In The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith famously wrote, “[p]eople of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices.”[1] Although now nearly 250 years old, Mr. Smith’s observation about merchants and businessmen remains
So . . . What Exactly Makes Insider Trading Illegal?
This is the question recently asked by Gene Levoff, a former attorney at a large technology firm traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The indictment against Mr. Levoff charges him with securities fraud and alleges that between 2011 and 2016, Mr. Levoff used material non-public information to trade securities before his employer’s securities commission filings
Avoiding Liability For Hoarding and Price Gouging During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Federal and state authorities are creatively using the Defense Production Act (“DPA”), state anti-price gouging and consumer protection statutes, and antitrust laws to go after alleged price gougers and hoarders. This article, the final in our series on anti-hoarding and price gouging enforcement efforts, takes a look at various ways businesses can avoid liability.
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Efforts to Combat COVID-19 Price Gouging Ramp Up
As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, public pressure has led to increased efforts to investigate and punish those engaging in hoarding and price gouging of essential items across the country.
The Authorities and Civil Plaintiffs Have Relied on Creative Means to Target Perceived Price Gouging
On March 24, 2020, United States Attorney General William P. Barr
Increased Attention to COVID-19 Price Gouging from State and Federal Authorities Could Lead to Stiff Civil and Criminal Penalties
We’ve been closely monitoring the legal landscape to see how law enforcement is pursuing companies and individuals for profiteering during the current pandemic. This article is the second in a series of articles exploring the heightened focus on COVID-19-related hoarding and price gouging. So far through the pandemic, federal and state authorities have primarily relied