Commodities Industry

Dennison v. BP Corporation, No. 06 C 3334 (N.D. Ill.).  This class action was commenced to recover damages as a result of defendant’s alleged improper conduct in manipulating the price of propane.  Mr. Miller serves as Co-Lead Counsel in this consolidated Plaintiffs’ class action.

In re Sumitomo Copper Litig., 96 4584(MP) (S.D.N.Y.).  Class action arising out of manipulation of the world copper market.  On October 7, 1999, the court approved settlements aggregating $134,600,000.  See 189 F.R.D. 274 (S.D.N.Y. 1999).  In awarding attorneys’ fees, Judge Milton Pollack noted that it was  “the largest class action recovery in the 75 plus year history of the Commodity Exchange Act”. 74 F. Supp. 2d 393 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 15, 1999).  Additional reported opinions: 995 F. Supp. 451 (S.D.N.Y. 1998); 182 F.R.D. 85 (S.D.N.Y. 1998).  Mr. Miller was appointed by Judge Pollack as Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead Counsel.

In re Soybean Futures Litig., No. 89 7009 (N.D. Ill.).  A commodities manipulation class action against Ferruzzi Finanziaria, S.p.A. and related companies for unlawfully manipulating the soybean futures market in 1989.  In December, 1996, the court approved a settlement in the amount of $21,500,000. See 892 F. Supp. 1025 (N.D. Ill. 1995).  Mr. Miller served as Co-Lead Counsel for Plaintiffs.

In re International Trading Group, Ltd. Customer Account Litig., No. 89-5545 RSWL (GHKx) (C.D. Cal.)  Class action alleging violation of the anti-fraud provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act.  The case settled with individual defendants and proceeded to a judgment against the corporate entity.  In that phase, the Court awarded the Class a constructive trust and equitable lien over the corporation’s assets and entered a $492 million judgment in favor of the Class.

In re First Commodity Corporation of Boston Customer Account Litig., MDL-713 (D. Mass).  Class actions alleging violation of the anti-fraud provisions of the Commodity Exchange Act.  The action settled for $5.3 million.  See 119 F.R.D. 301 (D. Mass. 1987).

Kohen v. Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC, et al., 05 C 4681 (N.D. Ill.).  The class action seeks to recover damages as a result of Defendants; manipulation of the Ten Year Treasury Note Futures Contracts.  On July 7, 2009, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision which certified a class of all persons and entities who purchased June 2005 Ten Year Treasury Note Futures Contracts between May 9, 2005 and June 30, 2005, inclusive, to liquidate a short position.

Jaffe v. Household International, Inc., et al., 02 C 5893 (N.D. Ill.).  This nationwide securities fraud class action is for recovery of damages as a result of Defendants’ misrepresentations and omission of material facts which caused substantial inflation of the company’s common stock.  The case went to trial and on May 7, 2009, a jury decided in favor of the plaintiffs.  Mr. Miller was a member of the trial team.