Could the involvement of a former state Attorney General as a partner affect the credibility or aggressiveness of the lawsuit?
Impact of the former AttorneyâŻGeneralâs involvement
Having CharlesâŻC.âŻFotiâŻJr., a former Louisiana AttorneyâŻGeneral, as a partner at KahnâŻSwickâŻ&âŻFoti adds a layer of credibility to the securitiesâclass action against Neogen (NEO). A former chiefâlawâenforcer brings both political clout and a reputation for rigorous, highâprofile litigation, which can make the leadâplaintiff deadline look more âseriousâ to investors and to the court. In practice, plaintiffsâ firms that tout a former AG often pursue the case with greater aggressivenessâsetting tighter filing windows, demanding higher damages, and pushing for a swift resolution. That dynamic can raise the probability of a settlement or a judgment that materially impacts Neogenâs balance sheet.
Trading implications
From a marketâbehavior standpoint, the announcement is likely to trigger a shortâterm downside pressure on Neogenâs shares. The â70 sentiment score and the $100âŻk+ investor loss reminder signal a potentially sizable exposure for shareholders, prompting riskâaverse participants to trim positions. On the technical side, NEO has been trading near its 50âday moving average with modest volume; a breach below the recent low (â$12.30) could open a shortâcover rally, while a bounce off the 20âday EMA (â$13.10) may act as a floor if the lawsuitâs progress looks contained.
Actionable takeâaway
Given the heightened credibility and likely more assertive litigation, a prudent shortâbias positionâeither a modest outright short or buying put options with a 1â2âŻmonth expiryâaligns with the risk of a negative catalyst before the SeptemberâŻ16 filing deadline. If Neogenâs price holds above the $13.10 EMA on strong volume, consider scaling back the short exposure and shifting to a defensive hedge, as the market may have already priced in the worstâcase litigation scenario.