LAWFUEL – Legal Newswire – HARTFORD, Conn., July 3, 2007 — The law firm of Schatz Nobel Izard P.C., which has significant experience representing investors in prosecuting claims of securities fraud, announces that a lawsuit seeking class action status has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of all persons who purchased the publicly traded securities of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (“Bristol-Myers”) (NYSE:BMY) between March 22, 2006 and August 8, 2006, inclusive (the “Class Period”).
The Complaint charges Bristol-Myers and certain of its officers and
directors violated federal securities laws. On March 22, 2006,
Bristol-Myers announced that it, along with Sanofi-Aventis SA, entered
into a settlement agreement with Apotex, Inc. (“Apotex”) to resolve a
patent infringement lawsuit (“Apotex Settlement”) related to the drug
Plavix. The Complaint further alleges that throughout the Class Period,
Bristol-Myers failed to disclose material facts regarding the Apotex
Settlement including: (i) that Bristol-Myers had relinquished material
rights in connection with the settlement, including the right to treble
damages; (ii) that if the Apotex Settlement was not approved, Apotex
could flood the market with its generic version of Plavix; and (iii)
that Bristol-Myers had negotiated improper side agreements in
connection with the Apotex Settlement.
On July 27, 2006, Bristol-Myers revealed that the Antitrust Division of
the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) was conducting a
criminal investigation into the Apotex Settlement and as a result of
this disclosure, the price of Bristol-Myers’ securities declined $1.95
per share, or 7.5%, to close at $24.04 per share. On August 8, 2006,
Bristol-Myers disclosed additional material facts regarding the Apotex
Settlement. As a result of this disclosure, it is alleged that
Bristol-Myers’ securities declined $1.56 per share, or approximately
7%, to close at $21.21 per share.
If you are a member of the class, you may, no later than August 27,
2007, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the
class. A lead plaintiff is a class member that acts on behalf of other
class members in directing the litigation. Although your ability to
share in any recovery is not affected by the decision whether or not to
seek appointment as a lead plaintiff, lead plaintiffs make important
decisions which could affect the overall recovery for class members,
including decisions concerning settlement. The securities laws require
the Court to consider the class member(s) with the largest financial
interest as presumptively the most adequate lead plaintiff(s).
While Schatz Nobel Izard P.C. has not filed a lawsuit against the
defendants, to view a copy of the Complaint initiating the class action
or for more information about the case, class action cases in general,
and your rights, please contact Schatz Nobel Izard P.C. toll-free at
(800) 797-5499, or by e-mail at firm@snilaw.com, or visit our website:
www.snilaw.com.
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CONTACT: Schatz Nobel Izard P.C.
Wayne T. Boulton
Nancy A. Kulesa
(800) 797-5499
firm@snilaw.com
www.snilaw.com
