SEC Files Charges Against Ralph Pirtle and Morando Berrettini for Insider Trading

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced on September 25, 2015 that on September 24, 2015, a jury in federal district court in Chicago, Illinois, returned a verdict finding Ralph J. Pirtle and Morando Berrettini responsible for insider trading in the stocks of three companies: Lifeline Systems, Inc., Invacare, Inc., and Intermagnetics Corporation.

The SEC’s first amended complaint, which was filed in March 2010, alleged that Pirtle, the former Director of Real Estate for a subsidiary of Royal Philips, NV, (“Philips”), tipped his friend and business associate, Morando Berrettini, about Philips’ plans to acquire the three separate companies in late 2005 and early 2006. On each occasion, following the tip, Berrettini purchased shares in the companies. According to the SEC’s complaint, Berrettini made profits of approximately $240,000 on his trades.

The jury found Pirtle and Berrettini liable under Counts I through III of the first amended complaint, which alleged insider trading in the stocks of Lifeline, Invacare and Intermagnetics, respectively, in violation of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Consistent with the Judge’s instructions, the jury did not consider Counts IV through VI against Berrettini, which were pled in the alternative. The Court will decide the issue of remedies at a later time.

For further information about this securities law blog post, please contact Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney at 101 Plaza Real S, Suite 202 N, Boca Raton, Florida, (561) 416-8956, by email at [email protected] or visit  www.securitieslawyer101.com.   This securities law blog post is provided as a general informational service to clients and friends of Hamilton & Associates Law Group and should not be construed as, and does not constitute, legal and compliance advice on any specific matter, nor does this message create an attorney-client relationship. Please note that the prior results discussed herein do not guarantee similar outcomes.

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Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney
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