Stanford Financial Claims 6th Distribution November 4th 2013

Receiver files 6th Schedule of Payments to be Made Pursuant to the Interim Distribution Plan - On November 4, 2013, the Receiver filed his 6th Schedule of distribution payments with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division. The 6th Schedule will be followed by others, each of which will be submitted by the Receiver on a rolling basis as additional responses to Certification Notices are received and processed.

 To view a copy of the 6th Schedule, please click here: 

 http://sivg.org.ag/topic230.html 
 
 For a full and open debate on the Stanford Receivership visit the Stanford International Victims Group - SIVG official forum http://sivg.org.ag/

Receivership Settlement Agreement Approved in Canada

The Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Quebec Superior Court have both approved a settlement agreement by and among the Receiver, the Interim Receiver appointed for Stanford International Bank in Quebec, the Ontario attorney general, and others.

The settlement agreement addresses the disposition of Stanford assets in Canada that had been frozen by the Ontario attorney general. The approval of both the Quebec and Ontario courts was required because both courts had asserted jurisdiction over the Stanford assets in Canada. Pursuant to the Canadian settlement, approximately $18 million will be turned over to the United States Department of Justice by the Ontario attorney general. Pursuant to the separate Settlement Agreement and Cross-Border Protocol, entered into by and among the Receiver, the United States Department of Justice, and others, the United States Department of Justice will then turn the funds over to the Receiver for distribution to the victims of the Stanford fraud. Additional amounts may be returned to the United States for distribution by the Receiver following further proceedings in Ontario. Please click here to view copies of the Canadian orders.

Read More: http://sivg.org.ag/topic194.html

For a full and open debate on the Stanford Receivership visit the Stanford International Victims Group – SIVG official forum http://sivg.org.ag/

Michigan-based Butzel Long law firm seeks assistance with underfunded pension obligations

LANSING, MI — Butzel Long PC has requested that a federal agency salvage its pension plan that’s underfunded by more than $9 million.

The Detroit-based firm says it can no longer afford to pay its pension obligations, which were underfunded by $9.1 million as of October, if it wants to continue paying attorneys competitively.

It asked the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. to take over the retirement plan. The PBGC is a federal government agency but does not use general tax revenues. Sponsors of defined-benefit plans pay insurance premiums to be covered by the agency.

Butzel Long has offices in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills and Lansing. It also has offices in New York and Washington, D.C., along with alliance offices in China and Mexico. It employs about 250 people, including some 135 lawyers.

The firm covers several areas of law and regularly represent clients before the PBGC. It also represents the Michigan Press Association, of which MLive Media Group is a member.

The pension plan has about 460 members. Its market value was nearly $33.4 million in 2011, according to an Internal Revenue Service filing.

Firm President and managing shareholder Justin Klimko said low interest rates, market conditions and longer life expectancies contributed to the plan’s problems.

The firm froze the benefits for all attorneys in 2004 and for other employees in 2007. Since then, there have been no more benefits accrued or new members added to the plan, he said. Employees are now offered a defined-contribution 401(k) plan.

“The size of the future contributions would affect our ability to pay competitive compensation for our people,” Klimko said. “That’s the name of the game in our business.”

Though some companies that apply for relief through the PBGC are facing bankruptcy, Klimko said that’s not the case for Butzel Long.

The PBGC insures about 990 pension plans sponsored by Michigan companies. In 2011 it paid about $384 million to more than 45,000 Michigan retirees in failed plans, according to its website.

Law practice consultant Edward Poll has chided law firms for not meeting their pension obligations.
“You have to know that at some point, you’re obligated to pay that, and if you don’t have the cash set aside to pay that, you’re going to have a problem. To me that’s just mismanagement,” said Poll, owner of Venice, Calif.-based LawBiz Management Co.

Poll said he knows of only a few law firms that have funded pension plans for their attorneys. He said he understands that external factors contribute to underfunding, but said it’s still "irresponsible" to let a plan get to that point.

Most law firms have 401(k) retirement plans. Pensions are more common in government and collective bargaining shops than they are among private employers.

The state of Michigan has been making changes to public employee pensions. Laws impacting long-term state employees and teachers have ended up in court on constitutionality questions.

Automakers also have struggled with pension obligations. Ford Motor Co.’s plan is underfunded by $18.7 billion, The Detroit News reported on Tuesday.

