Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 1 of 23

1 Robert V. Prongay (SBN 270796)

[email protected]
2 Charles H. Linehan (SBN 307439)
[email protected]
3
Pavithra Rajesh (SBN 323055)
4 [email protected]
GLANCY PRONGAY & MURRAY LLP
5 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, California 90067
6 Telephone: (310) 201-9150
Facsimile: (310) 201-9160
7
8 Attorneys for Plaintiff
9 [Additional Counsel on Signature Page]
10 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
11
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
12
FIYYAZ PIRANI, as TRUSTEE OF Case No.
13 IMPERIUM IRREVOCABLE TRUST,
Individually and on Behalf of All Others CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT FOR
14 Similarly Situated, VIOLATIONS OF THE FEDERAL
SECURITIES LAWS
15 Plaintiff,
16
v.
17
NETFLIX, INC., REED HASTINGS, TED DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
18 SARANDOS, and SPENCER NEUMANN,

19 Defendants.
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
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1 Plaintiff Fiyyaz Pirani, as Trustee of Imperium Irrevocable Trust, (“Plaintiff”) individually

2 and on behalf of all others similarly situated, by and through his attorneys, alleges the following
3 upon information and belief, except as to those allegations concerning Plaintiff, which are alleged

4 upon personal knowledge. Plaintiff’s information and belief is based upon, among other things, his
5 counsel’s investigation, which includes without limitation: (a) review and analysis of regulatory
6 filings made by Netflix, Inc. (“Netflix” or the “Company”) with the United States (“U.S.”) Securities
7 and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); (b) review and analysis of press releases and media reports
8 issued by and disseminated by Netflix; and (c) review of other publicly available information
9 concerning Netflix.
10 NATURE OF THE ACTION AND OVERVIEW
11 1. This is a class action on behalf of persons and entities that purchased or otherwise
12 acquired Netflix common stock or call options, or sold put options, between October 19, 2021 and
13 April 19, 2022, inclusive (the “Class Period”). Plaintiff pursues claims against the Defendants under
14 the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).
15 2. Netflix primarily operates an entertainment platform that offers TV series,
16 documentaries, feature films, and mobile games across a variety of genres and languages. It also

17 offers a DVD-by-mail service in the U.S.

18 3. On January 20, 2022, after the market closed, Netflix reported that it “slightly over-

19 forecasted paid net adds in Q4,” adding 8.3 million subscribers compared to the 8.5 million forecast.
20 The Company also stated that, despite “healthy” retention and engagement, it only expected to add
21 2.5 million net subscribers during first quarter 2022, below the 4.0 million net adds in the prior year
22 period.
23 4. On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $110.75, or 21.7%, to close at $397.50
24 per share on January 21, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.
25 5. On April 19, 2022, after the market closed, Netflix reported that it lost 200,000
26 subscribers during the first quarter of 2022, compared to prior guidance expecting the Company to
27 add 2.5 million net subscribers. The Company cited the slowing revenue growth to four factors,
28

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1 including account sharing with an estimated 100 million additional households and competition with
2 other streaming services.
3 6. On this news, the Company’s share price fell $122.42, or over 35%, to close at

4 $226.19 per share on April 20, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.
5 7. Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading
6 statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business,
7 operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Netflix
8 was exhibiting slower acquisition growth due to, among other things, account sharing by customers
9 and increased competition from other streaming services; (2) that the Company was experiencing
10 difficulties retaining customers; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company was losing
11 subscribers on a net basis; (4) that, as a result, the Company’s financial results were being adversely
12 affected; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the
13 Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading and/or
14 lacked a reasonable basis.
15 8. As a result of Defendants’ wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline
16 in the market value of the Company’s securities, Plaintiff and other Class members have suffered

17 significant losses and damages.

18 JURISDICTION AND VENUE

19 9. The claims asserted herein arise under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act
20 (15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) and 78t(a)) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the SEC (17 C.F.R. §
21 240.10b-5).
22 10. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
23 § 1331 and Section 27 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 78aa).
24 11. Venue is proper in this Judicial District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b) and Section
25 27 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. § 78aa(c)). Substantial acts in furtherance of the alleged fraud
26 or the effects of the fraud have occurred in this Judicial District. Many of the acts charged herein,
27 including the dissemination of materially false and/or misleading information, occurred in
28

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1 substantial part in this Judicial District. In addition, the Company’s principal executive offices are
2 located in this District.
3 12. In connection with the acts, transactions, and conduct alleged herein, Defendants

