Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor Paul Saunders

J.D. Course 941 | 2 credit hours

This course will examine the enforcement of the federal securities laws through private litigation, primarily class actions. It will examine the causes of action under the securities laws and their elements, including concepts of falsity, materiality, causation, reliance, scienter and damages. It will cover specific procedural requirements such as pleadings and class certification, the economic aspects of securities litigation, including the efficient market hypothesis and event studies as well as issues raised by the recent Supreme Court jurisprudence such as Dura, Tellabs and Morrison. It will also cover the dynamics of securities litigation, including the role of the Securities and Exchange Commission, trial issues, settlement and indemnification. Finally, the course will discuss some of the public policy issues raised by securities litigation. One of the goals of this course is to enable the student to become an effective member of a litigation team in a firm representing a party in securities litigation. While there are no prerequisites for this course, courses in Corporations and Securities Regulation are recommended.

Recommended: Corporations and Securities Regulation.