The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“SOX”) extends the statute of limitations for federal securities fraud to the earlier of two years after the discovery of the facts constituting the violation or five years after the violation. Although the legislation clearly provides that it “shall apply to all proceedings addressed by this section that are commenced on or after the date of enactment of this Act [July 30, 2002],” left unresolved is whether Congress intended to revive claims that had already expired under the earlier one year/three years statute of limitations.
In an opinion issued this week – Margolies v. Deason, 2006 WL 259788 (5th Cir. Sept. 11, 2006) – the Fifth Circuit has joined the clear majority of federal appellate courts (including the Second, Third, Fourth, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits) in holding that the new statute of limitations should not be applied retroactively. The Eleventh Circuit remains the only dissenter.
The 10b-5 Daily 