Allan Candelore, et al. v. Force Protection, Inc., et al. 08-CV-00845 ...securities.stanford.edu/filings-documents/1039/FRPT_01/2008610_f0… · 2:08-cv-00845-CWH Date Filed 04/30/2008

A 2:08-cv-00845-CWH Date Filed 04130/2008 Entry Number 6-2 Page 1 of 15

n P 2 3IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA

CHARLESTON DIVISION

ALLAN CANDELORE, Individually and On

Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated,

Plaintiff,

V,

FORCE PROTECTION, INC., FRANKKAVANAUGH, GORDON R. McGILTON,MICHAEL MOODY, MICHAEL S. DURSKI,and RAYMOND W. POLLARD,

Defendants.

ALEX YOUNG, Individually and OnBehalf of All Others Similarly Situated,

Plaintiff,

V.

FORCE PROTECTION, INC., FRANKKAVANAUGH, GORDON R, McGILTON,MICHAEL MOODY, MICHAEL S. DURSKI,and RAYMOND W. POLLARD,

Defendants.

CIVIL ACTIONNO. 2:08-CV-845-CWH

CIVIL ACTIONNO.2:08-CV-928-CWH

CONSENT CONSOLIDATION AND SCHEDULING ORDER

(captions continue next page)

2:08-cv-00845-CWH Date Filed 04/30/2008 Entry Number 6-2 Page 2 of 15

PATRICK J. DESKIN, Individually and On


Plaintiff,

V. CIVIL ACTION

NO. 2:08-CV-968-CWH

FORCE PROTECTION, INC., FRANK

KAVANAUGH, GORDON R. McGILTON,

MICHAEL MOODY, MICHAEL S. DURSKI,

and RAYMOND W. POLLARD,

Defendants.

SUSAN A. IIOFFMAN, Individually and OnBehalf of All Others Similarly Situated,

Plaintiff,

V. CIVIL ACTIONNO. 2:08-CV-975-CWH


Defendants.




EMANUEL YARMISH, Individually and On


Plaintiff,

V. CIVIL ACTIONNO. 2:08-CV-]030-CWH

FORCE PROTECTION, INC., FRANKKAVANAUGH, GORDON R. McGILTON,

MICHAEL MOODY, MICHAEL S. DURSKI,


Defendants.

JEFFREY NORMAN, Individually and OnBehalf ofA I I Others Similarly Situated,

Plaintiff,



Defendants.



2:08-ev-00845-CWH Date Filed 04/30/2008 Entry Number 6-2 Page 4 of 15

ELLIOT GREENBERG , Individually and On


Plaintiff,


FORCE PROTECTION, INC., FRANKKAVANAUGH, GORDON R. McGILTON,MICHAEL MOODY, MICHAEL S. DURSKI,


Defendants.

NICOLA SAULLE, Individually and OnBehalf ofAll Others Similar l y Situated,

Plaintiff,

V. CIVIL ACTIONNO. 2:08 -CV-1546-CWH


Defendants.



• 2:08-cv-00845-CWH Date Filed 04/30/2008 Entry Number 8-2 Page 5 of 15

STEVEN J. MACKIE, Individually and On


Plaintiff,

V.

FORCE PROTECTION, INC., GORDON

R. McGILTON, and MICHAEL S. DURSKI,

Defendants.

SHANNON W. COPE and BONNIEHETTINGER, Individually and OnBehalf of All Others Similarly Situated,

Plaintiffs,

V.

FORCE PROTECTION, INC., FRANKKAVANAUGH, GORDON R. McG I LTCN,MICHAEL MOODY, MICHAEL S. DURSKI,and RAYMOND W. POLLARD,

Defendants.

