Odeh v. Immunomedics, Inc., et al.
Immunomedics Securities Settlement
No. 2:18-cv-17645-ESK

Frequently Asked Questions

 

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  • The Notice was sent to you pursuant to an Order of a U.S. District Court because you or someone in your family or an investment account for which you serve as custodian may have purchased or acquired Immunomedics common stock during the period between February 9, 2018 and January 17, 2019, inclusive (the “Class Period”).

    The Notice explains the class action lawsuit, the Settlement, Class Members’ legal rights in connection with the Settlement, what benefits are available, who is eligible for them, and how to get them.

    The Court in charge of the Litigation is the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the case is known as Odeh v. Immunomedics, Inc., et al., No. 2:18-cv-17645 ESK.  The case has been assigned to the Honorable Edward S. Kiel. The institution and individual representing the Class are the Lead Plaintiffs, and the company and individuals they sued and who have now settled are called the Defendants.

  • Lead Plaintiffs allege that all Defendants violated §10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), and the Individual Defendants violated §20(a) of the Exchange Act.  More specifically, Lead Plaintiffs allege that, throughout the Class Period (February 9, 2018 through January 17, 2019, inclusive), Defendants made materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that Immunomedics had suffered a data integrity breach at its Morris Plains, New Jersey manufacturing facility.  Lead Plaintiffs further allege that this data integrity breach imperiled a Biologics License Application (“BLA”) seeking approval of the drug sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (referred to herein as “IMMU-132”) for patients with previously treated metastatic triple negative breast cancer, which allegedly caused the price of Immunomedics’ common stock to trade at artificially inflated prices.  Defendants deny the Lead Plaintiffs’ allegations in their entirety and contend that they did not violate the Exchange Act.

    On January 17, 2020, Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint for failure to state a claim under Rules 9(b) and 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, 15 U.S.C. §78u-4(b) (the “PSLRA”).  Lead Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motion on March 6, 2020.  Defendants filed their reply in support of the motion to dismiss on May 21, 2020.  On July 31, 2020, the Court issued an order denying Defendants’ motion to dismiss.  Defendants answered the Consolidated Complaint on September 11, 2020.

    On July 19, 2021, Lead Plaintiffs filed their First Amended Complaint for Violation of the Federal Securities Laws (the “Amended Complaint”).  On August 18, 2021, Defendants filed their Answer to the Amended Complaint.

    On April 30, 2021 and January 21, 2022, Lead Plaintiffs and Defendants, respectively, exchanged expert reports related to class certification.  Class certification discovery, including depositions of the Lead Plaintiffs and the parties’ respective experts, was completed by May 5, 2022.  On June 2, 2022, Lead Plaintiffs moved for class certification.  Defendants filed an opposition to the motion and a motion to strike portions of the testimony of Lead Plaintiffs’ expert on July 7, 2022.  Lead Plaintiffs filed their omnibus reply in support of class certification and opposition to Defendants’ motion to strike on July 28, 2022, and Defendants filed an omnibus reply in support of the motion to strike and sur-reply in opposition to the motion for class certification on August 15, 2022.  Lead Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification and Defendants’ motion to strike were pending at the time the parties reached an agreement to settle the Litigation.

    Following the lifting of the PSLRA statutory discovery stay on July 31, 2020, and through November 2022, the parties produced approximately one million pages of documents, conducted depositions of 9 expert and fact witnesses, and served and responded to more than 700 interrogatories and requests for admission.  The parties additionally served subpoenas on more than 60 third parties, which produced approximately 65,000 documents totaling over 418,000 pages.  The parties participated in numerous meetings to address discovery issues, as well as in numerous discovery disputes between the parties and/or with third parties.

    On November 30, 2022, the parties participated in a mediation with Bruce A. Friedman, Esq. of JAMS, an experienced mediator.  The mediation was preceded by the submission of confidential mediation statements and other relevant documents.  The parties engaged in good faith negotiations and at the end of the mediation session, the Settling Parties reached an agreement-in-principle to resolve the Litigation.  This agreement-in-principle contemplated full releases of liability in return for a cash payment of $40 million for the benefit of the Class, subject to the negotiation of the terms of a Stipulation of Settlement and approval by the Court.  The Stipulation (together with the Exhibits thereto) reflects the final and binding agreement, and a compromise of all matters that are in dispute, between the Settling Parties.

    Defendants deny each and all of the claims and contentions of wrongdoing alleged by Lead Plaintiffs in the Litigation, as well as any and all allegations of fault, liability, wrongdoing, or damages whatsoever arising out of any of the conduct, statements, acts, or omissions that have been alleged, or that could have been alleged, in the Litigation.  Defendants contend that they did not make any materially false or misleading statements, and that they made appropriate disclosures of all material information required to be disclosed by the federal securities laws.  Defendants also contend that any losses allegedly suffered by Members of the Class were not caused by any allegedly false or misleading statements by them and/or were caused by intervening events.  Defendants continue to believe that the claims asserted against them in the Litigation are without merit.  Defendants also maintain that they have meritorious defenses to all claims that were raised or could have been raised in the Litigation.

  • The Court has not decided in favor of the Lead Plaintiffs or Defendants.  Instead, both sides agreed to the Settlement to avoid the distraction, costs, and risks of further litigation, and Lead Plaintiffs agreed to the Settlement in order to ensure that Class Members will receive compensation.

  • The Court directed that everyone who fits this description is a Class Member: all Persons who purchased or acquired Immunomedics common stock during the period between February 9, 2018 and January 17, 2019, inclusive, and who were damaged thereby, except those Persons and entities that are excluded.

    Excluded from the Class are: (i) Individual Defendants; (ii) the immediate family members of the Individual Defendants; (iii) the officers and directors of Immunomedics during the Class Period and their immediate family members; (iv) any firm, trust, corporation, or other entity in which any Defendant has, or had during the Class Period, a controlling interest; and (v) the legal representatives, affiliates, heirs, successors-in-interest, or assigns of any such excluded person or entity under clauses (i)-(iv).  Also excluded from the Class are those Persons who timely and validly exclude themselves therefrom by submitting a request for exclusion in accordance with the requirements set forth in question 11 of the Notice.

    Please Note:  Receipt of the Notice does not mean that you are a Class Member or that you will be entitled to receive a payment from the Settlement.  If you are a Class Member and you wish to be eligible to participate in the distribution of proceeds from the Settlement, you are required to submit the Proof of Claim that is being distributed with the Notice and the required supporting documentation as set forth therein postmarked or submitted online on or before June 8, 2023.

  • If you are still not sure whether you are included, you can ask for free help.  You can contact the Claims Administrator toll-free at 855-678-0183, or you can fill out and return the Proof of Claim form enclosed with the Notice package, to see if you qualify.

  • The Settlement provides that, in exchange for the release of the Released Claims (defined below) and dismissal of the Litigation, Defendants have agreed to pay (or cause to be paid) $40,000,000 in cash to be distributed after taxes, tax expenses, notice and claims administration expenses, and approved fees and expenses, pro rata, to Class Members who send in a valid Proof of Claim form pursuant to the Court-approved Plan of Allocation.  The Plan of Allocation is described in more detail at the end of the Notice.

  • Your share of the Net Settlement Fund will depend on several things, including the total value of Immunomedics common shares represented by the valid Proof of Claim forms that Class Members send in, compared to the value of your claim, all as calculated under the Plan of Allocation found in the Notice.

  • To be eligible to receive a payment from the Settlement, you must submit a Proof of Claim form.  A Proof of Claim form is enclosed with the Notice or it may be downloaded on the File a Claim tab of this website.  Read the instructions carefully, fill out the Proof of Claim, include all the documents the form asks for, sign it, and mail or submit it online so that it is postmarked or received no later than June 8, 2023.  The Proof of Claim form may be submitted online on this website.

  • The Court will hold a Settlement Hearing on June 15, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., to decide whether to approve the Settlement.  If the Court approves the Settlement, there might be appeals.  It is always uncertain whether appeals can be resolved, and if so, how long it would take to resolve them.  It also takes time for all the Proofs of Claim to be processed.  Please be patient.

  • Unless you timely and validly exclude yourself, you are staying in the Class, and that means you cannot sue, continue to sue, or be part of any other lawsuit against Defendants or their Related Parties about the Released Claims (as defined below) in this case.  It also means that all of the Court’s orders will apply to you and legally bind you.  If you remain a Class Member, and if the Settlement is approved, you will give up all “Released Claims” (as defined below), including “Unknown Claims” (as defined below), against the “Released Persons” (as defined below):

    • “Released Claims” means any and all rights, liabilities, suits, debts, obligations, demands, damages, losses, judgment, matters, issues, claims (including “Unknown Claims,” as defined below), and causes of action, of every nature and description whatsoever, in law, equity, or otherwise, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, accrued or unaccrued, fixed or contingent, liquidated or unliquidated, whether arising under federal, state, local, statutory, common or foreign law, or any other law, rule, or regulation, whether class and/or individual in nature, that Lead Plaintiffs or any other Class Member asserted or could have asserted in the Litigation, or could in the future assert in any court or forum based upon, related in any way to, in connection with, or arising from both: (a) the allegations, transactions, facts, matters or occurrences, errors, representations, misrepresentations, actions, failures to act, omissions, or corrective disclosures that were alleged, set forth, or referred to in the Litigation, and (b) the purchase or acquisition of Immunomedics common stock by any Class Member during the Class Period.  “Released Claims” does not include: (i) any claims by Defendants for insurance coverage; (ii) any derivative claims asserted by or on behalf of Immunomedics’ shareholders; (iii) claims brought pursuant to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA); and (iv) any claims to enforce the Settlement.
    • "Released Defendants’ Claims” means any and all claims and causes of action of every nature and description whatsoever, including both known claims and Unknown Claims, against Lead Plaintiffs, Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel, or any Class Member that arise out of or relate in any way to the institution, prosecution, or settlement of the claims against Defendants in the Litigation, except for claims relating to the enforcement of the Settlement.
    • “Released Persons” means each and all of the Defendants, Defendants’ Counsel, and their Related Parties.
    • "Related Parties” means any Person’s former, present or future parents, subsidiaries, divisions, controlling persons, associates, related entities and affiliates, any entity in which a Person has a controlling interest, and each and all of their respective present and former employees, members, partners, principals, officers, directors, controlling shareholders, agents, attorneys, advisors (including financial or investment advisors), accountants, auditors, consultants, underwriters, investment bankers, commercial bankers, entities providing fairness opinions, general or limited partners or partnerships, limited liability companies, members, joint ventures and insurers and reinsurers or co-insurers of each of them; as well as the predecessors, successors, estates, immediate family members, spouses, heirs, executors, trusts, trustees, administrators, agents, legal or personal representatives, assigns, and assignees of each of them.
    • “Unknown Claims” means (a) any and all Released Claims that any of the Releasing Plaintiff Parties do not know or suspect to exist in his, her, their, or its favor at the time of the release of the Released Defendant Parties, which, if known by him, her, them, or it, might have affected his, her, their, or its settlement with and release of the Released Defendant Parties, or might have affected his, her, their, or its decision(s) with respect to the Settlement, including, but not limited to, whether or not to object to this Settlement; and (b) any and all Released Defendants’ Claims that any of the Released Defendant Parties do not know or suspect to exist in his, her, their, or its favor at the time of the release of the Lead Plaintiffs, the Class, and Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel, which, if known by him, her, them, or it, might have affected his, her, their, or its settlement and release of Lead Plaintiffs, the Class, and Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel.  With respect to (a) any and all Released Claims against the Released Defendant Parties, and (b) any and all Released Defendants’ Claims against Lead Plaintiffs, the Class, and Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel, the Settling Parties stipulate and agree that, upon the Effective Date, the Settling Parties shall expressly waive, and each Releasing Plaintiff Party and Released Defendant Party shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Judgment shall have, expressly waived the provisions, rights, and benefits of California Civil Code §1542, which provides:

      A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.

      The Settling Parties shall expressly waive, and each Releasing Plaintiff Party and Released Defendant Party shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Judgment shall have, expressly waived any and all provisions, rights, and benefits conferred by any law of any state or territory of the United States, or principle of common law, which is similar, comparable, or equivalent to California Civil Code §1542.  The Releasing Plaintiff Parties and Released Defendant Parties acknowledge that they may hereafter discover facts, legal theories, or authorities in addition to or different from those which he, she, it or their counsel now knows or believes to be true with respect to the subject matter of the Released Claims or Released Defendants’ Claims, but (a) the Releasing Plaintiff Parties shall expressly fully, finally, and forever waive, compromise, settle, discharge, extinguish and release, and each Releasing Plaintiff Party shall be deemed to have waived, compromised, settled, discharged, extinguished, and released, and, upon the Effective Date, and by operation of the Judgment, shall have waived, compromised, settled, discharged, extinguished, and released, fully, finally, and forever, any and all Released Claims against the Released Defendant Parties, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, contingent or non-contingent, accrued or unaccrued, whether or not concealed or hidden, which now exist, or heretofore have existed, or may hereafter exist, upon any theory of law or equity now existing or coming into existence in the future, including, but not limited to, conduct which is negligent, intentional, with or without malice, or a breach of any duty, law or rule, without regard to the subsequent discovery or existence of such different or additional facts, legal theories, or authorities, and (b) the Released Defendant Parties shall expressly fully, finally, and forever waive, compromise, settle, discharge, extinguish and release, and, upon the Effective Date, and by operation of the Judgment, shall have waived, compromised, settled, discharged, extinguished, and released, fully, finally, and forever, any and all Released Defendants’ Claims against Lead Plaintiffs, the Class and Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, contingent or non-contingent, whether or not concealed or hidden, which now exist, or heretofore have existed, upon any theory of law or equity now existing or coming into existence in the future, including, but not limited to, conduct which is negligent, intentional, with or without malice, or a breach of any duty, law or rule, without regard to the subsequent discovery or existence of such different or additional facts, legal theories, or authorities.  The Settling Parties acknowledge, and the Releasing Plaintiff Parties and Released Defendant Parties shall be deemed by operation of the Judgment to have acknowledged, that the foregoing waiver was separately bargained for and is an essential element of the Settlement of which this release is a part.
  • If you do not want to participate in this Settlement, and you want to keep the right to potentially sue the Defendants and the other Released Persons, on your own, about the claims being released by the Settlement, then you must take steps to remove yourself from the Settlement. This is called excluding yourself or “opting out.” If you are requesting exclusion because you want to bring your own lawsuit based on the matters alleged in this Litigation, you may want to consult an attorney and discuss whether any individual claim that you may wish to pursue would be time-barred by the applicable statutes of limitation or repose.

