Defense of Investors in Defamation Case Brought Against Them by Former Adviser

Carsen Nies and Cody Berne defended retirees against claims brought by their former investment adviser for defamation, breach of contract, intentional interference with economic relations, libel per se, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.  After a single court hearing, the judge granted our anti-SLAPP motion and dismissed the complaint.  The case resolved soon after that with the investment adviser paying our clients’ attorney fees and costs.

Claims by Retirees Against Investment Advisers

Cody Berne represented a retired couple with claims against a Registered Investment Adviser and Investment Adviser Representatives arising from losses in managed retirement accounts caused by the advisers’ unsuitable trading strategy. The unsuitable trades included put and call options contracts.

Spokane Broker Fraud

Stoll Berne shareholder Josh Ross represented four different victims of a fraud perpetrated by a Spokane-area broker.  Ross helped his clients recover over $450,000 in stolen investments.

Individual Investor Action

Cody Berne represented an individual investor whose investment advisor disregarded the client’s investment objectives and put the client’s retirement savings in a high fee, poor performing portfolio of stocks.

Alternative Investment FINRA Action

Cody Berne represented an elderly, retired investor in a FINRA proceeding to recover money lost in an unsuitable alternative investment.

Financial Advisor Misrepresentation

Aequitas Securities Litigation

A team of Stoll Berne attorneys are currently representing investors in the various Aequitas companies in a proposed securities class action asserting Oregon Securities Law claims against parties who participated or aided in Aequitas’ sales of securities.

Bank of New York Mellon Securities Class Action

Keith Ketterling and Keith Dubanevich obtained a $180 million settlement on behalf of Bank of New York Mellon investors in a lawsuit alleging that the bank operated a deceptive foreign currency exchange program.

Melridge Securities Litigation

Real Estate Investment and Securities Fraud Litigation

Stoll Berne attorney Josh Ross represented a former NFL player who invested $400,000 in a real estate development.

Investor vs. Morgan Stanley

Josh Ross successfully represented a former NBA basketball player who filed claims against his broker/investment advisor and firm that employed the broker, alleging the broker defrauded him by misrepresenting facts about an investment, by taking the client’s investment for his personal use, and ultimately by stealing the investment property and selling it for his own use.

Investors Investment Recovery

Cody Berne and Josh Ross represented Southern Oregon investors who were seeking to recover their investments in a privately held consumer products company. Our investigation, including a shareholder records inspection, uncovered evidence of fraud and mismanagement. The case resolved while our clients’ request for additional corporate records was pending.

Retirement Savings Recovery

Tullis vs. Ameriprise

Josh Ross represented investors who filed claims against their broker/investment advisor and a national brokerage firm.

Representation of Victims of Financial Fraud

Regional Bank and Broker-Dealer Securities Fraud

Keith Ketterling sued a regional bank and broker-dealer for securities fraud on behalf of a group of individual investors who were targeted by defendants for the sale of speculative, illiquid investments in spite of plaintiffs’ lack of sophistication and limited investment horizons.

Diamond Vista Build, LLC vs. Bean et al.

Tim DeJong and Josh Ross successfully defended a developer accused of Oregon Securities Law violations in connection with tenancy-in-common interests.

Control Person Liability

Barlean vs. Black & Co.