Email Melissa Anders at manders@mlive.com. Follow her on Twitter: 



For a full and open debate on the Stanford Receivership visit:

http://sivg.org.ag/

The Stanford International Victims Group Forum

KLS Update February 2013

Dear Stanford Clients:

This update is in response to the questions and concerns of many of our clients regarding the
Receiver’s proposed interim distribution, as well as several other matters.

The Receiver’s Proposed Distribution

You may have received a notice indicating that you must complete a certification form within six weeks. However, the six week time period does not begin until after the Court approves the Receiver’s request to make an interim distribution. As soon as the Court approves the request, then you will have six weeks to complete the certification form. For many of you, we will be completing these requirements on your behalf. We do not anticipate the Court approving the request for several months. Several objections have been filed in opposition to the distribution, and there may be more objections filed within the next few weeks. These objections were filed by various parties, mostly defendants in lawsuits brought by the Receiver, claiming that they should be included in the distribution. It will take several weeks, if not months, for the Court to resolve these objections. We will keep you updated on this process and notify you as soon as the Court enters a ruling on the proposed distribution plan.

The February 14, 2013 Discovery Hearing in the SEC Class Action

We continue to vigorously prosecute the case against the Government for the SEC’s failure to take enforcement action against the Ponzi scheme. As we mentioned in past updates, the Government filed a second motion to dismiss the Complaint, raising new arguments that it had not previously raised. We filed a strong opposition to the motion, and the issues are now fully briefed and awaiting a ruling from the Court. We have also been moving forward with discovery and we filed a motion to compel the Government to disclose more information. The Government filed a motion seeking a stay on discovery until after the Court rules on the motion to dismiss.


The Court set a hearing on these motions on February 14, and we traveled to Miami, Florida last week to attend and argue at the hearing.

We are happy to report that the Court denied the Government’s motion to stay discovery. The Court ruled that the Government will have to begin responding to discovery in this case and cannot completely obstruct the process by staying discovery altogether. The Court also ruled on our motion to compel discovery by compelling the Government to produce certain preliminary information and requiring the Government to produce a witness to testify at a deposition regarding the allegations of our Complaint. We look forward to taking this deposition and will continue to update you regarding the status of this case.

The Antiguan Claim Process

As our SFA clients know, the Antiguan Liquidator set up a claim process and we submitted claims to the Liquidator on behalf of all of our SFA clients. At the time we submitted those claims, the Liquidator had not yet set up a deadline for submission of the claims. However, now the Liquidator has set a March 31, 2013 deadline. We encourage our non-SFA clients to review the procedure for submitting claims and make sure you submit your claims before the deadline. If any of you want to become SFA clients so that we can complete the process on your behalf, please do not hesitate to contact us. More information about the claims’ process requirements can be found at:

http://www.sibliquidation.com/claims-administration/

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us.

For a full and open debate on the Stanford Receivership visit:

http://sivg.org.ag/ 

The Stanford International Victims Group Forum

US Receiver First Interim Distribution Certification Notice

There is important news for ALL victims regarding the U.S. Receiver First Interim Distribution. Go to the Stanford International Victims Group Forum for further details, discussions and to download the Certification form.

IMPORTANT. Once the Judge has approved the U.S. receivers distribution request the Certification Form must be completed within SIXTY (60) DAYS


The   U.S. Receivers Certification Form can be downloaded here.

http://sivg.org.ag/

KLS has requested that we post the following on the blog for your information

“KLS continues to file administrative claims against the SEC on behalf of Stanford victims in order to have such investors included in the Stanford class action against the SEC. KLS on your behalf will likely face challenges to your inclusion in the class of litigants represented on the basis of the timeliness of your claim. However, KLS believes there are strong arguments to support later filings of such SEC claims. If you have filed a claim with a different attorney and need to file an amended claim or if you have never filed a claim with the SEC, please contact KLS immediately at the following address: info@kachroolegal.com”

Stanford Update re Receiver’s Claims Process and SEC Suit

    KACHROO LEGAL SERVICES, P.C.

Stanford Update re Receiver’s Claims Process and SEC Suit 

Dear Stanford clients:

This update provides information regarding the claims process recently approved by the Court in Dallas, as well as the status of our class action pending against the SEC.

