HARTFORD, Conn., July 31, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Schatz Nobel Izard P.C., which has significant experience representing investors in prosecuting claims of securities fraud, announces that a lawsuit seeking class action status has been filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of all persons who purchased the publicly traded securities of American Home Mortgage Investment Corp. ("American Home Mortgage") (NYSE:AHM) between July 26, 2006 and July 27, 2007, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Also included are those who purchased shares in the Secondary Offering on April 30, 2007.
The Complaint charges that American Home Mortgage and certain of its officers and directors violated federal securities laws. Specifically, the Complaint alleges that Defendants failed to disclose the following: (i) that the Company was experiencing an increasing level of loan delinquencies which was depressing its earnings; (ii) that the Company was experiencing increasing difficulties in selling its loans and, therefore, was required to decrease prices, thereby reducing margins and profits; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, the Company was overstating its financial results by failing to write-down the value of certain of the loans in its portfolio as these loans had declined substantially in value.
On June 28, 2007, American Home Mortgage issued a press release announcing that it will take "substantial charges for credit-related expenses in the second quarter." The Company reported that the increase in losses was related to its practice of extending a three month timely payment warranty that the Company granted to loan buyers who purchased stated income loans. In response to this announcement, the price of American Home Mortgage stock declined from $20.91 per share to $18.38 per share. Then, on July 27, 2007, the Company announced that would delay paying its dividend. On July 30, 2007, the NYSE halted trading in American Home Mortgage stock before the market opened.
If you are a member of the class, you may, no later than October 1, 2007, request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff of the class. A lead plaintiff is a class member that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Although your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision whether or not to seek appointment as a lead plaintiff, lead plaintiffs make important decisions which could affect the overall recovery for class members, including decisions concerning settlement. The securities laws require the Court to consider the class member(s) with the largest financial interest as presumptively the most adequate lead plaintiff(s).
While Schatz Nobel Izard P.C. has not filed a lawsuit against the defendants, to view a copy of the Complaint initiating the class action or for more information about the case, class action cases in general, and your rights, please contact Schatz Nobel Izard P.C. toll-free at (800) 797-5499, or by e-mail at firm@snilaw.com, or visit our website: www.snilaw.com.