CIVIL ACTION

NO. 2:08-CV-1586-CWH

CIVIL ACTIONNO.2:08-CV-I 642-CWH


WHEREAS, the ten above-captioned cases are all putative securities class actions

brought by shareholders of Force Protection, Inc. ("Force Protection") against the same set of

Defendants, alleging nearly identical "class periods" during which Defendants allegedly made

false or misleading public statements and/or omissions concerning Force Protection's business,

internal controls, and financial results;

1j__ I

I 2:08-cv-00845-CWH Date Filed 04/30/2008 Entry Number 6-2 Page 6 of 15

WHEREAS, each of the complaints alleges that Defendants' actions violated Section

10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78j(b), Rule 10(b)(5) promulgated

thereunder , 17 C.F.A. § 240.10(b)(5), and/or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, 15 U.S.C.

§ 78t(a);

WHEREAS, the ten actions involve common questions of law and fact including , but not

limited to, the following: (i) whether the 1934 Act was violated by defendants; (ii) whether the

press releases and public filings identified in the complaints contained false statements of

material fact or omitted material facts making the statements misleading; (iii) whether

Defendants, or any of them, are legally responsible for the statements about which Plaintiffs

complain; (iv) whether any false or misleading statements were made by Defendants with

scienter; (iv) whether Plaintiffs relied to their detriment on any false or misleading statements;

(v) whether the price of Force Protection common stock was artificially inflated; (vi)whether any

false or misleading statements caused Plaintiffs alleged economic loss; (vii) whether any of the

complaints in the Actions pleads Plaintiffs' claims with the particularity required by Rule 9(b) of

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

("Reform Act"); (viii) whether certification of a class is appropriate pursuant to Fed. R. Cis. P.

23; and (ix) the extent of any damages sustained by putative class member and the appropriate

measure of damages.

WHEREAS, Plaintiffs in the individual actions and Defendants agree that the actions

should be consolidated for all purposes pursuant to Rule 42(a);

WHEREAS, the parties further agree to the establishment of a schedule for these cases in

recognition of the fact that the Court will need to appoint a lead plaintiff and lead plaintiff's

U.-


Counsel pursuant to § 21D(a)(3)(B) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which provides,

among other things, for the appointment of lead plaintiff( s) not later than 90 days after the initial

publication of the notice advising members of the purported plaintiff class of the pendency of the

action and the purported class period (such initial publication of notice having been made in

these matters on March 10, 2008);

WHEREAS, the establishment of a schedule for the filing of certain pleadings, pretrial

motions, and related matters will promote the efficient conduct of this litigation;

WHEREAS, the time for Defendants to answer or otherwise respond to the complaints

filed in the above-captioned actions has not yet passed; and

WHEREAS, the parties have agreed to the terms of this Consent Consolidation and

Scheduling Order as evidenced by the signatures of their counsel below,

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED as follows:

1. The Clerk shall maintain a master file under the caption "In re Force Protection,

Inc. Securities Litigation ," Consolidated Civil Action No. 2:08-cv-845-CWI-I (the "Consolidated.

Action"). Any and all other cases that have been or are in the future filed against any of the

Defendants arising out of the same nucleus of operative facts as those alleged in the above-styled

action, including any cases transferred to this District from another United States District Court,

shall, until further Order of this Court, be consolidated for all purposes pursuant to Rule 42(a) of

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure into the "Consolidated Action," and this Order shall apply

thereto. The Clerk is directed to inform counsel in any such other case of this Order. Nothing in

the foregoing shall be construed as a waiver of the parties' right to object to the consolidation of

any subsequently-filed or transferred related action.


2. All pleadings or papers hereafter filed with the Court in the Consolidated Action

shall bear the following caption:

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA

CHARLESTON DIVISION

IN RE FORCE PROTECTION, INC.

SECURITIES LITIGATION

Consolidated Civil

Action No. 2:08-cv-845-CWH

3. Consistent with 15 U.S.C. § 78u-4(a)(3)(B)(v) of the PSLRA, the Court's order

appointing lead plaintiff(s) will include a statement of the Court's approval of counsel selected

by the lead plaintiff(s) to represent the putative class.

4. No later than 45 days after the entry of the Order appointing the lead plaintiff(s),

Plaintiffs shall serve a Consolidated Complaint. The Consolidated Complaint shall serve as the

operative complaint in the Consolidated Action and shall supersede any other complaints filed in

and/or transferred to this Court as part of In re Force Protection, Inc. Securities Litigation ,

Consolidated Civil Action No. 2:08-cv-845-CWH.

5. The terms of this Order shall not have the effect of making any person , firm, or

corporation a party to any action in which he, she, or it has not been named, served, or added as

such in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and other relevant authority.

6. Waiving only the defenses of insufficiency of process and insufficiency of service

of process , the undersigned counsel , on behalf of each named Defendant , acknowledge service of

the complaint in each of the above-captioned actions. Defendants are hereby expressly relieved


from answering or otherwise responding to these individual complaints or any complaint filed in

any subsequent civil action that is consolidated and/or transferred to this Court as part of In re

Force Protection , Inc. Securities Litigation , Consolidated Civil Action No. 2:08-cv-845-CWH.

Defendants shall answer , move against , or otherwise respond to the Consolidated Complaint

within 45 days of its service upon Defendants' counsel.

7. If any Defendant(s) move to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint, then the

requirements of Local Rules 16.01 and 16.02 shall be suspended pending a ruling on the motion

to dismiss and following deadlines shall apply:

a) Plaintiffs shall have 45 days from the date the motion is served to serve a

response to that motion. The moving Defendant(s) shall have 30 days from the date Plaintiffs

serve their response to serve a reply brief, if any, in further support of the moving Defendant(s)'

respective motion(s);

b) Unless otherwise ordered, if the Defendants' motion to dismiss is denied,

(1) Defendants shall have 30 days following entry of the order denying

the motion(s) to dismiss within which to file an Answer(s) to the Consolidated Complaint; and

(2) Defendants and the appointed Lead Plaintiff, through their respective

counsel, will confer and attempt to agree on a proposed schedule to be submitted to the Court for

approval setting forth the dates by which the parties shall:

(a) meet and confer as required under Fed. R. Civ. P. 26(t) and

file the report required by Rule 26(t) and Local Rule 26.03;

(b) make the initial disclosures required by Rule 26(a)(1); and


(c) submit a proposed scheduling order (or orders) setting

deadlines for the events specified in Local Rule 16 02.

8. Nothing in this Order shall be construed as precluding or limiting Defendants'

rights under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23 to oppose class certification on any and all

grounds.

SO ORDERED, this/6 ay o , 2008.

The Honorable C, We on HouckJudge, United States District Court

[Counsel Signatures Continued on Next Page]

LO

2:08-cv-00845-CW H

Dated : April 30, 2008Consented to:

Date Filed 04/30/2008

sl Eleni M. Roumel

Eleni M . Roumel

Federal Bar No. 9959

NELSON MULLINS RILEY &SCARBOROUGH LLP151 Meeting StreetCharleston . SC 29401843.534.4112 (Telephone)

843.534 . 4223 (Facsimile)eleni.roumel a,nelsonmullins.com

Of Counsel:

KING & SPALDING LLP

M. Robert ThorntonMichael R. Smith

David E. MeadowsBenjamin Lee1180 Peachtree Street N.E.

Atlanta, Georgia 30309404.572.4600 (Telephone)

404.572.5100 (Facsimile)bth orntonnrks law. [email protected]^[email protected]

Attorneysfor DefendantsForce Protection , Inc., Frank Kavanaugh,Gordon R. McGilton, Michael Moody,Michael S. Durski, and Raymond W. Pollard

Entry Number 6-2 Page 11 of 15

s/ William E. Hopkins, Jr.

William F. Hopkins, Jr.

Federal Bar No. 6075HOPKINS & CAMPBELL, LLP

1122 Lady Street, Suite 1010Columbia, SC 29201803.256.6152 (Telephone)803.256.6155 (Facsimile)wehopkinsAhopkinscampbel1. corn

COUGHLIN STOLA GELLER RUDMAN& ROBBINS LLPDarren J. RobbinsDavid C. WaltonCatherine J. Kowalewski655 West Broadway, Suite 1900San Diego, CA 92101619.231.1058 (Telephone)619.231.7423 (Facsimile)