The Stanford Receiver’s Claims Process

On May 4, 2012, the Court in Dallas approved the Receiver’s proposal for a claims process and, on May 11, 2012, the Receiver published the Claim Form that needs to be completed. The deadline to submit your claim is September 1, 2012. For many of you, we have the necessary information and supporting documentation to complete the Claim Form on your behalf. However, if you have any of the following documents and have not previously sent us copies, please do so immediately:

• Personal checks, cashier’s checks, wire transfer advices, Stanford International Bank, Ltd. account statements and other documents showing that you invested funds or paied funds to Stanford;

• Your Stanford International Bank, Ltd. certificate of deposit, and any written contract or agreement made in connection with your investment in Stanford;

• A chronological accounting of all money you received from any Stanford entity;

• All documents and records reflecting any withdrawals ever made by you or payments received by you from Stanford;

• All agreements, promissory notes, purchase orders, invoices, itemized statements of running accounts, contracts, court judgments, mortgages or security agreements relating to your investment in Stanford; and

• Any other documents evidencing the amount and basis of your claim.

If you have not sent us any supporting documentation and you have no supporting documentation, please contact us immediately. We will need to explain to the Receiver why the documentation is unavailable.

Please note that a Claim Form must be completed even if you previously submitted or will be submitting a claim to the Antiguan liquidators. If you are in the Stanford Further Actions (SFA) program, but have decided to submit your own claim, please send it to us so we can check the claim and have a copy of it for our files.

Also note that the submission of a Proof of Claim to the Dallas receivership will submit you to the jurisdiction of the court for all purposes related to the claim. This means that, to the extent there is a dispute regarding your claim,

you may be required to appear in court or provide sworn testimony regarding your claim. You will also be required to sign your Proof of Claim under penalty of perjury. As soon as we complete your Proof of Claim, we will send you a copy to review, sign and send back to us.

If you have any questions regarding your claim, please contact us. If you want KLS to handle your claim, but you have not yet signed up for the SFA program, please contact us for further information on how to sign up.

Update on Stanford/SEC Case

On February 14, 2012, the United States filed a motion to dismiss our Complaint. As we explained in our last update, the United States is arguing that the government is immune from suit based on a statute that exempts it from liability for certain discretionary actions. In our response brief, we argued that we alleged certain statutory violations by the government and the government has no “discretion” to violate statutes. The motion is now fully briefed and we are waiting on a ruling from the judge. There is no timeline for when the judge will rule on the motion, and it may be several more weeks before we receive a ruling. We believe strongly that the Court should rule in our favor, but we are prepared to immediately appeal should the Court grant the motion to dismiss. We will update you as soon as the Court rules on the motion.

The KLS Stanford Team

Grant Thornton Claims Form Update

I have been speaking to a member of the Grant Thornton team regarding the forms we are being asked to fill in. They are VERY AWARE that there are problems and they are working on getting the problems sorted out.

For all of you asking about confirmation of receipt from them, again, they are working on this. To date they have over 300 enquiries so it might help if we give them a little time and space to deal with the problems we have highlighted, and try to avoid sending too many more questions to them until they have sorted the current problems. A lot of the queries are repeats and once they have dealt with the main points it should be a lot easier for us all.

One question that they are being inundated with is "Why do I have to fill in a form when you have all the records?" Here is Marcus Wide's reply to that question.

"As to why - it’s the statute that says creditors must make their claim in writing. This is usual in any insolvency anywhere that has a proper insolvency system including the US, Canada, the UK, Barbados, the whole Eastern Caribbean, NZ, Australia, Switzerland, Guatemala, Bahamas, and so on."

So it is a legal requirement, please do not keep asking this. If it could be done an easier way I am sure GT would have done it by now. Please don't clog up the system with this question.

I will keep you all posted with updates when and where appropriate. Please follow the blog and forum for more information. GT will also post answers to questions via these links to avoid having to answer dozens of enquiries all asking the same question, so if they do not reply to you personally, they will reply through their website, the forum or the blog.

I hope this helps, and again, please be patient, they are working flat out to get this claim system in place.

STANDFORD INTERNATIONAL BANK JOINT LIQUIDATORS ANNOUNCE CLAIMS PROCESS

Claims Process in Place for Fraud Victims

ANTIGUA-January 18, 2012-- The Joint Liquidators of Stanford International Bank released details of their initiation of the formal claims process to set the amount of claims of all creditors of the Bank. The formal claims process is essential to facilitate distribution to the creditors of which over 99.9% are depositor victims. All creditors of Stanford International Bank, Limited (“SIB”) must complete and submit a claim form if they wish to receive any distributions that may be made in the future. This includes those creditors that may have previously registered their claims with the former Joint Liquidators. All details, including copies of the claims form and other relevant information, can be found at www.sibliquidation.com/claims-administration in both English and Spanish.

