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Janus Capital Group, Inc. v. First Derivative Traders

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
09-525 4th Cir. Dec 7, 2010 Jun 13, 2011 5-4 Thomas OT 2010

Holding: Because the petitioner, a mutual fund investment adviser, did not make the false statements included in the mutual fund prospectuses of its clients, it cannot be held liable in a private action under SEC Rule 10b5, which prohibits mak[ing] any untrue statement of fact in connection with the purchase or sale of securities, for its role in preparing those prospectuses.

Plain English Holding: Investment advisors to a mutual fund cannot be sued under federal securities law for false statements made by the fund they advised.

Judgment: Reversed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas on June 13, 2011. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion, which Justices Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan joined.

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