Lest you think that the Stoneridge verdict was a total game changer...here's a monster verdict in a rare securities case that actually made it to a jury. Apollo Group is the corporate entity behind the ubiquitous internet advertizer, University of Phoenix. The "university" is one of the biggest and most notorious "distance learning" diploma mills around (325,00 students nationwide - PE has locations in 40 states).

At issue in the suit was Apollo's failure to disclose a 2004 probe by the Department of Education that accused University of Phoenix of illegally paying staff members based on the number of students they enrolled. For its part Apollo argued that disclosing the DOE report prematurely would have done unwarranted harm to shareholders. A jury found differently, determining that Apollo should bear responsibility for 60% of shareholder losses.

-- MDT

Labels: Apollo Group, class action, Phoenix University, securities, Stoneridge