4 directly and indirectly used the means and instrumentalities of interstate commerce, including the
5 United States mail, interstate telephone communications, and the facilities of a national securities
6 exchange.
7 PARTIES
8 13. Plaintiff Fiyyaz Pirani, as Trustee of Imperium Irrevocable Trust, as set forth in the
9 accompanying certification, incorporated by reference herein, purchased Netflix securities during
10 the Class Period, and suffered damages as a result of the federal securities law violations and false
11 and/or misleading statements and/or material omissions alleged herein.
12 14. Defendant Netflix is incorporated under the laws of Delaware with its principal
13 executive offices located in Los Gatos, California. Netflix’s common stock trades on the NASDAQ
14 exchange under the symbol “NFLX.”
15 15. Defendant Reed Hastings (“Hastings”) was the Co-Chief Executive Officer (“Co-
16 CEO”), President, and a director of the Company at all relevant times.

17 16. Defendant Ted Sarandos (“Sarandos”) was the Co-CEO, Chief Content Creator, and
18 a director of the Company at all relevant times.

19 17. Defendant Spencer Neumann (“Neumann”) was the Company’s Chief Financial
20 Officer (“CFO”) at all relevant times.
21 18. Defendants Hastings, Sarandos, and Neumann (collectively the “Individual
22 Defendants”), because of their positions with the Company, possessed the power and authority to
23 control the contents of the Company’s reports to the SEC, press releases and presentations to
24 securities analysts, money and portfolio managers and institutional investors, i.e., the market. The
25 Individual Defendants were provided with copies of the Company’s reports and press releases
26 alleged herein to be misleading prior to, or shortly after, their issuance and had the ability and
27 opportunity to prevent their issuance or cause them to be corrected. Because of their positions and
28 access to material non-public information available to them, the Individual Defendants knew that

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1 the adverse facts specified herein had not been disclosed to, and were being concealed from, the
2 public, and that the positive representations which were being made were then materially false
3 and/or misleading. The Individual Defendants are liable for the false statements pleaded herein.

4 SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS
5 Background
6 19. Netflix primarily operates an entertainment platform that offers TV series,
7 documentaries, feature films, and mobile games across a variety of genres and languages. It also
8 offers a DVD-by-mail service in the U.S.
9 Materially False and Misleading
Statements Issued During the Class Period
10
20. The Class Period begins on October 19, 2021.1 On that day, Netflix announced its
11
third quarter 2021 financial results in a letter to shareholders that stated, in relevant part:
12
After a lighter-than-normal content slate in Q1 and Q2 due to COVID-related
13 production delays in 2020, we are seeing the positive effects of a stronger slate in
the second half of the year. In Q3, we grew revenue 16% year over year to $7.5
14 billion, while operating income rose 33% vs. the prior year quarter to $1.8 billion.
We added 4.4m paid net adds (vs. 2.2m in Q3’20) to end the quarter with 214m
15 paid memberships. We’re very excited to finish the year with what we expect to be
our strongest Q4 content offering yet, which shows up as bigger content expense and
16 lower operating margins sequentially.

17 * * *
18 We under-forecasted paid net adds for the quarter (4.4m actual vs. our 3.5m
projection), while ending paid memberships of 214m was within 0.4% of our
19 forecast. For the second consecutive quarter, the APAC region was our largest
contributor to membership growth with 2.2m paid net adds (half of total paid net
20 adds) as we are continuing to improve our service in this region. In EMEA, paid net
adds of 1.8m improved sequentially vs. the 188k in Q2 as several titles had a
21 particularly strong impact. The UCAN and LATAM regions grew paid memberships
more slowly. These regions have higher penetration of broadband homes although
22 we believe we still have ample runway for growth as we continue to improve our
service.
23
As a reminder, the quarterly guidance we provide is our actual internal forecast at
24 the time we report and we strive for accuracy. For Q4’21, we forecast paid net adds
of 8.5m, consistent with Q4’20 paid net additions. For the full year 2021, we forecast
25 an operating margin of 20% or slightly better. This means that Q4’21 operating
margin will be approximately 6.5% compared with 14% in Q4’20. The year over
26 year decline in operating margin is due mostly to our backloaded big content release
27
1
28 Unless otherwise stated, all emphasis in bold and italics hereinafter is added.

