Shareholder Class Action Filed Against Amtrust Financial Services, Inc. - AFSI

RADNOR, Pa., March 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP announces that a shareholder class action lawsuit has been filed against AmTrust Financial Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: AFSI) ("AmTrust" or the "Company") on behalf of purchasers of the Company's securities between May 10, 2016 and February 24, 2017, inclusive (the "Class Period").

Investors who purchased AmTrust securities during the Class Period may, no later than May 1, 2017, petition the Court to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class.  For additional information or to learn how to participate in this action please visit https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/amtrust-financial-services-inc#join.

AmTrust shareholders who wish to discuss this action and their legal options are encouraged to contact Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP (Darren J. Check, Esq., D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne O. Bell, Esq.) at (888) 299-7706 or at info@ktmc.com. 

AmTrust, through its subsidiaries, underwrites and provides property and casualty insurance in the United States and internationally.    

The shareholder class action complaint alleges that AmTrust and certain of its executive officers made a series of materially false and misleading statements and/or failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects to investors during the Class Period, including the following: (1) that the Company had ineffective assessment of the risks associated with financial reporting; (2) that the Company had an insufficient complement of corporate accounting and corporate financial reporting resources within the organization; and (3) that the Company lacked effective controls over financial reporting. The complaint further alleges that, as a result of the foregoing, the defendants' statements about AmTrust's business, operations, and prospects were false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

On February 27, 2017, AmTrust disclosed that it had identified a "material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting" and reported that it required additional time to file its 2016 annual financial statements with the SEC. The Company further disclosed that the material weakness "specifically related to ineffective assessment of the risks associated with the financial reporting, and an insufficient complement of corporate accounting and corporate financial reporting resources within the organization." 

Following this news, shares of AmTrust's stock fell $5.32 per share, or over 19%, to close on February 27, 2017 at $22.34 per share.

AmTrust shareholders may, no later than May 1, 2017, petition the Court to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation.  In order to be appointed as a lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class in the action. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.  For additional information, or to learn how to participate in this action, please visit https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/amtrust-financial-services-inc#join.

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered billions of dollars on behalf of institutional and individual investors from the United States and around the world. The firm represents investors, consumers and whistleblowers (private citizens who report fraudulent practices against the government and share in the recovery of government dollars).  The complaint in this action was not filed by Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check.  For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT:
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
Darren J. Check, Esq.
D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq.
Adrienne O. Bell, Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
(888) 299-7706
(610) 667-7706
info@ktmc.com

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SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP