Angelastro v. Prudential-Bache Securities, Inc.

764 F.2d 939, 54 U.S.L.W. 2007
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit
DecidedJune 12, 1985
DocketNos. 84-5401, 84-5427
StatusPublished
Cited by106 cases

This text of 764 F.2d 939 (Angelastro v. Prudential-Bache Securities, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Angelastro v. Prudential-Bache Securities, Inc., 764 F.2d 939, 54 U.S.L.W. 2007 (3d Cir. 1985).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

ADAMS, Circuit Judge.

This appeal presents the issue whether alleged misrepresentations and nondisclo-sures by a brokerage firm regarding the credit terms of a margin account fall within the ambit of section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b) (1982) (Exchange Act), and two rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The district court concluded that even if proved such deceptive practices could not be deemed “in connection with” the purchase or sale of a security, and dismissed plaintiff’s claims under section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5, 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5 (1984); it did determine, however, that plaintiff could institute a private action under Rule 10b-16, 17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-16 (1984). We agree that a private action may be brought under Rule 10b-16, and therefore will affirm the district court’s ruling on that issue. However, because we conclude that misrepresentations and nondis-closures regarding a margin account may be “in connection with” the purchase or sale of a security, we will reverse the order dismissing the section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 claims.

I.

Laura Angelastro, the plaintiff, maintained a margin account with Bache Halsey Stuart Shields, Inc., a national securities brokerage firm. On April 4, 1983, Ange-lastro filed suit in district court on behalf of herself and all others who purchased securities from 1977-821 through margin accounts maintained by defendant Prudential-Bache Securities, Inc., or its corporate predecessor, Bache Halsey Stuart Shield, Inc.2 The complaint asserted that Bache misrepresented and failed to disclose material information regarding the interest rates applicable to its margin accounts, purportedly in violation of section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rules 10b-5 and 10b-16.

Defendants moved, pursuant to Fed.R. Civ.P. 12(b)(6), to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. Holding that the activities alleged in the complaint were not undertaken “in connection with” the purchase or sale of any securities, the district court dismissed Angelastro’s Rule 10b-5 claim. [942]*942Angelastro v. Prudential-Bache Securities, Inc., 575 F.Supp. 270 (D.N.J.1983). The court rejected, however, defendants’ argument that no private right of action exists under Rule 10b-16, and held that the complaint did state a claim under that rule.

The district court certified its decisions on both Rules 10b-5 and 10b-16 for interlocutory appeal pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1292(b) (1982). In June of 1984, we granted the parties’ motions for certification. This interlocutory appeal is limited to two issues: (1) whether alleged fraud regarding the credit terms of a margin account may be “in connection with” the purchase and sale of securities within the meaning of section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and the Commission rules promulgated thereunder; and (2) whether a private right of action exists under Rule 10b-16.

II.

Section 10(b)3 and Rule 10b-5,4 the basic anti-fraud provision promulgated thereunder, interdict the misrepresentation or omission of material facts in connection with the purchase or sale of any securities. A Rule 10b-5 claim requires, inter alia, that the misrepresentation be made “in connection with” the purchase or sale of a security. See Ketchum v. Green, 557 F.2d 1022, 1025 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 940, 98 S.Ct. 431, 54 L.Ed.2d 300 (1977).5 The purpose underlying section 10(b) and the rules adopted under it is to insure that investors obtain disclosure of material facts in connection with their investment decisions regarding the purchase or sale of securities. See Affiliated Ute Citizens v. United States, 406 U.S. 128, 151, 92 S.Ct. 1456, 1471, 31 L.Ed.2d 741 (1972). Rule 10b-5 claims typically involve alleged misrepresentations with respect to the merits of a particular security. For example, nondisclosure of insider information concerning the value of securities states a claim under the rule. See, e.g., Shapiro v. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., 495 F.2d 228 (2d Cir.1974); SEC v. Texas Gulf Sulphur Co., 401 F.2d 833 (2d Cir. 1968) (in banc), cert. denied, 394 U.S. 976, 89 S.Ct. 1454, 22 L.Ed.2d 756 (1969). Such a misrepresentation is obviously made “in connection with” the stock that is subsequently sold or purchased.

Rule 10b-5 also encompasses misrepresentations beyond those implicating the investment value of a particular security. The Supreme Court has declared that section 10(b) must be read “flexibly, not technically and restrictively.” Superintendent of Insurance v. Bankers Life and Casualty Co., 404 U.S. 6, 12, 92 S.Ct. 165, [943]*943169, 30 L.Ed.2d 128 (1971). In Bankers Life, the Supreme Court permitted a section 10(b) claim to proceed in an action concerning the misappropriation of bond sale proceeds to cover “rubber” checks previously used to purchase securities. 404 U.S. at 6, 92 S.Ct. at 165. In the course of its discussion, the Supreme Court interpreted the “in connection with” language of section 10(b) to require that the plaintiff has “suffered an injury as a result of deceptive practices touching [the purchase or] sale of securities.” Id. at 12-13, 92 S.Ct. at 169-70. This Court has construed the “touching” requirement as mandating that there be some “causal connection between the alleged fraud and the purchase or sale” of a security. Tully v. Mott Supermarkets, Inc., 540 F.2d 187, 194 (3d Cir.1976); see also Ketchum v. Green, 557 F.2d at 1028; Liberty National Insurance Holding Co. v. Charter Co., 734 F.2d 545, 555 (11th Cir.1984) (noting that the “in connection with” element requires a causal relationship between the claimed deception and a subsequent purchase or sale).

In keeping with the Supreme Court’s statement that the “in connection with” language be read broadly, many courts have found the requisite causal nexus in situations involving the course of dealing in securities. Cf. Jaksich v. Thomson McKinnon Securities, Inc., 582 F.Supp. 485, 494 (S.D.N.Y.1984) (fraud directly related to the trading process meets the “in connection with” requirement); A.T. Brod & Co. v. Perlow, 375 F.2d 393, 397 (2d Cir.1967) (“a 10b-5 action will survive even though the fraudulent scheme or device is unrelated to ‘investment value’ ”). For example, many courts have found the allegations of churning6

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Bluebook (online)
764 F.2d 939, 54 U.S.L.W. 2007, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/angelastro-v-prudential-bache-securities-inc-ca3-1985.