stated in the Notice, which provided that the request for reimbursement of expenses would not exceed $1,750,000. Expenses incurred in litigating these actions, included “appeal costs, travel, experts, the costs of retaining a respected neutral for the adversarial allocations proceedings, reproduction/duplication, phone/fax/postage, messenger/overnight delivery, and filing fees.” (Mem. Attny Fees at 17.) Each of the Lead Counsel firms has submitted a line-item accounting of expenses incurred during the litigation. No Class Members have objected to the expenses claimed. The expenses submitted by counsel are reasonable and should be reimbursed in full out of the Settlement Fund.
CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, the Court grants certification to the settlement classes and approves the Settlement and Plan of Allocation as fair and reasonable. Plaintiffs’ remaining claims are dismissed with prejudice. Counsel are awarded attorneys’ fees in the amount of 24% of the Settlement Fund and reimbursement of costs and expenses in the amount of $1,376,255.97.
The Court will enter an Order and Final Judgment, to be submitted by counsel, confirming and finalizing its approval of the Settlement and its award of fees and expenses consistent with all of the proceedings in this case and this Opinion and Order. Attorneys’ fees and expenses are to be administered pursuant to the terms of the Order and Final Judgment.
SO ORDERED.
. The twenty Actions, each of which relates to a different security, are: All Aboard the Training Junction v. Merrill Lynch & Co., No. 03 Civ. 2927; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Aether Systems Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 3429; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. CMGI Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 7218; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Etoys Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 6645; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Excite@Home Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 3042; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Exodus Communs., Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 6914; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. GoTo.com Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 3835; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Homestore.com Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 9931; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. InfoSpace Analyst Reports Sec. Litig., No. 01 Civ. 6881; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Internet Capital Group, Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 3050; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. iVillage Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 6637; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Lifeminders Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 9852; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. LookSmart, Ltd. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 7739; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Openwave Systems, Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 3252; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Pets.com, Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 3634; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Quokka Sports, Inc. Research Reports Sec. Litig. No. 02 Civ. 7585; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. B2B HOLDRs Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 5002; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Internet Architecture HOLDRs Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 3606; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Internet HOLDRs Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 5961; In re Merrill Lynch & Co. Internet Infrastructure HOLDRs Sec. Litig., No. 02 Civ. 4242.
. The defendants, as defined in the Stipulation of Settlement, are Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., MLPF & S, B2B Trust, Internet Architecture HOLDRs/SM Trust, Internet Trust, Internet Infrastructure HOLDRs/SM Trust, Henry M Blodgett, Virginia Syer Genereux, John L. Steffens, E. O'Neal, George A. Schieren, Ahmass L. Kakaha
. The law firms designated as Lead Counsel are: Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP; Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP; Murray Frank & Sailer LLP, Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C.; Finkelstein Thompson LLP; Pomerantz Haudek Block Grossman & Gross LLP; Weiss & Lurie; and Much Shelist Freed Denenberg Ament & Rubinstein, P.C.
. The Co-Chairs of the Executive Committee are: Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP; Murray Frank & Sailer LLP; and Cohen Milstein Hausfeld & Toll, P.L.L.C.
. Liaison Counsel is Kaplan Fox & Kilsheimer LLP.
. Interest was calculated at the three-month LIBOR rate as of March 30, 2006 and accrued from March 30, 2006 to February 23, 2007. On February 23, 2007, the Settlement Fund was deposited into escrow accounts, pursuant to the Stipulation, and will continue to accrue interest until the Settlement Fund is distributed to the classes. As of June 15, 2007, the Settlement Fund's value was $133,310,871.08.
. The date of the Fairness Hearing was subsequently adjourned to July 25, 2007.
. By Order dated March 13, 2007, the Court extended the deadline for the mailing of Notice to April 3, 2007 and the deadline for the filing of exclusions and objections by Class Members to May 18, 2007. By further Order dated August 31, 2007, 2007, the Court extended the deadline for the filing of claims to October 31, 2007, for a group of approximately 11,000 potential claimants whose names were not received by Analytics until July 31, 2007.
. Two individual investors, Susan Lockshine and Gary Bauer, withdrew their joint objection after filing it. One institutional investor, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System, also withdrew its objection subsequent to filing.
. Originally, counsel claimed to have expended 36,847.26 hours. Lead Counsel subsequently submitted a letter, and accompanying corrected declarations and memoranda, in which they candidly stated that, due to a clerical error, one of the attorneys in the case had misstated his billable time as 1800 hours, when he actually expended only four hours.
. Pursuant to the Court's Case Management Order # 3, during the course of this litigation Lead Counsel firms have provided quarterly accountings of their work, including detailed time sheets that list the tasks engaged in by each attorney. In addition, Lead Counsel have submitted a compendium of final time reports, reflecting work performed through June 15, 2007, in which the hours worked are broken down by personnel for each firm, and by category of the tasks performed.