The Joint Liquidators are moving forward to put in place the formal process for claims administration in the hopes that either SIB's funds presently held in the UK, Canada and Switzerland become available or a sale of the SIB lands in Antigua is concluded. "Today we can't say that either is imminent," said Joint Liquidator Hugh Dickson of Grant Thornton, "but we continue pushing forward on both fronts as hard as we can to make distribution to depositor victims. We do, however, urge all creditors to lodge their claim as quickly as possible to allow for the possibility of an interim distribution.”

Any questions with respect to completing the claims form can be sent to stanford.claims.support@uk.gt.com. Additionally, the Joint Liquidators are in the process of establishing a dedicated phone number that creditors can call with their questions regarding the claims process. The number will be posted to the liquidation website once it is in place.

Statement by Kachroo Legal Services

"Kachroo Legal Services, P.C. wishes to inform Stanford investors that despite slanderous representations it will not file amended claims for any Stanford investors unnecessarily and it is not our intention to do so, nor has it ever been. KLS is attempting to extend an offer to review your claim and if it is found to be lacking to amend it to participate in any potential class action we file. The review would be done free of charge. Note also that unlike the 30 percent contingency of other attorneys, KLS is charging a small up front stipend and only a 15 percent contingency fee upon recovery."


Please contact us IMMEDIATELY to review your claim so that you are included in the class action at wlugo@kachroolegal.com or by calling 617-864-0755.

COVISAL and SVC Amend Specimen Registration Forms

This is an URGENT message for any victims who followed the advice given by COVISAL and SVC to file their own SF-95 claims using the specimen registration forms they provided.

It has come to our attention that COVISAL and SVC have just released amended specimen claim forms correcting errors in their previous release.
This raises serious concerns regarding the wisdom of taking legal advice from people who have no legal background.

Please be aware that if you have tried to complete your own registration and following the guidance provided by COVISAL & SVC, You need to look closely at the amended versions to check for more mistakes.

After waiting for months for these documents (which you were all assured by Covisal and SVC were easy to complete) and now finding out that both originals require amendments - you have to ask yourself if you are willing to take the risk that the amended versions are correct.

For those that are questioning the advice you were originally given and the fact the (long awaited) specimen registration forms are your last chance of registering your interest, perhaps now is the time to ask yourself if it is worth taking the chance of having your form rejected by the SEC?

Remember this is your one and only chance to register your claim against the SEC and you only have 7 days left, for some it is already to late! We would once again advise all victims to make contact with Gaytri Kachroo and make sure the job is done correctly by downloading the contract of engagement and sending it to info@kachroolegal.com.

These mistakes made by people who are not lawyers could cost you all dearly and leave both people who supplied you with incorrect information open to being sued. You need to think carefully about the advice you have received, but more importantly you have to question if the revised information is correct.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Este es un mensaje urgente para que ninguna de las víctimas que siguieron el consejo dado por Covisal y SVC para presentar su propia SF-95 reclamaciones en los formularios de registro que muestra siempre.

Ha llegado a nuestra atención que Covisal y SVC acaban de publicar modificado los formularios de reclamación muestra la corrección de errores en su versión anterior.
Esto plantea serias preocupaciones acerca de la conveniencia de pedir la opinión jurídica de las personas que no tienen formación jurídica.

Tenga en cuenta que si usted ha tratado de completar su propio registro y siguiendo las orientaciones dadas por Covisal y SVC, Usted tiene que mirar de cerca las versiones modificadas para comprobar si hay más errores.

Después de esperar durante meses para estos documentos (que se asegura a todos por Covisal y SVC fueron fáciles para completar) y ahora saber que tanto los originales supone la modificación - que tiene que preguntarse si están dispuestos a asumir el riesgo de que las versiones modificadas son correcta.

Para aquellos que están cuestionando el consejo que le dieron origen y el hecho de las formas (esperado) muestra el registro son su última oportunidad de registrar su interés, tal vez ahora es el momento de preguntarse si vale la pena tomar el riesgo de que su forma rechazada por la SEC?

