Applying Tellabs, the Ninth Circuit Gives Plaintiffs Two Ways to Prove Scienter

In the Ninth Cirucit, if you don't meet pleading standards under a segmented approach, maybe a "holistic" approach will work.

Rubke v. Capitol Bancorp LTD, 2009 WL 69278 (9th Cir. Jan. 13, 2009) and Zucco Partners, LLC v. Digimarc Corp., 2009 WL 57081 (9th Cir. Jan. 12, 2009) alter the approach to evaluating scienter allegations by first using a segmented analysis, and second using a holistic approach. It appears to give plaintiffs a second bite at the apple.

The complaint alleged that Capitol Bancorp, Ltd. and CEO Joseph Reid misled investors by incorporating two fairness opinions in a registration statement issued to minority shareholders. The plaintiffs also alleged that defendant’s registration statement omitted information related to a prior offer for the holding company’s shares, future income projections, likelihood of a premium on fair value of shares, and a strategy of board members to convince minority shareholders to sell their shares to Capitol.

The district court dismissed the complaint for failure to meet the pleading standards of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, and the Circuit court affirmed, stating:

“The First Amended Complaint has also failed to allege with particularity that Capitol made any of the statements or omissions “intentionally or with deliberate recklessness.” Daou, 411 F.3d at 1015. The complaint’s allegations about Pedisich’s telephone calls do not adequately plead that the defendants in this case had the requisite mental state. The complaint’s remaining allegations concerning Capitol’s mental state allege nothing but “motive and opportunity,” which is not enough to create a strong inference of scienter. Silicon Graphics, 183 F.3d at 974…These allegations are hardly indicative of scienter…Even considered holistically, under Tellabs, these motive allegations cannot support a strong inference of scienter.”