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1 schedule in this Q4, which will result in a roughly 19% year over year increase in
content amortization for Q4’21 (compared with ~8% growth year to date).
2
21. The same day, Netflix filed its quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the SEC for the
3
period ended September 30, 2021, affirming the previously reported financial results. It was signed
4
by Defendants Hastings and Neumann.
5
22. Also on October 19, 2021, Netflix held a conference call to discuss the financial
6
results with analysts and investors. During the call, Defendant Neumann stated that “throughout the
7
quarter, the business remained healthy as it had been throughout the year with churn at low levels,
8
down prior to the comparable periods both in 2020 and two years ago pre-COVID in 2019.” He also
9
stated that management “expect[ed] to continue in terms of that healthy retention and then this kind
10
of acceleration as we get past those initial market reopenings with COVID [and] past the COVID
11
pull forwarding into the strength of our slate . . . .”
12
23. The above statements identified in ¶¶ 20-22 were materially false and/or misleading,
13
and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations, and
14
prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Netflix was exhibiting
15
slower acquisition growth due to, among other things, account sharing by customers and increased
16
competition from other streaming services; (2) that the Company was experiencing difficulties
17
retaining customers; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company was losing subscribers on a
18
net basis; (4) that, as a result, the Company’s financial results were being adversely affected; and
19
(5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the Company’s business,
20
operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis.
21
24. On January 20, 2022, after the market closed, Netflix revealed that it “slightly over-
22
forecasted paid net adds in Q4.” In a letter to shareholders, Netflix announced its fourth quarter 2021
23
financial results and stated, in relevant part:
24
Full year revenue of $30 billion grew 19% year over year while operating income of
25 $6.2 billion rose 35% year over year. We finished Q4 with 222m paid memberships
(with 8.3m paid net adds in Q4). Even in a world of uncertainty and increasing
26 competition, we’re optimistic about our long-term growth prospects as streaming
supplants linear entertainment around the world.
27
* * *
28

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1 We slightly over-forecasted paid net adds in Q4 (8.3m actual compared to the 8.5m
paid net adds in both the year ago quarter and our beginning of quarter
2 projection). For the full year 2021, paid net adds totaled 18m vs 37m in 2020. Our
service continues to grow globally, with more than 90% of our paid net adds in 2021
3 coming from outside the UCAN region.

4 Nonetheless, our UCAN region added 1.2m paid memberships in Q4’21 (vs. 0.9m
last year), marking our strongest quarter of member growth in this region since the
5 early days of COVID-19 in 2020. In APAC, we increased paid memberships by 2.6m
(vs. 2.0m in the year ago quarter) with strong growth in both Japan and India. EMEA
6 was our largest contributor to paid net adds in Q4 (3.5m vs. 4.5m in the prior year
period) and the region delivered record quarterly revenue, exceeding $2.5 billion for
7 the first time. LATAM paid net adds totaled 1.0m vs. 1.2m last year.
8 * * *
9 For Q1’22, we forecast paid net adds of 2.5m vs. 4.0m in the year ago quarter. Our
guidance reflects a more back-end weighted content slate in Q1’22 (for example,
10 Bridgerton S2 and our new original film The Adam Project will both be launching in
March). In addition, while retention and engagement remain healthy, acquisition
11 growth has not yet re-accelerated to pre-Covid levels. We think this may be due to
several factors including the ongoing Covid overhang and macro-economic
12 hardship in several parts of the world like LATAM.
13 * * *
14 Consumers have always had many choices when it comes to their entertainment time
- competition that has only intensified over the last 24 months as entertainment
15 companies all around the world develop their own streaming offering. While this
added competition may be affecting our marginal growth some, we continue to
16 grow in every country and region in which these new streaming alternatives have
launched. This reinforces our view that the greatest opportunity in entertainment is
17 the transition from linear to streaming and that with under 10% of total TV screen
time in the US, our biggest market, Netflix has tremendous room for growth if we
18 can continue to improve our service.

19 25. The same day, Netflix held a conference call to discuss the financial results with
20 analysts and investors. During the call, Defendant Neumann stated that “overall, the business was
21 healthy. Retention was strong. Churn was down.” He continued that “acquisition was growing, just
22 not growing quite as fast as we were perhaps hoping or forecasting,” which was “probably a bit of
23 just overall COVID overhang that’s still happening . . . [and] some macroeconomic strain in some
24 parts of the world . . . .”
25 26. On this news, the Company’s stock price fell $110.75, or 21.7%, to close at $397.50
26 per share on January 21, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.
27 27. On January 27, 2022, Netflix filed its annual report on Form 10-K with the SEC for
28 the period ended December 31, 2021 (the “2021 10-K”), affirming the previously reported financial

