According to an article in the Washington Post this weekend (which has been picked up by a number of other media outlets), the suspense is over. The SEC reportedly has asked the Solicitor General to file an amicus brief in support of the investor plaintiffs in the Stoneridge (a.k.a. Charter Communications) case on scheme liability that will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court next term.
Two notes:
(1) Although some reports have suggested that the amicus brief will be filed in support of Enron’s investors (and the original Washington Post article is not very clear on this point), that appears unlikely unless, as advocated by the attorneys for Enron’s investors, the Supreme Court decides to hear the Enron and Stoneridge appeals together.
(2) Presuming the amicus brief is filed, it will be interesting to see if the SEC/Solicitor General deviates in any way from the earlier position on scheme liability taken by the SEC in a 9th Circuit case.
The 10b-5 Daily 