South Miami securities litigator Michael E. Criden filed a class action lawsuit against a Chicago-based commodities trader whose funds reportedly lost 80 percent of their value in three days.

Criden represents lead plaintiff Leonard Sokolow in the suit pending in Illinois against LJM Funds Management Ltd. and its affiliates. His firm filed the complaint along with Scott + Scott litigator Thomas Laughlin in New York alleging violation of federal securities laws. Their client is the president and CEO of Boca Raton-based financial advisory and brokerage Newbridge Financial Inc., who claimed a $90,000 investment with LJM Funds whittled to about $18,000 from Feb. 5 to 7.