Recuerde que esta es su primera y única oportunidad de registrar su reclamo en contra de la SEC y que sólo han 7 días a la izquierda , para algunos ya es tarde! Queremos una vez más asesorar a todas las víctimas para hacer contacto con Gaytri Kachroo y asegúrese de que el trabajo se hace correctamente, descargue el contrato de compromiso y de enviarlo a info@kachroolegal.com.

Estos errores cometidos por personas que no son abogados podría costar muy caro a todos y dejar las dos personas que le suministró la información incorrecta abierto a ser demandado. Usted necesita pensar cuidadosamente acerca de los consejos que hemos recibido, pero lo más importante que tenemos que preguntarnos si la información revisada es correcta.

Author: Stanford's Nemesis

LAST CHANCE TO SUBMIT CLAIMS AGAINST THE SEC

This is a reminder that time is running out. If you are going to submit a claim please make sure you do it this week.

I spoke to Dr Kachroo this morning and she asked me to remind everyone who is going to sign with KLS, and all of you who who have requested a copy of their engagement letter, to please make sure you sign and return it THIS WEEK together with the amount of your claim, and a copy of your statement, to ensure there is time to process all of your claims before the deadline.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Este es un recordatorio de que el tiempo se acaba. Si usted va a presentar una reclamación por favor asegúrese de hacerlo de esta semana.

Hablé con el Dr. Kachroo esta mañana y me pidió que recordar a todo el que va a firmar con KLS, y todos los que que han solicitado una copia de su carta de compromiso, que por favor asegúrese de firmar y regresar esta semana junto con el monto de su reclamo, y una copia de su declaración, asegurarse de que existe tiempo para procesar todas sus reclamaciones antes de la fecha límite.

Richard Watson
31st January 2011

QUESTIONABLE ADVICE FROM THE STANFORD VICTIMS COALITION - ADVISING INVESTORS TO SELF-FILE FTCA CLAIMS ?

There has been correspondence from certain individuals, in particular Angela Kogutt, Founder and Director of the Stanford Victims Coalition, suggesting that FTCA claims are straightforward and that the forms are easy to fill-out. She has even suggested using hers as a template for other investors, presuming that ‘what caused her damages also caused theirs.’ This is a precarious presumption, and may not be such smart advice for those investors who have not fully researched FTCA claims.

Before using Mrs Kogutt’s SF-95 as a template for your claim, you may consider asking yourself some questions: Is the nature of your losses the same as hers? For instance, have you had other losses such as medical expenses? Have you lost your home or other properties as a result of losing your investment? May you be facing either of those possibilities in the future? Are you comfortable accepting her explanation as to why the SEC is responsible for your loss? If your copy of her claim should be rejected by the SEC as invalid, could you accept this? Would you be so upset that you consider her liable for influencing you to copy her claim? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then perhaps you should consult with your attorney or an experienced attorney who is both qualified and indemnified to give such advice.

As an aside, it is interesting to see that the Stanford Victims Coalition still somewhat disingenuously claim to be ‘an International Advocacy Group representing the best interests of 28,000 Stanford victims in 118 countries.’ Rather inappropriate after the SVC unilaterally abandoned all their overseas supporters to their fate, within days of Angela Kogutt being appointed to the Stanford Investors Committee last year. It is also interesting to note that it is now seemingly acceptable for SVC to state they ‘do not recommend’ any specific attorney, when in the past, as we all know, they endorsed an attorney who is now unwilling to litigate this case. With a new, experienced, and very highly qualified attorney willing to go the distance for us, one would think the SVC may be a little more proactive than to suggest that we file our own claims, simply because the attorney is not to their liking!

Enough of the SVC. So what can ‘self-filers’ expect to happen with their claims? If their administrative claims are properly constructed, then they may be able to get them filed with the SEC without paying any initial attorney fees; but if an award is ultimately made by the court; be aware, the judge may well award up to 25% to the ‘lead attorney’ as contingency fees. The ‘self-filers’ who do not have a contract for a 15% contingency fee, such as that negotiated by the Stanford International Victims Group with Kachroo Legal Services, may find they pay more in the end. If their claims have not already been rejected as ineligible that is; and remember, there are other attorneys out there who have retained many Stanford investors, some at whopping 32% contingency fees, who may also be considering a shot at the ‘lead attorney’ role.