JOHNSON BOTTINI, LLPFrank J . JohnsonFrancis A. Bottini, Jr.Brett M . Weaver655 West Broadway , suite 1400San Diego, CA 92101619.230 .0063 (Telephone)619.233.5535 (Facsimile)

Acdorneyfor PlaintiffAllan Candelore

2:08-cv-00845-CWH Date Filed 04/30/2008 . Entry Number 6-2

sl Steven W. Hamm

Steven W. Hamm

Federal Bar No. 1692C. Jo Anne Wessinger HillFederal Bar No. 7198RICHARDSON PLOWDEN & ROBINSON, P.AP.O. Drawer 7788(1900 Barnwell Street 29201)Columbia, SC 29202803.771 . 4400 (Telephone)

803.779 . 0016 (Facsimile)shamm&.richandsoup lowden. com

ih i l l (a, ri chardsonp lowden. com

Attorneys for PlaintaffAlex Young

sl A. Camden Lewis

A. Camden LewisFederal Bar No. 2669W. Jonathan HarlingFederal Bar No. 9291LEWIS & BABCOCK1513 Hampton StreetColumbia, SC 29201803.771.8000 (Telephone)803.733.3534 (Facsimile)[email protected] [email protected] isbabcock. cam

STRAUSS & TROYRichard S. WayneThomas P. GlassJoseph J. Braun

Lori A. RossThe Federal Reserve Building150 East Fourth StreetCincinnati , OH 45202-4018513.621.2120 (Telephone)513.629.9426 (Facsimile)

A&0-

Attorneys for Plaintiff Patrick J Deskin

Page 12 of 15

sl William E. Hopkins, Jr.

William E. Hopkins, Jr.Federal Bar No. 6075HOPKfNS & CAMPBELL, LLP1122 Lady Street, Suite 1010

Columbia, SC 29201803.256 . 6152 (Telephone)

803.256 .6155 (Facsimile)wehopk ins(a^hopkinscam phe l l . com

Deborah R. GrossLaw Offices of Bernard M. Gross. PC100 Penn Square East, Suite 450Juniper and Market StreetsPhiladelphia, PA 19107

215.561.3600 (Telephone)215.561.3000 (Facsimile)

Attorneysfor PlaintiffSusan A. Hoffman

U'^.

2:08-cv-30845-CWH Date Filed 04130/2008

s1 Brian C. DuffyBrian C. Duffy


J. Rutledge Young, 11I


DUFFY & YOUNG, LLC

96 Broad StreetCharleston, SC 29401

843.720 . 2044 (Telephone)

843.720.2047 (Facsimile)bduffy^7a duffyandyoun g .com

ryoun u,duffyandyoung.com

POMERANTZ HAUDEK BLOCK

GROSSMAN & GROSS LLPMarc I. GrossJeremy A. Lieberman100 Park AvenueNew York, NY 10017

212.661. 1100 (Telephone)

212.661. 8665 (Facsimile)

POMERANTZ HAUDEK BLOCKGROSSMAN & GROSS LLPPatrick V. DahlstromOne North LaSalle Street , Suite 2225Chicago, IL 60602-3908

BRONSTEIN GERWITZ & GROSSMANPeretz Bronstein

60 East 42n d StreetSuite 4600New York, NY 10165-0006212.697.6484 (Telephone)212.661.7296 (Facsimile)

Attorneysfor PlaintiffEmanueI Yarmish


s1 Brian C. DuffyBrian C. Duffy

Federal Bar No. 9491J. Rutledge Young, III

Federal Bar No. 7260DUFFY & YOUNG, LLC

96 Broad StreetCharleston, SC 29401843.720.2044 (Telephone)

843.720.2047 (Facsimile)

bduffy(@duffyandyoungcomryoung(du ffyandyoung. com

BERGER & MONTAGUE, P.C.Sherrie R. SavettFederal Bar No. 17646Russell D. PaulFederal Bar No. 712201622 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19103215.875.3000 (Telephone)215.875.4604 (Facsimile)

Attorneysfor PlaintiffJeffrey Norman

2:08-cv-00845-CWH Date Filed 04/30/2008

s1 Michael S. ScardatoMcNAIR LAW FIRM, P.A.

