TOP STORY
November 7, 2009
Madoff's Accountant Acknowledges Guilt, Casts Himself as Victim
The accountant who helped conceal Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme has pleaded guilty, admitting in court that he rubber-stamped financial statements used to deceive regulators and investors.
NEW: Madoff's Accountant Pleads Guilty in Scheme
NEW: Madoff: All SEC Did Before 2006 a 'Waste of Time'
NEW: Judge Defers Bail Ruling on Madoff No. 2 DiPascali
IN THE COURTS
Lawsuits Against Picower Will Move Forward
Philanthropist Jeffrey Picower, who saw his legacy tarnished by allegations that he profited from Bernard Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme, was found dead on Sunday at the bottom of his pool in Palm Beach, Fla. In May, Madoff trustee Irving Picard sued Picower for allegedly reaping more than $7 billion in Madoff-related profits. A source says Picard has no plans to abandon claims against Picower's estate.
LAW FIRMS
Madoff Victims File Suit Against SEC
It seemed to be only a matter of time before the SEC was sued for negligence over the Madoff affair. That time came Wednesday, when attorneys at Herrick, Feinstein filed a complaint against the government in Manhattan federal district court. Herrick represents two of Bernie Madoff's victims, who lost more than $2.4 million between them.
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COMING UP
- Nov. 13: Filing deadline for objecting claimants in SIPC net equity case.
- Nov. 13: Filing deadline for briefs in opposition to Trustee's Motion in net equity case.
- Dec. 11: Filing deadline for briefs in support of Trustee's Motion in net equity case.
LATEST FILINGS
- New Jersey: The Lautenberg Foundation v. Madoff
- New York: Bankrupty Trustee Picard's Motion for Hearing on "Net Equity" Issue
- New York: Irving H. Picard v. Harley International (Cayman) Limited
- New York: Irving H. Picard v. Jeffry Picower, the Picower Foundation, et al
- New York: Irving H. Picard v. J. Ezra Merkin, Gabriel Capital, et al
- Washington: Dennis v. Tremont Group Holdings
- New York: Nephrology Associates, PC Pension Plan v. Ariel Fund Ltd. et al
- Texas: Chavez v. Picard et al
- New York: Leonhardt v. Madoff et al
- Pennsylvania: Pension Fund for Hospital and Health Care Employees -- Philadelphia and Vicinity; and Henry Nicholas v. Austin Capital Management LTD
WHO REPRESENTS WHOM
- Jeffrey Plotkin and Joseph Simone of Day Pitney are representing Orthopaedic Specialty Group of Fairfield, Conn., in connection with the SIPC Claim of its Defined Contribution Pension Plan.
- Philadelphia firm Spector Roseman Kodroff & Willis is representing the Pension Fund for Hospital and Health Care Employees -- Philadelphia and Vicinity, and a class of similar funds, against Austin Capital Management Ltd.
- Robert Anello of Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer is representing Fairfield Greenwich Group partner David Horn and Steven Wolowitz of Mayer Brown has appeared for Fairfield partner Andrew Smith.
- The U.S. class action firm Labaton & Sucharow announced that it has teamed up with the Spanish firm Cremades & Calvo-Sotelo to file the first class action against Spain's Banco Santander and its private banking business, Optimal Investment Services.
- Samuel Danon, a Miami litigation partner at Richmond, Va.-based Hunton & Williams, represents Banco Santander.
- Steven Paradise of Vinson & Elkins is representing Maurice "Sonny" Cohn and his daughter Marcia, who shared ownership stakes with Madoff in a brokerage firm called Cohmad Securities.
- Stanley Arkin of Arkin Kaplan Rice is advising Robert Jaffe, a Cohmad Securities official who reportedly recruited investors for Madoff.
- Simpson Thacher partners Mark Cunha and Michael Chepiga represent most of the Fairfield Greenwich Group feeder fund defendants. Marc Kasowitz of Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman; Glen Kurtz of White & Case; and Helen Cantwell of Debevoise & Plimpton are each representing one individual Fairfield defendant.
- Bernard L. Madoff has hired a team at Dickstein Shapiro that includes Daniel Horowitz, Mauro Wolfe, and Ira "Ike" Sorkin.
- Madoff's sons -- who reportedly blew the whistle on their father -- have hired Martin Flumenbaum of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison.
- Lee Richards of Richards, Kibbe & Orbe will be the court-appoined receiver for Madoff's company.
