Rahul Saraf, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated v. Ebix, Inc. ( 2021 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ---------------------------------------------------------------------- X : CHRISTINE MARIE TEIFKE, individually and on : behalf of all others similarly situated, : : 21-CV-1589 (JMF) Plaintiff, : : ORDER -v- : : EBIX, INC., et al., : : Defendants. : : ---------------------------------------------------------------------- X JESSE M. FURMAN, United States District Judge: On February 22, 2021, Plaintiff filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Ebix, Inc. securities between November 9, 2020 and February 19, 2021, inclusive, and who were damaged thereby, excluding Defendants, the officers and directors of Ebix Inc., at all relevant times, members of their immediate families and their legal representatives, heirs, successors, or assigns, and any entity in which Defendants have or had a controlling interest. ECF No. 1, ¶ 22. The complaint alleges violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“1934 Act”) and Rule 10b-5, promulgated thereunder. As explained in the Court’s February 23, 2021 Order, Section 78u-4(a)(3)(A) of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act (“PSLRA”), 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(a)(3)(A), requires that within twenty days of the filing of the complaint, Plaintiff shall “cause to be published, in a widely circulated national business-oriented publication or wire service, a notice advising members of the purported plaintiff class . . . of the pendency of the action, the claims asserted therein, and the purported class period.” 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(a)(3)(A)(i). The PSLRA also provides that “not later than 60 days after the date on which the notice is published, any member of the purported class may move the court to serve as lead plaintiff of the purported class.” Id. In addition, the Act requires that not later than 90 days after the date on which notice is published, the Court shall consider any motion made by a purported class member in response to the notice, and shall appoint as lead plaintiff the member or members of the purported plaintiff class that the Court determines to be most capable of adequately representing the interests of class members. See id. § 78u-4(a)(3)(B)(i). In the event that more than one action on behalf of a class asserting substantially the same claim or claims has been filed, and any party has sought to consolidate those actions for pretrial purposes or for trial, the Court shall not appoint a lead plaintiff until after a decision on the motion to consolidate is rendered. See id. § 78u- 4(a)(3)(B)(ii). Plaintiff’s counsel notified the Court that the required notice was published on February 22, 2021. ECF No. 6. Members of the purported class therefore have until April 23, 2021 to move the Court to serve as lead plaintiffs. It is further ORDERED that opposition to any motion for appointment of lead plaintiff shall be served and filed by May 7, 2021. Finally, it is hereby ORDERED that a conference shall be held on May 13, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. in Courtroom 1105 of the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse, 40 Centre Street, New York, New York to consider any motions for appointment of lead plaintiff and lead counsel and for consolidation. If an amended complaint or a related case is filed prior to appointment of a lead plaintiff, Plaintiff’s counsel shall, within one week, submit a letter to the Court identifying any differences between the allegations in the new complaint(s) and the allegations in the original complaint (including but not limited to any differences in the claims asserted and the relevant class periods) and showing cause why the Court should not order republication of notice under the PSLRA and set a new deadline for the filing of motions for appointment. See, e.g., Hachem v. Gen. Elec. Inc., No. 17-CV-8457 (JMF), 2018 WL 1779345 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 11, 2018). It is further ORDERED that the named plaintiffs shall promptly serve a copy of this Order on each of the defendants. SO ORDERED. Dated: February 25, 2021 New York, New York eg @ Be nited States District Judge