SSA Bonds
A class action lawsuit seeking $1 billion in damages on behalf of Canadian investors was launched on December 5, 2017 in the Federal Court. Sotos LLP is one of three firms representing the plaintiff class. The class action alleges that the defendants, some of the largest financial institutions in the world, conspired to manipulate the prices of SSA bonds for at least a ten-year period, resulting in substantial illegal gains. The case seeks to represent persons in Canada who transacted in the SSA bond market between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2015.
The court will decide at a later date if the case will proceed as a class action.
- May 13, 2022: After negotiating settlements with several Defendants, the Plaintiffs have served their certification record on the remaining (non-settling) defendants and intend to schedule a hearing for their certification motion shortly.
- April 27, 2020: A motion to approve the settlements with the Bank of America and HSBC defendants was heard by the Federal Court of Canada. The settlements were approved.
- November 29, 2019: Settlements have been reached with the Bank of America and HSBC defendants. A motion to approve these settlements has been scheduled on February 20, 2020 at the Federal Court of Canada. Click here to view the Notice of Settlement Approval Hearing.
- October 30, 2019: The plaintiffs reached a settlement with the following defendants: Bank of America Corporation, Bank of America, N.A., Bank of America Canada, Bank of America, National Association, Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited, Merrill Lynch International, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., Merrill Lynch International Services Limited, Merrill Lynch Financial Assets Inc., Merrill Lynch Benefits Ltd.; and, HSBC Holdings PLC, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., HSBC Bank PLC, HSBC North America Holdings Inc., HSBC Bank Canada and HSBC USA, Inc. You can find a copy of the Court’s Order approving notices dated October 30, 2019 here. Copies of the settlement agreements are attached to the Court’s Order.
- October 7, 2019: The plaintiffs amended the Statement of Claim on October 7, 2019. You can find a copy of the Amended Amended Statement of Claim here.
- June 13, 2019: The plaintiffs reached a settlement agreement with some defendants including Bank of America and Merrill Lynch. The agreement will be subject to court approval.
- December 5, 2017: The SSA Bonds statement of claim was issued.
- Short Form Notice of Settlement Approval Hearing [English] [French]
- Long Form Notice of Settlement Approval Hearing [English] [French]
- Settlement Approval Order (October 30, 2019)
- Amended Amended Statement of Claim (October 7, 2019)
- Bank of America Settlement Agreement
- HSBC Settlement Agreement
- Statement of Claim (issued December 5, 2017)
What is a class action?
A class action is a special form of lawsuit in which one plaintiff brings a claim against one or more defendants based on allegations which are common to a group, or class, of people. In order for the action to become a class action, it must proceed through a stage known as “certification”.
Who brings a class action lawsuit forward?
A statement of claim is issued on behalf of a “representative plaintiff”. The representative plaintiff’s role is to work with class counsel to bring the action forward and to represent the class members in court.
What is certification?
In order for an action to proceed on behalf of the entire class, a judge must decide (among other things) whether the members of the proposed class have common issues, and whether a class action is the preferred way to resolve the issues. The process to decide these issues is known as the “certification motion”. If the judge is satisfied that the case meets all of the requirements for certification, he or she will issue an order which certifies the action as a class action.
Do I have to do anything to “join” the lawsuit?
No. If the lawsuit is certified, and you are included in the class as defined, you are automatically included in the lawsuit.
Once I am part of the class do I have to do anything?
No. We will work primarily with the class representative.
What if I do not want to be included in the lawsuit?
Those who do not wish to remain in the class will be given the option to opt-out by sending an opt-out form at the appropriate time to us.
What are the benefits of proceeding as a class action?
Certification as a class action will enable us to prove the facts in a single lawsuit rather than in numerous individual lawsuits. This has obvious benefits to the class members and to the courts.
How long does it take for a class action to be resolved?
There is no timeframe. We will move the case forward diligently but it can take a considerable period of time to reach trial.
Can a class action lawsuit be settled without going to trial?
Many class actions settle and thereby remove the need for a trial. However, we cannot predict with any certainty whether or not there will be a settlement in a given action.
What are the chances of winning the action?
The chances of “winning” can never be accurately predicted.
Will be liable for any costs or legal fees?
Class action lawsuits are typically brought on a contingency fee basis. This means that the lawyers will only be paid if the action is successful at trial or results in a settlement in favour of the plaintiffs. Legal fees would then be paid out of the settlement or judgment proceeds as approved by a judge.
Disbursements (i.e. out-of-pocket expenses, including expert reports) may be dealt with in one of two ways.
Most commonly, the lawyers will absorb the cost of disbursements. The lawyers may seek funding assistance from the Class Proceeding Fund, which may provide funding for disbursements if granted.
In some cases, disbursements may be funded by the class members, including the class representative. This typically occurs in smaller class actions brought on behalf of an organization or network of individuals where each member of the class is easily identifiable and known to the representative plaintiff. If the class action is successful, amounts advanced for disbursements are re-paid from the proceeds of any judgment or settlement to class members (and others).
Will I be liable for costs of the action if it is unsuccessful?
Only the class representative may be liable for costs of the common issues portion of the action if it is unsuccessful.
When can I expect to receive a payout from this class action?
A “payout” or an award for damages is never certain.
The action may settle or it may proceed to trial, at which time a judge will determine the amount of damages, if any, to which the class members are entitled to. Regardless, the amount of “payout” cannot be predicted, and we cannot predict when the action may settle or when the trial will conclude.
How will counsel keep me updated on the progress of the case?
If the lawsuit is certified as a class action, you will receive a formal notice from the court explaining the nature of the case and providing you with the opportunity to opt out if you wish. General information about the lawsuit will be posted on Sotos LLP’s website at https://www.sotosclassactions.com.
Where can I send any documents that I have that may be relevant to a class action?
We ask that you keep a copy of any documents, correspondences, records, invoices, receipts, etc. that you feel might be relevant to your individual claim in the class action. If there is a “payout,” this documentation may be required in order to support your claim for compensation.
It is not required that you send any documents to us at this time.