Michael S. Scardato


100 Calhoun Street

Suite 400Charleston, SC 29401


BERMAN, DEVALERTO, PEASE,TABACCO, BURT & PUCILLO

Jeffrey C. BlockLeslie SternNathaniel Orenstein

One Liberty SquareBoston , MA 02109617.542.8300 (Telephone)

617.542. 1194 (Facsimile)

Of Counsel:

LEVI & KORSINSKYEduard Korsinsky

39 Broadway

Suite 1601New York, NY 10006


Attorneys for Plaintiff'Steven J. Mackie


sl S. Randall Hood

S. Randall Hood

Federal Bar No. 6103McGOWAN, HOOD & FELDER, LLC

1539 Health Care DriveRock Hill, SC 29732803.327.7800 (Telephone)

803.328.5656 (Facsimile)

[email protected]

CHITWOOD HARLEY HARNES LLPMartin D. ChitwoodMichael R. Peacock2300 Promenade II1230 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Atlanta, GA 30309404.873.3900 (Telephone)

404.876 .4476 (Facsimile)

LAW OFFICE OF ALFRED G. YATES,JR., PCAlfred G. Yates, Jr.Gerald L. Rutledge519 Allegheny Building429 Forbes AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15219412.391.5164 (Telephone)412.471.1033 (Facsimile)

Attorneysfop PlaintiffNicola Saulle

2:08-cv-00845-CWH Date Filed 04/30/2008

s/ J. Preston Strom, Jr,

J. Preston Strom, Jr.Federal Bar No. 4354

Mario A. PatellaFederal Bar No. 7538STROM LAW FIRM, L.L.C.2110 N. Beltine Blvd., Suite AColumbia, SC 29204-3999


petestrom@strom law.com

mpacel1aC2 strom1aw.com

Of Counsel:

Joe R. Whatley, Jr.Adam P. PlantWHATLEY DRAKE & KALLAS, LLC2001 Park Place North, Suite 1000Birmingham , AL 35203205.328.9576 (Telephone)205.328.9669 (Facsimile)

[email protected]

Herman "Buck" Watson, Jr.Rebekah Keith McKinneyWATSON, JIMMERSON, MARTIN,McKINNEY, GRAFFEO & HELMS, PC203 Greene StreetHuntsville, AL 35804

256.536.7423 (Telephone)256.536.2689 (Facsimile)watsona,watsonj immerson. commckinney&watsoni immerson.com

Attorneys for Plaintiffs Shannon W. Cope and

Bonnie Hettinger


s/ William E. Hopkins, Jr.William E. Hopkins, Jr.Federal Bar No. 6075

HOPKINS & CAMPBELL, LLP

1122 Lady Street, Suite 1010Columbia, SC 29201

803.256.6152 (Telephone)803.256.6155 (Facsimile)wehopkinsc^,hopkinscampbe]l.com

LAW OFFICES OF CURTIS V. TRINKO,LLPCurtis V. Trinko

16 West 46th Street, 7`h FloorNew York, NY 29201212.490.9550 (Telephone)212.986.0158 (Facsimile)ctrinkou,trinko.com

Attorneysfor Plaintiff Elliot Greenberg


CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that on April 30, 2008, I forwarded copies of the attached Motion for

Entry of Consent Consolidation and Scheduling Order and proposed Order by ECF and/or

U.S. Mail to the following attorneys of record:

William E . Hopkins, Jr.

HOPKINS & CAMPBELL, LLP

1122 Lady Street , Suite 1010

Columbia, SC 29201

Steven W. HammC. Jo Anne Wessinger HillRICHARDSON PLOWDEN & ROBINSON,P.A.

P.O. Drawer 7788

(1900 Barnwell Street 29201)Columbia, SC 29201

Brian C. DuffyJ. Rutledge Young, IIIDUFFY & YOUNG, LLC

96 Broad StreetCharleston , SC 29401

Marc 1. Gross

Jeremy A. LiebermanPOMERANTZ HAUDEK BLOCK GROSSMAN

& GROSS LLP100 Park AvenueNew York, NY 10017

Frank J. JohnsonFrancis A. Bottini, Jr.