    To exclude yourself from the Class and the Settlement, you must send a letter by First-Class Mail stating that you “request exclusion from the Class in the Immunomedics Securities Settlement.”  Your letter must include your purchases or acquisitions of Immunomedics common stock during the Class Period, including the dates, and the number of shares of Immunomedics common stock purchased or acquired.  In addition, you must include your name, address, telephone number, and your signature.  You must submit your exclusion request so that it is postmarked no later than May 25, 2023 (DEADLINE HAS PASSED) to:

    Immunomedics Securities Settlement
    Claims Administrator
    c/o JND Legal Administration
    ATTN: EXCLUSIONS
    P.O. Box 91456
    Seattle, WA 98111

    If you ask to be excluded, you will not get any payment from the Settlement, and you cannot object to the Settlement.  You will not be legally bound by anything that happens in this lawsuit, and you may be able to sue the Defendants and the other Released Persons about the Released Claims in the future.

  • No.  Unless you exclude yourself, you give up any rights you may potentially have to sue the Defendants and the other Released Persons for any and all Released Claims.  If you have a pending lawsuit against the Released Persons, speak to your lawyer in that case immediately.  You must exclude yourself from the Class in this Litigation to continue your own lawsuit.  Remember, the exclusion deadline is May 25, 2023. (DEADLINE HAS PASSED)

  • No.  If you exclude yourself, you should not send in a Proof of Claim to ask for any money.  But you may have the right to potentially sue or be part of a different lawsuit against the Defendants and the other Released Persons.

  • The Court ordered that the law firms of Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP and Block & Leviton LLP represent the Class Members, including you.  These lawyers are called Lead Counsel.  If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

  • Lead Counsel will apply to the Court for an award of attorneys’ fees not to exceed twenty-nine and one-half percent (29.5%) of the Settlement Amount, plus expenses in an amount not to exceed $650,000 in connection with prosecuting the Litigation, plus interest on such fees and expenses at the same rate as earned by the Settlement Fund.  In addition, Lead Plaintiffs may seek up to $25,000 in the aggregate for their costs and expenses incurred in representing the Class pursuant to 15 U.S.C. §78u-4(a)(4).  Such sums as may be approved by the Court will be paid from the Settlement Fund.

  • If you are a Class Member, you can comment on or object to the proposed Settlement, the proposed Plan of Allocation and/or Lead Counsel’s fee and expense application.  You can write to the Court setting out your comment or objection.  The Court will consider your views.  To comment or object, you must send a signed letter saying that you wish to comment on or object to the proposed Settlement in the Immunomedics Securities Settlement.  Include your name, address, telephone number, and your signature, identify the date(s), price(s), and number of shares of Immunomedics common stock you purchased or acquired and sold during the Class Period, and state with specificity your comments or the reasons why you object to the proposed Settlement, Plan of Allocation, and/or fee and expense application, including any legal and evidentiary support for such objection.  Any objection must state whether it applies only to the objector, to a specific subset of the Class, or to the entire Class.  You must also include copies of documents demonstrating your purchase(s) or acquisitions and/or sale(s) of Immunomedics common stock during the Class Period.  Your comments or objection must be filed with the Court and mailed or delivered to each of the following addresses such that it is received no later than May 25, 2023 (DEADLINE HAS PASSED):

     

    COURT
    CLERK OF THE COURT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY
    Martin Luther King Building & U.S. Courthouse
    50 Walnut Street, Room 4015
    Newark, NJ 07102
     