- Schulte Roth & Zabel is representing GMAC Chairman J. Ezra Merkin's Ascot Partners hedge fund.
- Dechert's Andrew Levander is representing GMAC Chairman J. Ezra Merkin.
ACTIONS
CIVIL
- Bloomberg.com: Madoff-Founded Cohmad Seeks Dismissal of $100 Million Lawsuit
- New York Law Journal: 2nd Circuit Says Adviser's Knowledge of Bayou Hedge Fund Fraud Not Proven
- Reuters: U.S. Clients May Sue Swiss Bank UBP Over Losses
- New York Law Journal: New Wave of Suits Focuses on 'Intense' Investor Relationships
- Bloomberg.com: Luxembourg Finance Minister: UBS, HSBC Have Duty to Madoff Investors
- The Associated Press: Fairfield Sentry Sues Fairfield Greenwich Over Fees
- The Associated Press: Merkin to Cede Control of Funds That Fed to Madoff
- The New York Times: $30 Million Paid So Far to Madoff Victims
- AmericanLawyer.com: Investors Attorneys Sue KPMG, Feeder Fund Over Losses
- AmericanLawyer.com: Investors Lob Fraud Charges at Madoff Feeder Fund in Amended
- New York Times: Suit Claims JPMorgan Aided Madoff's Fraud
- Reuters: Swiss Judge Allows Charges in Madoff Losses Case
- FINAlternatives: New Lawsuits Filed Against Madoff-Linked Hedge Funds
- Bloomberg.com: Meridian Diversified, Jeanneret Named in Madoff Suits
- Reuters: U.S. Investors Sue Madoff-Linked Broker for Fraud
- Bloomberg.com: Judge: Financier Merkin Testified in Madoff Probe
- Newsday.com: Suit Seeks $150 Million Linked to Madoff
- Daily Business Review: Madoff-Affiliated Firms Sued by Private Investment Fund
- New York Law Journal: N.Y. AG Sues Financier Over Madoff Losses
- New York Law Journal: Judge Extends Freeze on Peter Madoff's Assets
- Washington: Dennis v. Tremont Group Holdings
- New York: Nephrology Associates, PC Pension Plan v. Ariel Fund Ltd. et al
- Texas: Chavez v. Picard et al
- New York Times DealBook: Merkin Asks Judge to Modify Order in Madoff Case
- The Hartford Courant: Selectman Testifies on Conn. Town's Madoff-Related Losses
- Bloomberg: UBS Wins Lawsuit Over Money From Madoff-Linked Fund
- The National Law Journal: ERISA Class Action Filed Against Fund That Invested With Madoff
- New York: Serol Holding Corp. v. Banco Santander S.A., et al
- Pennsylvania: Pension Fund for Hospital and Health Care Employees -- Philadelphia and Vicinity; and Henry Nicholas v. Austin Capital Management LTD
- California: Eric Roth, as Trustee for the Vanessa Productions, LTD, Profit Sharing Plan v. Stanley Chais
- Connecticut: Maxam Absolute Fund v. McGladrey & Pullen, No. FBT-cv-09-5021972-5
- Florida: Inversiones Mar Octava Limitada and Marcelo Guillermo Testa v. Banco Santander S.A.
- New York: Repex Ventures v. Bernard L. Madoff, et al
- New York: David B. Newman and IRA F/B/O David Newman-Pershing LLC v. Family Management Corporation, et al
- New York: Edward B. Zemprelli v. Royal Bank of Scotland, et al
- New York: Pasha S. Anwar and Julia Anwar v. Fairfield Greenwich Group, et al
- New York: Richard Peshkin v. Tremont Group Holdings (and other Madoff feeder funds)
- California: Michael Chaleff v. Bernard L. Madoff, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, Stanley Chais, and the Brighton Company, et al
- New York: New York Law School v. Ascot Partners L.P., J. Ezra Merkin and BDO Seidman LLP, et al
- New York: Scott Berrie v. Gabriel Capital, L.P., J. Ezra Merkin and BDO Seidman LLP
- New York: Irwin Kellner v. Bernard L. Madoff, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC and John Does
CRIMINAL
- The Am Law Litigation Daily: Federal Judge Rejects Restitution Approach for Madoff Victims
- The Am Law Daily: Calif. AG Sues Alleged 'Madoff Middleman'
- Bloomberg.com: Madoff Victims Oppose Feds' Hiring of Picard
- The Associated Press: Madoff Arrives at North Carolina Prison
- Bloomberg: Madoff Accountant Waives Indictment, May Plead Guilty
- CNBC: Madoff Headed for Prison in Butner, N.C.
