Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, 594 U.S. ___ (2021), was a 2021 decision of the Supreme Court of the United States related to securities fraud class actions.

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System
Argued March 29, 2021
Decided June 21, 2021
Full case nameGoldman Sachs Group, Inc., et al. v. Arkansas Teacher Retirement System, et al.
Docket no.20-222
Citations594 U.S. ___ (more)
Court membership
Chief Justice
John Roberts
Associate Justices
Clarence Thomas · Stephen Breyer
Samuel Alito · Sonia Sotomayor
Elena Kagan · Neil Gorsuch
Brett Kavanaugh · Amy Coney Barrett
Case opinions
MajorityBarrett, joined by Roberts, Breyer, Kagan, Kavanaugh; Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch (Parts I and II–A); Sotomayor (Parts I, II–A–1, and II–B)
Concur/dissentSotomayor
Concur/dissentGorsuch, joined by Thomas, Alito

Background

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A group of investors sued Goldman Sachs after the financial crisis of 2007–2008 to recover up to $13 billion in losses. In 2020, a panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit allowed the class action to proceed, by a 2–1 vote. Judge Richard J. Sullivan dissented.[1]

Decision

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The Supreme Court issued its decision in June 2021, vacating the court of appeals' judgment and remanding for further proceedings. A unanimous court found that the presumption of classwide reliance established in Basic Inc. v. Levinson required the defendant's statements to be more than just generic guarantees. An 8–1 court, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissenting, found that the lower court had not adequately followed this framework, and remanded for further proceedings. A 6–3 court, with Justice Neil Gorsuch dissenting, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, held that defendants have the burden of proof in rebutting the presumption of reliance.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Liptak, Adam (June 21, 2021). "Supreme Court Gives Goldman Sachs a Do-Over in Securities Fraud Suit". The New York Times. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
  2. ^ Mann, Ronald (June 22, 2021). "Justices curb securities-fraud class actions, albeit gently". SCOTUSblog. Retrieved July 4, 2021.
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