Please bear in mind there is also the distinct possibility that individual investors who ‘self-file’ could be excluded from any future class action, even if they manage to successfully file their own claims, simply because their explanation why the SEC is responsible differs significantly from the explanation given by the rest of the class. In that case, they may have to argue their claim in court, on their own, and at their own expense.

Then there are the plethora of precedents, case-law, and other legal obstacles to be overcome in a trial, and remember there is also a correct and timely submission process just to be eligible, the details of which have been highlighted in previous posts. This is not for the faint hearted.
The deadline for claims is fast approaching. Unless claims are submitted correctly and timely before the two year Statute of Limitations expires next month on the 16th February 2011, Stanford investors will be denied any recovery from the US government, forever.

Please consult an attorney to submit your claim. Ensure that the attorney you hire is also willing to litigate your claim, should it be rejected or otherwise be ineligible, and choose one who already has experience of submitting FTCA claims.

Please contact your attorney without delay, or the attorney hired by the Stanford International Victims Group: Kachroo Legal Services, Cambridge, Mass., who already have extensive experience of submitting FTCA claims on behalf of the Madoff investors. Email: info@kachroolegal.com

Allen Stanford, former sole shareholder of the Stanford International Bank, a part of the Stanford Financial Group, now in receivership, is currently being detained awaiting trial in Houston, Texas, charged with 23 counts of fraud. The mastermind of an $8bn Ponzi scheme which caused 28,000 investors worldwide the loss of their life savings, many of whom could have been spared if the US Securities and Exchange Commission had acted when they first became aware Allen Stanford’s activities were likely a Ponzi scheme, 13 years ago.

Source: David Brent (Stanford International Victims Group)

ARE CERTAIN ADVISORS OF STANFORD BANK VICTIMS LINING THEIR OWN POCKETS?

Over the weekend one of the self-appointed and so called ‘leaders’ of a group of Stanford victims issued yet another request for ‘donations’ from the victims. It is regrettable there will always be those who prey on the weak and needy, continually asking for money from victims who have already given all they can afford to give, and for what? What exactly have these individuals achieved with all the donations they have received over the last two years? What have all the donations been spent on, and why do some individuals continue to keep asking for more, when they can show nothing constructive for all the money they have collected?

The Stanford International Victims Group does not condone requests for donations by any of these individuals. Please discard any correspondence you receive from them asking for money.

The team behind this campaign has worked tirelessly, and without any need to request donations from any of the victims, and have done so for the benefit of all the Stanford investors.

The deadline for FTCA claims against the US Securities and Exchange Commission is approaching fast. This is a real possibility for full recovery of losses sustained by all the Stanford investors, irrespective of nationality or place of abode. All valid claims must be submitted correctly and timely before the 16th February 2011 deadline when the Statute of Limitations expires.

Please consult an attorney to submit your claims. Although the forms look straightforward enough, there is a plethora of case-law awaiting the unwary. Please ensure that the attorney you engage is willing to take your claim forward, should it be rejected or otherwise ineligible, and has experience of submitting FTCA claims.

Please contact your attorney without delay, or the attorney hired by the Stanford International investors Group: Kachroo Legal Services, Cambridge, Mass., who already have extensive experience of submitting FTCA claims for the Madoff investors. Email:info@kachroolegal.com

STANFORD BANK FTCA CLAIM CAMPAIGN FACES INTERNET ATTACKS

In the last few weeks since we commenced this campaign to raise awareness amongst Stanford investors that they have a real possibility of full recovery of their losses by submitting administrative claims against under the FTCA against the US government Securities and Exchange Commission, we have experienced an unprecedented level of anonymous internet attacks; against this blog; some of the team who have worked tirelessly and without remuneration to pull this together; and against the attorney we have hired; including the leaking of private correspondence with officials in positions of authority.

It is clear there are certain individuals, groups, assemblies, and agencies that have a vested interest in trying to derail this campaign, but despite this we remain undeterred.

For any Stanford investors who are not yet aware of this option for full recovery of their losses; under the Federal Tort Claims Act, investors who suffered losses in the failed Stanford International Bank, a part of the Stanford Financial Group, can lodge administrative claims against the Securities and Exchange Commission for their negligence in failing to act sooner, despite knowing for 13 years Allen Stanford was likely a fraud. Allen Stanford is currently in detention in Houston awaiting trial on 23 counts of fraud.

