New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
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12(b)(6) Motions — Documents That May Be Considered

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The critical issue on many motions to dismiss concerns just what extra-complaint documents the court may properly consider. Perhaps the most expansive formulation is employed in securities actions. The following is taken from Securities and Exchange Commission v. Power, 2007 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 87632 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 27, 2007):

On a motion to dismiss, the complaint is properly deemed to include “any statements or documents it corporate by reference, public disclosures filed by law with the [Securities and Exchange] Commission, and documents the plaintiff either possessed or knew about and upon which the plaintiff relied in bringing suit." Harrison v. Rubenstein, No. 02 Civ. 9356 (DAB), 2007 WL 582955 at *10 (S.D.N.Y. Feb. 26, 2007) (citing Rothman v. Gregor, 220 F.3d 81, 88-89 (2d Cir. 2000)).

That is a very broad formulation and it is not, by its terms, limited to securities cases, although those are somewhat unique in that the fact of disclosure — i.e., the fact that a statement was made — is generally of paramount importance, obviating hearsay issues that might convert the 12(b)(6) motion into a summary judgment motion (were the substance of the statement critical). What does it mean to say that the court may consider “documents the plaintiff either possessed or knew about and upon which the plaintiff relied?” How does anyone other than the plaintiff know what documents, for example, the plaintiff merely knew about and yet relied on? Or what documents the plaintiff possessed? Under Bell Atl. v. Twombly, does the plaintiff have to say so? Can the defendant simply argue and can the court make an educated guess?

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New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

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