    LEAD COUNSEL
    ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP
    ELLEN GUSIKOFF STEWART
    655 West Broadway, Suite 1900
    San Diego, CA  92101

    BLOCK & LEVITON LLP
    JACOB A. WALKER
    260 Franklin Street, Suite 1860
    Boston, MA 02110

    DEFENDANTS’ COUNSEL
    GIBSON, DUNN &
    CRUTCHER LLP
    MONICA K. LOSEMAN
    1801 California Street,
    Suite 4200
    Denver, CO 80202

    SMITH VILLAZOR LLP
    RODNEY D. VILLAZOR
    250 West 55th Street, 30th Floor
    New York, NY 10019
     

  • Objecting is simply telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement.  You can object only if you stay in the Class.

    Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to recover money from the Settlement and do not want to release any claims you think you may have against Defendants and their Related Parties.  If you exclude yourself, you cannot object to the Settlement because it does not affect you.

  • The Court will hold a Settlement Hearing at 10:00 a.m., on June 15, 2023, before Magistrate Judge Edward S. Kiel, at the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, in Courtroom 8 of the Frank R. Lautenberg U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, 2 Federal Square, Newark, NJ 07102.  At the hearing, the Court will consider whether the Settlement and the Plan of Allocation are fair, reasonable, and adequate.  If there are objections, the Court will consider them, even if you do not ask to speak at the hearing.  The Court will listen to people who have asked to speak at the hearing.  The Court may also decide how much to pay to Lead Counsel and Lead Plaintiffs.  After the Settlement Hearing, the Court will decide whether to approve the Settlement and the Plan of Allocation.  We do not know how long these decisions will take.  You should be aware that the Court may change the date and time of the Settlement Hearing without another notice being sent to Class Members. If you want to attend the hearing, you should check with Lead Counsel or this Settlement website beforehand to be sure that the date and/or time has not changed.

    In addition, the possibility exists that the Court may decide to conduct the Settlement Hearing by video or telephonic conference, or otherwise allow Class Members to appear at the hearing by phone or video, without further written notice to the Class.  In order to determine whether the date and time of the Settlement Hearing have changed, or whether Class Members must or may participate by phone or video, it is important that you monitor the Court’s docket and this Settlement website, before making any plans to attend the Settlement Hearing.  Any and all updates regarding the Settlement Hearing, including any changes to the date or time of the hearing or updates regarding in-person or remote appearances at the hearing, will be posted to this Settlement website. Also, if the Court requires or allows Class Members to participate in the Settlement Hearing by telephone or video, the access information will be posted to this Settlement website.

  • No.  Lead Counsel will answer questions the Court may have.  But, you are welcome to come at your own expense.  If you send an objection, you do not have to come to Court to talk about it.  As long as you mailed your written objection on time, the Court will consider it.  You may also pay your own lawyer to attend, but it is not necessary.  Class Members do not need to appear at the hearing or take any other action to indicate their approval.

  • If you object to the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, and/or the fee and expense application, you may ask the Court for permission to speak at the Settlement Hearing.  To do so, you must include with your objection (see above) a statement saying that it is your “Notice of Intention to Appear in the Immunomedics Securities Settlement.”  Persons who intend to object to the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, and/or any attorneys’ fees and expenses to be awarded to Lead Counsel or Lead Plaintiffs and desire to present evidence at the Settlement Hearing must include in their written objections the identity of any witnesses they may call to testify and exhibits they intend to introduce into evidence at the Settlement Hearing.  Your notice of intention to appear must be received no later than May 25, 2023 (DEADLINE HAS PASSED), and addressed to the Clerk of the Court, Lead Counsel, and Defendants’ Counsel, at the addresses listed above.

    You cannot speak at the hearing if you exclude yourself from the Class.

  • If you do nothing, you will not receive any money from this Settlement.  In addition, unless you exclude yourself, you will not be able to start a lawsuit, continue with a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against Defendants and their Related Parties about the Released Claims in this case.

  • For even more detailed information concerning the matters involved in this Litigation, you can obtain answers to common questions regarding the proposed Settlement by contacting the Claims Administrator toll-free at 855-678-0183. Reference is also made to the Settlement Agreement, to the pleadings in support of the Settlement, to the Orders entered by the Court and to the other Settlement related papers filed in the Litigation, which are posted on this Settlement website, and which may be inspected at the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, during regular business hours. For a fee, all papers filed in this Litigation are available at www.pacer.gov.

For More Information

Visit this website often to get the most up-to-date information.

Mail
Immunomedics Securities Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
P.O. Box 91456
Seattle, WA 98111