Hall class action notice: glancy prongay & murray llp files securities fraud lawsuit against hallmark financial services, inc.
Los angeles--(business wire)--glancy prongay & murray llp (“gpm”) announces that it has filed a class action lawsuit in the united states district court for the northern district of texas captioned schulze v. hallmark financial services, inc., et al., (case no. 20-cv-01130) on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired hallmark financial services, inc. (“hallmark financial” or the “company”) (nasdaq: hall) securities between march 5, 2019 and march 17, 2020, inclusive (the “class period”). plaintiff pursues claims under sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the securities exchange act of 1934 (the “exchange act”). investors are hereby notified that they have 60 days from the date of this notice to move the court to serve as lead plaintiff in this action. if you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. on march 2, 2020, hallmark financial announced that it had decided to exit from its binding primary commercial auto business and reported a $63.8 million loss development for prior underwriting years. on this news, the company’s share price fell $2.10, or more than 14%, to close at $12.23 per share on march 3, 2020, on unusually heavy trading volume. on march 11, 2020, hallmark financial disclosed that it had dismissed its independent auditor, bdo usa, llp (“bdo”), due to a disagreement regarding estimates for reserves for unpaid losses, among other things. on this news, the company’s share price fell $2.39, or over 29%, to close at $5.71 per share on march 12, 2020, on unusually heavy trading volume. on march 17, 2020, hallmark financial filed with the sec a letter from bdo in which bdo stated “bdo expanded significantly the scope of its audit on january 31, 2020, with respect to which a substantial portion of the requests had not been received and/or tested prior to our termination.” on this news, the company’s share price fell $0.08, or 2.5%, to close at $3.12 per share on march 18, 2020. the complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the class period, defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the company’s business, operations, and prospects. specifically, defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that the company lacked effective internal controls over accounting and financial reporting related to reserves for unpaid losses; (2) that the company improperly accounted for reserve for unpaid losses and loss adjustment expenses related to its binding primary commercial auto business; (3) that, as a result, hallmark financial would be forced to report a $63.8 million loss development for prior underwriting years; (4) that, as a result, hallmark financial would exit from its binding primary commercial auto business; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, defendants’ positive statements about the company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. follow us for updates on linkedin, twitter, or facebook. if you purchased hallmark financial securities during the class period, you may move the court no later than 60 days from the date of this notice to ask the court to appoint you as lead plaintiff. to be a member of the class you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class. if you wish to learn more about this action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact charles h. linehan, esquire, of gpm, 1925 century park east, suite 2100, los angeles, california 90067 at 310-201-9150, toll-free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. if you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. this press release may be considered attorney advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules.