The deadline for claims to be submitted is approaching fast. Unless all claims are submitted correctly and timely before the Statute of Limitations expires on February 16th 2011, Stanford investors will be barred from any recovery against the US government, forever.

Time is of the essence. Please contact your attorney without delay, or the attorney hired by the Stanford international investors: Kachroo Legal Services of Cambridge, Mass. who are experienced in submitting FTCA claims, having already done so for many Madoff investors. Email: info @kachroolegal.com

Attorney inundated with claims from Stanford Investors

A few days ago Dr Gaytri Kachroo, principal of Kachroo Legal Services, stated that she has been inundated with interest, inquiries and solicitations from Stanford investors to file administrative claims against the SEC before the deadline of February 16th 2011, after which investors will be prevented from reclaiming their losses under the FTCA by the Statute of Limitations.

This is a means of recovery open to all the Stanford investors irrespective of where they live, or where they deposited funds into the failed Stanford Financial Group.
For anyone who has not yet registered, please contact Kachroo Legal Services now before it is too late. Email: info@kachroolegal.com

STANFORD INVESTORS MUST FILE SEC ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS TO PRESERVE RIGHTS

The clock is ticking on the statute of limitations, and unless all investors so interested file claims with the SEC before February 16th 2011, we will be barred from taking any action against the agency; forever.

Of the three class-actions against the SEC on behalf of the Madoff victims, we believe this has the best chance of succeeding. Dr. Kachroo has agreed to represent us and pursue this matter on behalf of all Stanford victims.

The suit is for the benefit of all the victims who sign-up, whether domestic (US) or International, and we shall all have equal status.

A Copy of Kachroo Legal Services, P.C. letter of engagement is available on this blog.


1. As this is an action against the US Government, it cannot be a class-action in the normal sense. Only the investors who have joined-in and filed a claim with the SEC under the Federal Tort Claims Act can be included. No other victims will be able to join-in later.

2. After the statute of limitations expires (which we believe will be on February 16th 2011), unless investors have already registered and their claims have been submitted, they will be barred from suing the US Government and the SEC should they decide to do so.

3. Kachroo Legal Services, P.C. must prepare a separate claim for each investor account into Stanford in advance of filing any action on our behalf. This will obviously take some time, and clearly time is of the essence. We should each decide whether to sign-up sooner rather than later.


You can find more information here or in the forum http://svg.creatuforo.com/

You can also contact the law firm directly in the website of Kachroo Legal Services (Email: info@kachroolegal.com)

Kachroo Legal Services - Statement To The Stanford Investors

Investors defrauded by the Stanford Ponzi Scheme

We recommend that all Stanford investors file a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) administrative claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) through Kachroo Legal Services, P.C. (KLS) as soon as possible and no later than February 16, 2011. Due to the statute of limitations KLS will prepare to file the class action suit within six (6) months after that date. It is recommended that investors submit their information to KLS well before this deadline to ensure their claims are timely processed. KLS will file a class action lawsuit against the SEC (similar to a normal class action but in this instance only for those investors for whom KLS has filed an SEC administrative claim). Only those clients who have filed an SEC administrative claim under the FTCA will be represented in the KLS class action. All investors would be represented by our class action, both domestic U.S. investors and international investors around the world affected by the SEC’s actions and omissions.
We anticipate filing thousands of claims (as there are over 20,000 investors into the Stanford Ponzi Scheme), so to ensure your claim is handled promptly, you should file as soon as possible.
We will help you by processing and filing your FTCA claim with the SEC. In addition, KLS will file a lawsuit against the SEC on behalf of everyone who has filed FTCA claims by the deadline.
All investors must sign the KLS engagement letter attached herewith in English or in Spanish. The cost for both the SEC administrative claim work and the lawsuit will be as follows per investor:
For investors who have invested less than $100,000 USD total through all their accounts - $500;
For investors who have invested between $100,000 USD and $1million USD - $1000;
For investors who have invested more than $1million USD through all their accounts - $1500.
This will be the only cost per investor for all such legal services other than a contingency fee of $15% of the recovery obtained by KLS as well as reasonable costs and expenses of the litigation.

Why Choose KLS?
1. Dr. Kachroo, Principal of KLS, is also Vice-Chairman of the Global Alliance, a civil society whose members hip consists of 5000 attorneys from around the world.