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1 results. It was signed by the Individual Defendants. Regarding risks affecting the business, the
2 Company stated, in relevant part:
3 If our efforts to attract and retain members are not successful, our business will
be adversely affected.
4
We have experienced significant membership growth over the past several years. Our
5 penetration and growth rates vary between the jurisdictions where we provide our
service. In countries where we have been operating for many years or where we are
6 highly penetrated, our membership growth is slower than in newer or less penetrated
countries. Our ability to continue to attract and retain members will depend in part
7 on our ability to consistently provide our members in countries around the globe
with compelling content choices, effectively drive conversation around our content
8 and service, as well as provide a quality experience for choosing and enjoying TV
series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games. Furthermore, the relative
9 service levels, content offerings, pricing and related features of competitors to our
service may adversely impact our ability to attract and retain memberships.
10 Competitors include other entertainment video providers, such as MVPDs, and
streaming entertainment providers (including those that provide pirated content),
11 video gaming providers, as well as user-generated content, and more broadly other
sources of entertainment that our members could choose in their moments of free
12 time.
13 If consumers do not perceive our service offering to be of value, including if we
introduce new or adjust existing features, adjust pricing or service offerings, or
14 change the mix of content in a manner that is not favorably received by them, we
may not be able to attract and retain members. We have recently expanded our
15 entertainment video offering to include games. If our efforts to develop and offer
games are not valued by our current and future members, our ability to attract and
16 retain members may be negatively impacted. We may, from time to time, adjust our
membership pricing, our membership plans, or our pricing model itself, which may
17 not be well-received by consumers, and which may result in existing members
canceling our service or fewer new members joining our service. In addition, many
18 of our members rejoin our service or originate from word-of-mouth advertising from
existing members. If our efforts to satisfy our existing members are not successful,
19 we may not be able to attract members, and as a result, our ability to maintain and/or
grow our business will be adversely affected. Members cancel our service for many
20 reasons, including a perception that they do not use the service sufficiently, the need
to cut household expenses, availability of content is unsatisfactory, competitive
21 services provide a better value or experience and customer service issues are not
satisfactorily resolved. Membership growth is also impacted by seasonality, with the
22 fourth quarter historically representing our greatest growth, as well as the timing of
our content release schedules. We must continually add new memberships both to
23 replace canceled memberships and to grow our business beyond our current
membership base. While we currently permit multiple users within the same
24 household to share a single account for non-commercial purposes, if multi-
household usage is abused or if our efforts to restrict multi-household usage are
25 ineffective, our ability to add new members may be hindered and our results of
operations may be adversely impacted. If we do not grow as expected, given, in
26 particular, that our content costs are largely fixed in nature and contracted over
several years, we may not be able to adjust our expenditures or increase our (per
27 membership) revenues commensurate with the lowered growth rate such that our
margins, liquidity and results of operation may be adversely impacted. If we are
28 unable to successfully compete with current and new competitors in providing

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1 compelling content, retaining our existing memberships and attracting new

memberships, our business will be adversely affected.
2
(First emphasis in original.)
3
28. The above statements identified in ¶¶ 24-25, 27 were materially false and/or
4
misleading, and failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company’s business, operations,
5
and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Netflix was
6
exhibiting slower acquisition growth due to, among other things, account sharing by customers and
7
increased competition from other streaming services; (2) that the Company was experiencing
8
difficulties retaining customers; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company was losing
9
subscribers on a net basis; (4) that, as a result, the Company’s financial results were being adversely
10
affected; and (5) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants’ positive statements about the
11
Company’s business, operations, and prospects were materially false and/or misleading and/or
12
lacked a reasonable basis.
13
Disclosures at the End of the Class Period
14
29. On April 19, 2022, after the market closed, Netflix reported that it lost 200,000
15
subscribers during the first quarter of 2022, compared to prior guidance expecting the Company to
16
add 2.5 million net subscribers. In a letter to shareholders, Netflix reported its first quarter 2022
17
financial results, including:
18
Paid net additions were -0.2m compared against our guidance forecast of 2.5m and
19 4.0m in the same quarter a year ago. The suspension of our service in Russia and
winding-down of all Russian paid memberships resulted in a -0.7m impact on paid
20 net adds; excluding this impact, paid net additions totaled +0.5m. The main challenge
for membership growth is continued soft acquisition across all regions. Retention
21 was also slightly lower relative to our guidance forecast, although it remains at a
very healthy level (we believe among the best in the industry). Recent price changes
22 are largely tracking in-line with our expectations and remain significantly revenue
positive.
23
In EMEA (-0.3M paid net adds, or +0.4m excluding the Russia impact), we saw a
24 slowdown in our business in Central and Eastern Europe in March, coinciding with
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Paid net additions in LATAM totaled -0.4M; similar
25 to recent quarters, we believe a combination of forces including macroeconomic
weakness and our price changes (F/X neutral ARM grew 20% year over year) were
26 a drag on our membership growth. UCAN paid net adds of -0.6M was largely the
result of our price change which is tracking in-line with our expectations and is
27 significantly revenue positive. We’re making good progress in APAC where we are
seeing nice growth in a variety of markets including Japan, India, Philippines,
28 Thailand and Taiwan.