- The Associated Press: Lawyer Says Madoff Won't Appeal His 150-Year Sentence
- The Associated Press: U.S., Britain Join Austria in Madoff-Related Probes
- The Associated Press: N.Y. Federal Judge Delays Restitution Order Three Months
- Boston Herald: Deal Bars Bernard Madoff From Finance Work
- New York Times DealBook: Madoff Victims Ask Judge for Maximum Sentence
- The Associated Press: Indictment Deadline Extended for Madoff Accountant
- Reuters: Criminal Probe of Madoff Accountant Extended
- Bloomberg.com: Brits Expect to Charge Madoff With Fraud
- New York Law Journal: Madoff Must Remain Jailed Until Sentencing, Panel Rules
- WSJ.com Law Blog: The Man Behind the Madoff Prosecution
- New York Law Journal: Madoff Led Off to Jail After Guilty Plea
- New York Law Journal: Government Files Notice Seeking Madoff Assets
- FoxNews.com: Ruth Madoff Court Filing Related to United States of America v. Bernard L. Madoff
- New York Law Journal: Madoff Pleads Guilty, Will Spend Rest of His Life in Prison
- New York Law Journal: With No Deal, Madoff to Plead Guilty to 11 Counts
- New York Law Journal: Madoff Waives Indictment, Set to Plead Guilty
- The Associated Press: Lawyers Say Madoff Must Have Had Help
- Bloomberg.com: Madoff Prosecutors Get 30 More Days for Indictment
- Bloomberg.com: Hedge Fund Manager Defended by Madoff's Lawyer Gets 40 Months
- Bloomberg.com: Madoff Victims Suspected a Crime, Just Didn't Care
- NYDailyNews.com: Charities Claim Ezra Merkin Invested Millions Without Permission
- New York: United States of America v. Bernard L. Madoff, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC
- New York Law Journal: Madoff Ruled Not a 'Danger to Community,' Remains Under House Arrest
- New York Law Journal: Feds Step Up Efforts to Convince Court Madoff Should Be Jailed
BANKRUPTCY
- The Associated Press: Madoff Trustee Sues Madoff Family for Almost $200 Million
- Bloomberg.com: Trustee: Chais Transferred Money After Madoff's Arrest
- The Wall Street Journal: Madoff Trustee Seeks $7.2B From Florida Investor
- Bloomberg.com: Madoff Trustee to Review Swindled Victims' Claims
- Bloomberg.com: HSBC Sued by Madoff Trustee in $578 Million Clawback
- Bloomberg.com: Trustee Tells of $1.08 Billion Found for Victims
- The New York Times: 15,400 File Claims in Madoff Ponzi Scheme
- The New York Times: Madoff Trustee Seeks $1 Billion Harley Default Award
- The New York Times: Trustee's Total of Losses Nears $3 Billion
- Bloomberg.com: Madoff Victim Group Asks Judge to Invalidate Releases
- Am Law Daily: Picard Files Fairfield Feeder Fund Suit
- Guardian.co.uk: Judge OKs Banco Santander Settlement
- New York Post: Madoff Victims' Suit Claims SIPC Is Cheating Them
- New York Law Journal: Madoff Victims Blast Trustee's Valuations of Their Investments
- Reuters: Bankruptcy Judge OKs Consolidating Madoff Cases
- The New York Times: Victims of Madoff Seek Claims Overhaul
- Times Online: Search for Madoff Assets Pits Brits Against Americans
- The New York Times: Picard Takes Heat Over Claims
- Banking Business Review: Banco Santander Agrees to Pay $235M to Madoff's Victims
- Boston.com: Madoff Trustee Wants Names Kept Under Wrap
- Bloomberg: Talon Seeks Order for Madoff Trustee to Pay Jet Fees
- guardian.co.uk: Madoff Trustee Sues Fairfield Group for $3.5B
- guardian.co.uk: Trustee Picard Has Received 9,000 Claims; Madoff Sentencing Postponed to Late June
- guardian.co.uk: Madoff Trustee Seeks to Stop Kingate Fund Transfers
- The New York Times: Billions Withdrawn Before Madoff Arrest
- NY Times DealBook: Trustee Picard Writes About Unwinding the Fraud Fairly
- New York: Irving H. Picard v. Harley International (Cayman) Limited
- New York: Irving H. Picard v. Jeffry Picower, the Picower Foundation, et al
- New York: Irving H. Picard v. J. Ezra Merkin, Gabriel Capital, et al
- AmericanLawyer.com: Trustee Seeks $65,000 Clawback From Law Student Suing Madoff's Brother
- AmericanLawyer.com: Prosecutors Win Order Restraining Madoff Assets