Brett M. Weaver

JOHNSON BOTTINI, LLP

655 West Broadway, suite 1400San Diego, CA 92101

Cep -

Peretz BronsteinBRONSTEIN GERWITZ & GROSSMAN60 East 42`' Street, Suite 4600

New York, NY 10165-0006

A. Camden Lewis

W. Jonathan Harting

LEWIS & BABCOCK

1513 Hampton StreetColumbia, SC 29201

Deborah R. Gross

LAW OFFICES OF BERNARD M. GROSS, PC100 Penn Square East, Suite 450Juniper and Market StreetsPhiladelphia , PA 19107

Darren J. RobbinsDavid C. Walton

Catherine J. Kowalewski

COUGHLIN STOIA GELLER RUDMAN &ROBBINS LLP655 West Broadway, Suite 1900San Diego, CA 92101

Sherrie R. SavettRussell D. PaulBERGER & MONTAGUE, P.C.1622 Locust StreetPhiladelphia, PA 19103


&

)I--

Richard S. Wayne

Thomas P. Glass

Joseph J. Braun

Lori A. Ross

STRAUSS & TROY

The Federal Reserve Building

150 East Fourth Street

Cincinnati , OH 45202-4018

Alfred G. Yates, Jr.Gerald L. RutledgeLAW OFFICE OF ALFRED G. YATES, JR., PC

519 Allegheny Building

429 Forbes AvenuePittsburgh, PA 15219

Curtis V. Trinko S. Randall HoodLAW OFFICES OF CURTIS V. TRINKO, LLP McGOWAN, HOOD & FELDER, LLC16 West 46`h Street, 7t' Floor 1539 Health Care DriveNew York, NY 29201 Rock Hill, SC 29732

Martin D. ChitwoodMichael Peacock

CHITWOOD HARLEY HARNES LLP2300 Promenade 111230 Peachtree Street, N.E.

Atlanta, GA 30309

Michael S. ScardatoMcNAIR LAW FIRM, P.A.

100 Calhoun Street

Suite 400Charleston, SC 29401

Jeffrey C. Block

Leslie Stern

Nathaniel Orenstein

BERMAN, DEVALERIO, PEASE, TABACCO,BURT & PUCILLOOne Liberty Square

Boston, MA 02109

J. Preston Strom, Jr.Mario A. PacellaSTROM LAW FIRM, L.L.C.2110 N. Beltine Blvd., Suite AColumbia, SC 29204-3999

Herman "Buck" Watson, Jr,Rebekah Keith McKinney

WATSON, JIMMERSON, MARTIN,

McKINNEY, GRAFFEO & HELMS, PC203 Greene StreetHuntsville, AL 35804

Eduard KorsinskyLEVI & KORSINSKY39 BroadwaySuite 1601

New York, NY 10006

Joe R. Whatley, Jr.Adam P. PlantWHATLEY DRAKE & KALLAS, LLC2001 Park Place North, Suite 1000Birmingham, AL 35203

Patrick V. Dahlstrom

POMERANTZ HAUDEK BLOCKGROSSMAN & GROSS LLPOne North LaSalle Street, Suite 2225Chicago, IL 60602-3908


NELSON MULLINS RILEY& SCARBOROUGH LLP

s/ Eleni M. Roumel

Eleni M. Roumel


151 Meeting Street

e le ni . roumel@ne 1 sonmul Tins . corn

Charleston, SC 29401

843.534.4112 (Telephone)

843.534.4223 (Facsimile)

Attorney for Defendants

Force Protection, Inc,, Frank Kavanaugh,

Gordon R. McGilton, Michael Moody,

Michael S. Durski, and Raymond W.

Pollard

Documents

Allan Candelore, et al. v. Force Protection, Inc., et al. 08-CV-00845 ...securities.stanford.edu/filings-documents/1039/FRPT_01/2008610_f0… · 2:08-cv-00845-CWH Date Filed 04/30/2008