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1 As a reminder, the quarterly guidance we provide is our actual internal forecast at

the time we report. For Q2’22, we forecast paid net additions of -2.0m vs. +1.5m in
2 the year ago quarter. Our forecast assumes our current trends persist (such as slow
acquisition and the near term impact of price changes) plus typical seasonality (Q2
3 paid net adds are usually less than Q1 paid net adds). We project revenue to grow
approximately 10% year over year in Q2, assuming roughly a mid-to-high single
4 digit year over year increase in ARM on a F/X neutral basis. We still target a 19%-
20% operating margin for the full year 2022, assuming no material swings in F/X
5 rates from when we set this goal in January of 2022.
6 30. The letter to shareholders stated that Netflix is “not growing revenue as fast as we’d
7 like.” It further stated: “COVID clouded the picture by significantly increasing our growth in 2020,
8 leading us to believe that most of our slowing growth in 2021 was due to the COVID pull forward.”
9 However, Netflix cited the slowing revenue growth to four factors, including account sharing with
10 an estimated 100 million additional households and competition with other streaming services.
11 Specifically, the letter stated, in relevant part:
12 First, it’s increasingly clear that the pace of growth into our underlying addressable
market (broadband homes) is partly dependent on factors we don’t directly control,
13 like the uptake of connected TVs (since the majority of our viewing is on TVs), the
adoption of on-demand entertainment, and data costs. We believe these factors will
14 keep improving over time, so that all broadband households will be potential Netflix
customers.
15
Second, in addition to our 222m paying households, we estimate that Netflix is being
16 shared with over 100m additional households, including over 30m in the UCAN
region. Account sharing as a percentage of our paying membership hasn’t changed
17 much over the years, but, coupled with the first factor, means it’s harder to grow
membership in many markets - an issue that was obscured by our COVID growth.
18
Third, competition for viewing with linear TV as well as YouTube, Amazon, and
19 Hulu has been robust for the last 15 years. However, over the last three years, as
traditional entertainment companies realized streaming is the future, many new
20 streaming services have also launched. While our US television viewing share, for
example, has been steady to up according to Nielsen, we want to grow that share
21 faster. Higher view share is an indicator of higher satisfaction, which supports higher
retention and revenue.
22
Fourth, macro factors, including sluggish economic growth, increasing inflation,
23 geopolitical events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and some continued
disruption from COVID are likely having an impact as well.
24
31. On this news, the Company’s share price fell $122.42, or over 35%, to close at
25
$226.19 per share on April 20, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.
26
27
28

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1 CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS

2 32. Plaintiff brings this action as a class action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil
3 Procedure 23(a) and (b)(3) on behalf of a class, consisting of all persons and entities that purchased

4 or otherwise acquired Netflix common stock or call options, or sold put options, between October
5 19, 2021 and April 19, 2022, inclusive, and who were damaged thereby (the “Class”). Excluded
6 from the Class are Defendants, the officers and directors of the Company, at all relevant times,
7 members of their immediate families and their legal representatives, heirs, successors, or assigns,
8 and any entity in which Defendants have or had a controlling interest.
9 33. The members of the Class are so numerous that joinder of all members is
10 impracticable. Throughout the Class Period, Netflix’s shares actively traded on the NASDAQ.
11 While the exact number of Class members is unknown to Plaintiff at this time and can only be
12 ascertained through appropriate discovery, Plaintiff believes that there are at least hundreds or
13 thousands of members in the proposed Class. Millions of Netflix shares were traded publicly during
14 the Class Period on the NASDAQ. Record owners and other members of the Class may be identified
15 from records maintained by Netflix or its transfer agent and may be notified of the pendency of this
16 action by mail, using the form of notice similar to that customarily used in securities class actions.