- AmericanLawyer.com: Former Fried Frank Partner Joins Forces With Milberg
- Bloomberg.com: Madoff Trustee Said to Warn 223 on Possible Clawbacks
- AmericanLawyer.com: Milberg and Seeger Weiss File Petition to Send Madoff Into Bankruptcy
- AmericanLawyer.com: Judge OKs Interim Trustee in Hunt for Madoff Assets
- AmericanLawyer.com: Madoff Roundup: Trustee Picard's Busy Week
- NEWSInferno.com: Madoff Trustee Files First 'Clawback' Lawsuit
- Reuters: Judge Approves Sale of Madoff's Mets Tickets
- AmericanLawyer.com: Madoff Clients Make Push for Involuntary Bankruptcy
- Law.com: In Depth: Madoff Scandal Spotlights the SIPC
- AmericanLawyer.com: Baker & Hostetler's Picard Updates Madoff Creditors
- The Associated Press: Madoff Bankruptcy Judge Denies Motion on Claim Deadline
- AmericanLawyer.com: Starting Up the Madoff Subpoena Machine
- Newsday: On the Hunt for $1B in Madoff Assets in Ireland
- AmericanLawyer.com: Madoff Customer List Reveals More High-Profile Legal Names
- AmericanLawyer.com: Madoff Trustee Taps Lovells for Help in International Asset Hunt
- Bloomberg.com: Banks to Transfer $535 Million to Madoff Bankruptcy Trustee
- U.S. Senate: Read SIPC President's Statement Before Banking Committee
- The National Law Journal: Madoff Investors May Be on the Hook for 'Clawback' Suits
- The Associated Press: SIPC Mails Out 8,000 Claim Forms in Madoff Case
- New York: Securities Investor Protection Corporation v. Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities
- New York: Securites and Exchange Commission v. Bernard L. Madoff, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC
- SIPC: Notice to Madoff Customers and Creditors
- SIPC: Madoff Trustee Site
- SIPC: Madoff Bankruptcy Filings
SEC
- The New York Times: Suit Accuses SEC of Failing to Detect Madoff Scheme
- Bloomberg.com: SEC IG Spells Out How to Catch the Next Madoff
- Bloomberg.com: SEC to Enlist State Regulators on Tips
- The National Law Journal: SEC Attacked for 'Colossal Failure' Over Madoff
- Reuters: SEC Never Did 'Competent' Madoff Probe, Report Finds
- Reuters: SEC Probe of Madoff Failure Coming, Schapiro Says
- Bloomberg.com: SEC's Richards Leaving After Unit Missed Madoff Fraud
- Fox Business: SEC Pores Over How It Missed the Madoff Fraud
- Bloomberg: U.S. May Strip SEC of Powers in Regulatory Overhaul
- The Associated Press: SEC Enforcement Operation Under Scrutiny in Hearing
- The Associated Press: SEC Turns to Twitter to Prevent Repeat of Madoff
- The Associated Press: SEC, Madoff Agree to Settle Civil Fraud Case
- Los Angeles Times: Under Madoff Cloud, SEC Enforcement Chief Will Leave
- Bloomberg.com: Schapiro Speeds SEC Enforcement, Names Cleary Gottlieb Partner Counsel
- WSJ.com: Whistle-Blower Harry Markopolos' Testimony for House Financial Services Committee
- CNNMoney.com: SEC Defends Its Role
- New York: SEC v. Bernard L. Madoff, Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC
- SEC Statement
- SEC Press Release and Related Orders
OTHER MADOFF RESOURCES
Obama Names Judge Chin to Fill Sotomayor Spot
The Hill
Finra Board Debates Releasing Fraud Study
Bloomberg.com
Madoff Doesn't Have Cancer, Prison Authorities Say
Bloomberg.com
Sail Away With a Piece of Madoff Memorabilia
Telegraph.co.uk
Long Shelf of Books on Madoff Is Short on Answers to Big Question
The Wall Street Journal
Madoff-Scarred Victim Turns to Chinese Private Banks for Cure
China Daily
Madoff CFO Had Illegal Firearms Until Last Week
New York Magazine
The Bernie Madoff Dining Index
Eater
Madoff Had Affair With Ex-Hadassah CFO, Her Book Says
Bloomberg
Expert: Madoff Victims May Wait 15 Years for Full Payout
New York Post
Madoff Trustee's $14.7 Million Fee Request Approved
Bloomberg
Madoff-Tainted Merkin Pocketed $35M a Year
Crain's New York Business
Madoff Trustee Picard's Fees 'Outrageous,' Some Victims Say
Bloomberg
N.Y.'s Proposed 'Madoff Bill' Would Punish Wealthy Inmates
FoxNews.com
French Police Probe Possible Madoff Hit to CIC Bank
Reuters
How Much Did Madoff's Sons Know?
