Company and Case Information

Home

Index of Filings

News and Press Releases

Filings

Decisions

Settlements

Litigation Activity Indices

Top Ten List

Annual/Quarterly Updates

Clearinghouse Research

Articles & Papers

Search

Related Sites

About Us

Local Rules

Sponsors


Register


_______________
Copyright (c) 2001
Stanford Law School


Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
Summary: The original complaint charges Beazer and certain of its officers and directors with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Beazer designs, sells and builds primarily single-family homes in various locations within the United States and provides mortgage origination and title insurance services to its homebuyers.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that during the Class Period defendants issued false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business and prospects and failed to disclose to the investing public the following adverse facts: (a) the Company lacked requisite internal controls over its lending practices, which, as a result of its improper lending practices prior to and during the Class Period, would lead to numerous foreclosures and other problems; (b) the Company's business was growing in large part due to its improper lending practices to low-income borrowers; (c) many of the Company's buyers would not be able to pay their loans after the first two years, which would lead to decreased sales and earnings and numerous foreclosures; and (d) given the increased volatility in the lending market, the Company had no reasonable basis to make projections about its 2007 results and as a result, the Company's 2007 projections issued during the Class Period were at a minimum reckless. As a result of defendants' false statements, Beazer stock traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period, reaching a high of $48 per share in December 2006, and the Company's CEO and CFO were able to sell over $9.7 million worth of their Beazer stock.

The complaint further alleges that on March 18, 2007, The Charlotte Observer reported that federal housing officials were reviewing whether Beazer complied with federal rules in arranging government-insured loans for buyers in its subdivisions. On March 21, 2007, Beazer announced the resignation of its CFO. Then, on March 27, 2007, after the market closed, the Company issued a press release responding to media reports and inquiries into the possibility of a federal investigation of the Company in connection with alleged mortgage fraud. On this news, Beazer's stock fell $2.64 per share to close at $28.77 per share on March 28, 2007, a one-day decline of 9% and a 40% decline from its Class Period high of $48 per share.

On August 8, 2007, the Court entered the Order signed by Judge Clarence Cooper granting the motion for consolidation, appointment as lead plaintiff and approval of lead plaintiff's selection of co-lead counsel. According to the Order, several actions were consolidated under "In re Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Securities Litigation,” File No. 1 :07-CV-725-CC. Further, Glickenhaus & Co. is appointed lead plaintiff and Chitwood Harley Harnes, LLP, Milberg Weiss LLP, and Bernstein Liebhard & Lifshitz, LLP is appointed co-lead counsel.

On June 27, 2008, the plaintiffs filed an Amended and Consolidated Class Action Complaint. On November 3, 2008, the defendants filed several motions to dismiss the Amended and Consolidated Complaint. Before any ruling on the motions, the lead plaintiffs filed a motion for settlement on May 5, 2009. According the Stipulation of Settlement, the proposed settlement is in the amount of $30,500,000 and settles claims with the Beazer Homes USA, Inc., the individual defendants and Deloitte & Touche LLP.

On May 12, 2009, Judge Cooper preliminarily approved the settlement. On July 15, 2009, the plaintiffs filed a motion for final approval of settlement and motion for attorney's fees and expenses. On September 15, 2009, Judge Cooper signed the Order and Final Judgment approving the settlement and approving the motion for attorney's fees and expenses.

INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION:
SIC Code: 1531
Sector: Capital Goods
Industry: Construction Services


COMPANY/ISSUER NAME: Beazer Homes USA, Inc.
COMPANY/ISSUER TICKER: BZH
COMPANY WEBSITE: http://www.beazer.com

FIRST IDENTIFIED COMPLAINT IN THE DATABASE
Eugene Kratz, et al. v. Beazer Homes USA, Inc., et al.
 COURT: N.D. Georgia  DOCKET NUMBER: 07-CV-00725
 JUDGE NAME: Hon. Clarence Cooper
 DATE FILED: 03/29/2007  SOURCE: Notice of Filing
 CLASS PERIOD START: 07/27/2006  CLASS PERIOD END: 03/27/2007
 TYPE OF COMPLAINT: Complaint (Unamended and Unconsolidated)
 PLAINTIFF FIRMS NAMED IN COMPLAINT:
  • Holzer & Holzer, LLC
      1117 Perimeter Center West, Suite E-107, Atlanta, GA, 30338
       (voice) (770) 392-0090, (fax) (770) 392-0029, mfistel@holzerlaw.com
  • Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP (Boca Raton)
      197 South Federal Highway, Suite 200, Boca Raton, FL, 33432
       (voice) 561.750.3000, (fax) 56.750.3364, info@lerachlaw.com
  • Lerach Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP (San Diego)
      655 West Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA, 92101
       (voice) 619.231.1058, (fax) 619.231.7423,
  • Motley Rice LLC (Atlanta)
      One Georgia Center; 600 West Peachtree Street, Suite 800, Atlanta, GA, 30308
       (voice) 1-800-768-4026, (fax) , inquiry@motleyrice.com
    _____________________________________________
     TOTAL NUMBER OF PLAINTIFF FIRMS:  4

  •  DOCUMENTS FOR THE FIRST IDENTIFIED COMPLAINT
    Class Action Complaint for Violation of the Federal Securities Laws - Demand for Jury Trial
    Type: Complaint Date on the document: 03/29/2007
    Order Consolidating Cases, Appointing Glickenhaus & Co. And Carpenters Pension Trust Fund For Northern California As Lead Plaintiffs And Approving Their Choice Of Co-Lead Counsel
    Type: Order of Consolidation Date on the document: 08/08/2007

    REFERENCE COMPLAINT
    In Re: Beazer Homes USA, Inc. Securities Litigation
     COURT: N.D. Georgia  DOCKET NUMBER: 07-CV-00725
     JUDGE NAME: Hon. Clarence Cooper
     DATE FILED: 06/27/2008  SOURCE: Docket
     CLASS PERIOD START: 01/27/2005  CLASS PERIOD END: 05/12/2008
     TYPE OF COMPLAINT: Consolidated Complaint
     PLAINTIFF FIRMS NAMED IN COMPLAINT:
  • Bernstein Liebhard & Lifshitz LLP (New York, NY)
      10 E. 40th Street, 22nd Floor, New York, NY, 10016
       (voice) 800.217.1522, (fax) , info@bernlieb.com
  • Chitwood Harley Harnes LLP (Atlanta)
      1230 Peachtree Street, N.E., 2300 Promenade II, Atlanta, GA, 30309
       (voice) 888.873.3999, (fax) 404.873.4476, info@chitwoodlaw.com
  • Milberg Weiss LLP (New York)
      One Pennsylvania Plaza, 49th Floor, New York, NY, 10119
       (voice) 212.594.5300, (fax) 212.868.1229, info@milbergweiss.com
    _____________________________________________
     TOTAL NUMBER OF PLAINTIFF FIRMS:  3

  •  DOCUMENTS FOR THE REFERENCE COMPLAINT
    Amended And Consolidated Class Action Complaint For Violation Of The Federal Securities Laws
    Type: Complaint Date on the document: 06/27/2008
    Motion For Preliminary Approval Of Class Action Settlement
    Type: Motion Date on the document: 05/05/2009
    Preliminary Order For Notice And Hearing In Connection With Settlement Proceedings
    Type: Order Date on the document: 05/12/2009
    Order and Final Judgment
    Type: Order Date on the document: 09/15/2009
    U.S. District Court Civil Docket
    Type: Docket Date on the document: 09/15/2009

     OTHER DOCUMENTS
    Case Name and/or Number: 
    Type:  Date on the document: 

    WARNING AND DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY:
    The information included on this Web site, whether provided by personnel employed by Stanford Law School or by third parties, is provided for research and teaching purposes only. Neither Stanford University, Stanford Law School, nor any of their employees, agents, contractors, or affiliates warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or analyses displayed herein, and we caution all readers that inclusion of any information on this site does not constitute an endorsement of the truthfulness or accuracy of that information. In particular, this Web site contains complaints and other documents filed in federal and state courts, which make allegations that may or may not be accurate. No reader should, on the basis of information contained in or referenced by this Web site, assume that any of these allegations are truthful.
    Go to Search  page | Go to Case Index  page | Back to Top