17 34. Plaintiff’s claims are typical of the claims of the members of the Class as all members
18 of the Class are similarly affected by Defendants’ wrongful conduct in violation of federal law that

19 is complained of herein.
20 35. Plaintiff will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the members of the Class
21 and has retained counsel competent and experienced in class and securities litigation.
22 36. Common questions of law and fact exist as to all members of the Class and
23 predominate over any questions solely affecting individual members of the Class. Among the
24 questions of law and fact common to the Class are:
25 (a) whether the federal securities laws were violated by Defendants’ acts as
26 alleged herein;
27
28

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1 (b) whether statements made by Defendants to the investing public during the
2 Class Period omitted and/or misrepresented material facts about the business, operations, and
3 prospects of Netflix; and

4 (c) to what extent the members of the Class have sustained damages and the
5 proper measure of damages.
6 37. A class action is superior to all other available methods for the fair and efficient
7 adjudication of this controversy since joinder of all members is impracticable. Furthermore, as the
8 damages suffered by individual Class members may be relatively small, the expense and burden of
9 individual litigation makes it impossible for members of the Class to individually redress the wrongs
10 done to them. There will be no difficulty in the management of this action as a class action.
11 UNDISCLOSED ADVERSE FACTS
12 38. The market for Netflix’s securities was open, well-developed and efficient at all
13 relevant times. As a result of these materially false and/or misleading statements, and/or failures to
14 disclose, Netflix’s securities traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. Plaintiff
15 and other members of the Class purchased or otherwise acquired Netflix’s securities relying upon
16 the integrity of the market price of the Company’s securities and market information relating to

17 Netflix, and have been damaged thereby.

18 39. During the Class Period, Defendants materially misled the investing public, thereby

19 inflating the price of Netflix’s securities, by publicly issuing false and/or misleading statements
20 and/or omitting to disclose material facts necessary to make Defendants’ statements, as set forth
21 herein, not false and/or misleading. The statements and omissions were materially false and/or
22 misleading because they failed to disclose material adverse information and/or misrepresented the
23 truth about Netflix’s business, operations, and prospects as alleged herein.
24 40. At all relevant times, the material misrepresentations and omissions particularized in
25 this Complaint directly or proximately caused or were a substantial contributing cause of the
26 damages sustained by Plaintiff and other members of the Class. As described herein, during the
27 Class Period, Defendants made or caused to be made a series of materially false and/or misleading
28 statements about Netflix’s financial well-being and prospects. These material misstatements and/or

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1 omissions had the cause and effect of creating in the market an unrealistically positive assessment
2 of the Company and its financial well-being and prospects, thus causing the Company’s securities
3 to be overvalued and artificially inflated at all relevant times. Defendants’ materially false and/or

4 misleading statements during the Class Period resulted in Plaintiff and other members of the Class
5 purchasing the Company’s securities at artificially inflated prices, thus causing the damages
6 complained of herein when the truth was revealed.
7 LOSS CAUSATION
8 41. Defendants’ wrongful conduct, as alleged herein, directly and proximately caused
9 the economic loss suffered by Plaintiff and the Class.
10 42. During the Class Period, Plaintiff and the Class purchased Netflix’s securities at
11 artificially inflated prices and were damaged thereby. The price of the Company’s securities
12 significantly declined when the misrepresentations made to the market, and/or the information
13 alleged herein to have been concealed from the market, and/or the effects thereof, were revealed,
14 causing investors’ losses.
15 SCIENTER ALLEGATIONS
16 43. As alleged herein, Defendants acted with scienter since Defendants knew that the

17 public documents and statements issued or disseminated in the name of the Company were
18 materially false and/or misleading; knew that such statements or documents would be issued or

19 disseminated to the investing public; and knowingly and substantially participated or acquiesced in
20 the issuance or dissemination of such statements or documents as primary violations of the federal
21 securities laws. As set forth elsewhere herein in detail, the Individual Defendants, by virtue of their
22 receipt of information reflecting the true facts regarding Netflix, their control over, and/or receipt
23 and/or modification of Netflix’s allegedly materially misleading misstatements and/or their
24 associations with the Company which made them privy to confidential proprietary information
25 concerning Netflix, participated in the fraudulent scheme alleged herein.
26
27
28