2. KLS has experience working closely with the SEC and their offices. We are currently in discussions with the SEC to establish the Madoff Task Force and develop an alternative dispute resolution mechanism to settle cases against implicated financial institutions.


3. As a part of the Markopolos team, Dr. Kachroo represented the whistleblower that first discovered the Madoff fraud and exposed the SEC. From this experience, she has gained better insight into the possible legal recourses for Madoff victims. Due to our involvement in the various SEC investigations into ponzi schemes including the Stanford Ponzi Scheme, we have first-hand knowledge of the SEC’s involvement and the OIG’s report to succeed in a potential litigation.

4. With our track record of helping Madoff victims and our wealth of experience in this matter, we are confident that our litigation strategy under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) has the highest likelihood of obtaining a recovery from the U.S. Government.


5. So far neither plaintiffs nor attorneys for plaintiffs have obtained specific information that supports more than the negligence of the SEC in its investigation. KLS believes it is critical to a successful action against the SEC that further information, which it is optimally positioned to obtain, and which it is currently researching is unveiled as to the conduct of SEC investigations in this case.

6. Confidentiality. The class action will provide some level of anonymity in any action we take. We will attempt to limit discovery to the named plaintiffs only.
Benefits of KLS Proposal
Joining the class action through the SEC administrative claim is a low cost and highly efficient method of litigating to recover your losses.
The more investors that join through this process, the greater the pressure exerted on the SEC to reach an equitable settlement.
You will receive regular updates of our progress and on other related legal actions.
KLS Update on Current Situation in US Courts
There are two cases currently pending that involve Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) claims against the SEC for its handling of the Madoff Ponzi scheme. The first was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on October 14, 2009. See Phyllis Molchatsky, et al. v. United States, case no. 1:09-cv-08697 (LTS). Briefing on the Motion to Dismiss for lack of jurisdiction was completed on June 11, 2010.[1]
The second case was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on December 10, 2009. See Dichter-Mad Family Partners, LLP, et al. v. United States of America, et al., case no. 09-9061. On April 20, 2010, the Court granted Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss for lack of jurisdiction, but provided that “Plaintiffs may file an amended complaint containing new allegations that are reasonably aimed at satisfying Plaintiffs burden as described in this Order.”
These second plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint on May 17, 2010 (re-filed on May 20, 2010) on the basis of a submission of ‘a document that contains or identifies the mandatory duties that SEC employees failed to follow in their investigations and failures to investigate Madoff’. These plaintiffs were specifically ‘informed by an SEC employee that this document contains mandatory conduct guidelines, duties and policies for SEC employees and it is entitled “The SEC Policies, Procedures and Administrative Regulations.”
In addition with regard to class issues: In June 2009, the District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana issued an opinion in the Katrina Canal Breaches Consolidated Litigation allowing plaintiffs’ claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act (“FTCA”) to proceed as a class action. The court held that “a class action can be alleged under the FTCA as long as the administrative claim requirements are fulfilled.” In re Katrina Canal Breaches Consolidated Litigation, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 48837, 265 (E.D.La.). Thus, we would be able to proceed as class action (subject to certification) for all investors who timely file their claims against the Securities Exchange Commission (“SEC”) within the two year period, i.e., by February 16, 2011.
The FTCA provides that the government entity against whom the claim is made (here, the SEC) has six months to respond to the administrative claim. The claimant’s right to sue in court vests once the claimant receives the SEC’s denial of the administrative claim, or six months after the administrative claim is filed, if the SEC fails to respond. Thus, we would define the class to include those investors who (i) file a claim within the two year period and (ii) either receive a denial from the SEC or do not receive a response from the SEC within the six month period.

Concluding Thoughts
The time window for you to join this lawsuit is limited due to the statute of limitations. We are offering a cost effective and efficient method for you to file your claim so that you will benefit from any positive settlement.
We urge all of you to notify other investors to get in touch with us without delay so that we may get all claims in by February 16, 2011.
We shall advance all expenses including but not limited to any expenses incurred by you related to depositions or any other legal proceedings we advise you to attend, including travel expenses.
The sole contingent fee upon which we shall be compensated from the Recovery shall be in the amount awarded by settlement or a judgment of a Court of law. We are seeking a contingency of 15% of the recovery plus reasonable expenses.

Please contact KLS at info@kachroolegal.com or by phone at:
Dr. G. Kachroo : +1 617-864-0755
for further information about KLS, please go to www.kachroolegal.com