The number of securities class action settlements plummeted to its lowest level in a decade last year, according to a new report issued by Cornerstone Research.

The survey counted 86 settlements in 2010, down from 101 in 2009. The peak year for settlements was 2005, with 119. Cornerstone worked with the Stanford Law School Securities Class Action Clearinghouse on the report, “Securities Class Action Settlements—2010 Review and Analysis.”