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

12
 Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 14 of 23

1 APPLICABILITY OF PRESUMPTION OF RELIANCE

(FRAUD-ON-THE-MARKET DOCTRINE)
2
44. The market for Netflix’s securities was open, well-developed and efficient at all
3
relevant times. As a result of the materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failures to
4
disclose, Netflix’s securities traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. On
5
November 17, 2021, the Company’s share price closed at a Class Period high of $691.69 per share.
6
Plaintiff and other members of the Class purchased or otherwise acquired the Company’s securities
7
relying upon the integrity of the market price of Netflix’s securities and market information relating
8
to Netflix, and have been damaged thereby.
9
45. During the Class Period, the artificial inflation of Netflix’s shares was caused by the
10
material misrepresentations and/or omissions particularized in this Complaint causing the damages
11
sustained by Plaintiff and other members of the Class. As described herein, during the Class Period,
12
Defendants made or caused to be made a series of materially false and/or misleading statements
13
about Netflix’s business, prospects, and operations. These material misstatements and/or omissions
14
created an unrealistically positive assessment of Netflix and its business, operations, and prospects,
15
thus causing the price of the Company’s securities to be artificially inflated at all relevant times, and
16
when disclosed, negatively affected the value of the Company shares. Defendants’ materially false
17
and/or misleading statements during the Class Period resulted in Plaintiff and other members of the
18
Class purchasing the Company’s securities at such artificially inflated prices, and each of them has
19
been damaged as a result.
20
46. At all relevant times, the market for Netflix’s securities was an efficient market for
21
the following reasons, among others:
22
(a) Netflix shares met the requirements for listing, and was listed and actively
23
traded on the NASDAQ, a highly efficient and automated market;
24
(b) As a regulated issuer, Netflix filed periodic public reports with the SEC
25
and/or the NASDAQ;
26
(c) Netflix regularly communicated with public investors via established market
27
communication mechanisms, including through regular dissemination of press releases on the
28

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

13
 Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 15 of 23

1 national circuits of major newswire services and through other wide-ranging public disclosures,
2 such as communications with the financial press and other similar reporting services; and/or
3 (d) Netflix was followed by securities analysts employed by brokerage firms who

4 wrote reports about the Company, and these reports were distributed to the sales force and certain
5 customers of their respective brokerage firms. Each of these reports was publicly available and
6 entered the public marketplace.
7 47. As a result of the foregoing, the market for Netflix’s securities promptly digested
8 current information regarding Netflix from all publicly available sources and reflected such
9 information in Netflix’s share price. Under these circumstances, all purchasers of Netflix’s securities
10 during the Class Period suffered similar injury through their purchase of Netflix’s securities at
11 artificially inflated prices and a presumption of reliance applies.
12 48. A Class-wide presumption of reliance is also appropriate in this action under the
13 Supreme Court’s holding in Affiliated Ute Citizens of Utah v. United States, 406 U.S. 128 (1972),
14 because the Class’s claims are, in large part, grounded on Defendants’ material misstatements and/or
15 omissions. Because this action involves Defendants’ failure to disclose material adverse
16 information regarding the Company’s business operations and financial prospects—information that

17 Defendants were obligated to disclose—positive proof of reliance is not a prerequisite to recovery.

18 All that is necessary is that the facts withheld be material in the sense that a reasonable investor

19 might have considered them important in making investment decisions. Given the importance of
20 the Class Period material misstatements and omissions set forth above, that requirement is satisfied
21 here.
22 NO SAFE HARBOR
23 49. The statutory safe harbor provided for forward-looking statements under certain
24 circumstances does not apply to any of the allegedly false statements pleaded in this Complaint. The
25 statements alleged to be false and misleading herein all relate to then-existing facts and conditions.
26 In addition, to the extent certain of the statements alleged to be false may be characterized as forward
27 looking, they were not identified as “forward-looking statements” when made and there were no
28 meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

14
 Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 16 of 23

1 differ materially from those in the purportedly forward-looking statements. In the alternative, to the
2 extent that the statutory safe harbor is determined to apply to any forward-looking statements
3 pleaded herein, Defendants are liable for those false forward-looking statements because at the time

4 each of those forward-looking statements was made, the speaker had actual knowledge that the
5 forward-looking statement was materially false or misleading, and/or the forward-looking statement
6 was authorized or approved by an executive officer of Netflix who knew that the statement was false
7 when made.
8 FIRST CLAIM
9 Violation of Section 10(b) of The Exchange Act and
Rule 10b-5 Promulgated Thereunder
10 Against All Defendants
11 50. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation contained above as if fully
12 set forth herein.
13 51. During the Class Period, Defendants carried out a plan, scheme and course of conduct
14 which was intended to and, throughout the Class Period, did: (i) deceive the investing public,
15 including Plaintiff and other Class members, as alleged herein; and (ii) cause Plaintiff and other
16 members of the Class to purchase Netflix’s securities at artificially inflated prices. In furtherance

17 of this unlawful scheme, plan and course of conduct, Defendants, and each defendant, took the
18 actions set forth herein.