New York Times Dealbook
France Launches Formal Probe Into Madoff Fallout
Reuters
EU Plans Stiffer Mutual Fund Rules Following Madoff
Bloomberg.com
France Launches Formal Probe Into Madoff Fallout
Reuters
Investigation Uncovers Secrets of the Swindle
Fortune
Video: Madoff Scandal Hits MassMutual Hard
NECN.com
Madoff Judge Restrains Assets, Including Homes, Accounts, Loans
Bloomberg.com
Herald Fund Seeks $2B in Suit Against HSBC
Bloomberg.com
Video: What Did Madoff Clan Really Know?
CBS News
IRS Says Madoff Victims Can Claim Theft Losses
Bloomberg.com
Pity, With No Leniency, for the Schemer
The New York Times
Madoff's Future: Where the Case Is Likely to Go
New York Times DealBook
Madoff Lawyer Absorbs Part of the Rage
The New York Times
Report: Ruth Madoff Lawyers Up
WSJ.com Law Blog
MORE INCISIVE MEDIA COVERAGE
Another Madoff-Related Suit Withdrawn as Focus Shifts to Partnership Claims
The National Law Journal
Madoff's Top Aide Is Ordered to Jail Following Guilty Plea
The New York Law Journal
Holland & Knight Sued in Fla. Over Ponzi Docs
AmericanLawyer.com
Live-Blogging the Madoff Hearing: Bail Revoked, Madoff Remanded
AmericanLawyer.com
An Ex-Assistant U.S. Attorney Talks About Why Madoff's Claim of Acting Alone Is a Problem
The National Law Journal
Columbia Law School Professor John C. Coffee Jr. on 'The Lessons of Madoff'
The National Law Journal
Madoff Victims Request to Speak at Hearing
The New York Law Journal
Madoff Concessions 'A Drop in the Ocean,' Says Milberg Attorney
The American Lawyer
Accounting Firms Take New Hits Over Madoff, Other Ponzi Schemes
The National Law Journal
Sorkin Uses Likability, Savvy to Protect a Despised Client
New York Law Journal
Insurance Coverage Eyed in Madoff Claims
The National Law Journal
Two Federal Suits Highlight Retail Banks' Potential Liability in Ponzi Schemes
The National Law Journal
Former Milberg Partners Snared in Madoff Scam
AmericanLawyer.com
Labaton and Spanish Firm File Class Action Against Banco Santander
AmericanLawyer.com
The National Law Journal
N.Y. Judge Denies Request for Asset Freeze Against Fairfield Defendants
AmericanLawyer.com
Madoff Suits Pile Up, but Will They Fly?
The National Law Journal
Madoff Investment Trustee Asks for More Time on Assets
New York Law Journal
How Lawyers Can Avoid Ponzi Schemes
The National Law Journal
Disbarred Attorney Faces Charges of Defrauding Investors
New York Law Journal
Madoff Victims Who Paid Taxes On Scheme Income Seek Refunds (subscription required)
New York Law Journal
Milberg Seeks Redemption in Madoff Litigation
AmericanLawyer.com
Madoff Wins Bid to Avoid Jail; Judge Tightens Bail Conditions
New York Law Journal
Madoff Roundup: $173 Million in Checks, Prison Requests, and Angry Oligarchs
AmLaw Daily




