The Associated Press reports that Green Tree Financial Corp. has settled the securities class action against the company that has been ongoing since 1998. The suit alleged that the company and its officers engaged in fradulent accounting practices to artificially inflate its stock price and increase the CEO’s compensation. The preliminary settlement is for $12.5 million, which will be paid by the company’s D&O insurer.
Note that this suit led to the 8th Circuit’s seminal decision interpreting the scienter pleading requirements of the Reform Act: Florida State Board of Admin. v. Green Tree Financial Corp. (8th Cir. 2001).
The 10b-5 Daily 