19 52. Defendants (i) employed devices, schemes, and artifices to defraud; (ii) made untrue
20 statements of material fact and/or omitted to state material facts necessary to make the statements
21 not misleading; and (iii) engaged in acts, practices, and a course of business which operated as a
22 fraud and deceit upon the purchasers of the Company’s securities in an effort to maintain artificially
23 high market prices for Netflix’s securities in violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and
24 Rule 10b-5. All Defendants are sued either as primary participants in the wrongful and illegal
25 conduct charged herein or as controlling persons as alleged below.
26 53. Defendants, individually and in concert, directly and indirectly, by the use, means or
27 instrumentalities of interstate commerce and/or of the mails, engaged and participated in a
28

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

15
 Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 17 of 23

1 continuous course of conduct to conceal adverse material information about Netflix’s financial well-
2 being and prospects, as specified herein.
3 54. Defendants employed devices, schemes and artifices to defraud, while in possession

4 of material adverse non-public information and engaged in acts, practices, and a course of conduct
5 as alleged herein in an effort to assure investors of Netflix’s value and performance and continued
6 substantial growth, which included the making of, or the participation in the making of, untrue
7 statements of material facts and/or omitting to state material facts necessary in order to make the
8 statements made about Netflix and its business operations and future prospects in light of the
9 circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, as set forth more particularly herein,
10 and engaged in transactions, practices and a course of business which operated as a fraud and deceit
11 upon the purchasers of the Company’s securities during the Class Period.
12 55. Each of the Individual Defendants’ primary liability and controlling person liability
13 arises from the following facts: (i) the Individual Defendants were high-level executives and/or
14 directors at the Company during the Class Period and members of the Company’s management team
15 or had control thereof; (ii) each of these defendants, by virtue of their responsibilities and activities
16 as a senior officer and/or director of the Company, was privy to and participated in the creation,

17 development and reporting of the Company’s internal budgets, plans, projections and/or reports;
18 (iii) each of these defendants enjoyed significant personal contact and familiarity with the other

19 defendants and was advised of, and had access to, other members of the Company’s management
20 team, internal reports and other data and information about the Company’s finances, operations, and
21 sales at all relevant times; and (iv) each of these defendants was aware of the Company’s
22 dissemination of information to the investing public which they knew and/or recklessly disregarded
23 was materially false and misleading.
24 56. Defendants had actual knowledge of the misrepresentations and/or omissions of
25 material facts set forth herein, or acted with reckless disregard for the truth in that they failed to
26 ascertain and to disclose such facts, even though such facts were available to them. Such defendants’
27 material misrepresentations and/or omissions were done knowingly or recklessly and for the purpose
28 and effect of concealing Netflix’s financial well-being and prospects from the investing public and

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

16
 Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 18 of 23

1 supporting the artificially inflated price of its securities. As demonstrated by Defendants’

2 overstatements and/or misstatements of the Company’s business, operations, financial well-being,
3 and prospects throughout the Class Period, Defendants, if they did not have actual knowledge of the

4 misrepresentations and/or omissions alleged, were reckless in failing to obtain such knowledge by
5 deliberately refraining from taking those steps necessary to discover whether those statements were
6 false or misleading.
7 57. As a result of the dissemination of the materially false and/or misleading information
8 and/or failure to disclose material facts, as set forth above, the market price of Netflix’s securities
9 was artificially inflated during the Class Period. In ignorance of the fact that market prices of the
10 Company’s securities were artificially inflated, and relying directly or indirectly on the false and
11 misleading statements made by Defendants, or upon the integrity of the market in which the
12 securities trades, and/or in the absence of material adverse information that was known to or
13 recklessly disregarded by Defendants, but not disclosed in public statements by Defendants during
14 the Class Period, Plaintiff and the other members of the Class acquired Netflix’s securities during
15 the Class Period at artificially high prices and were damaged thereby.
16 58. At the time of said misrepresentations and/or omissions, Plaintiff and other members

17 of the Class were ignorant of their falsity, and believed them to be true. Had Plaintiff and the other
18 members of the Class and the marketplace known the truth regarding the problems that Netflix was

19 experiencing, which were not disclosed by Defendants, Plaintiff and other members of the Class
20 would not have purchased or otherwise acquired their Netflix securities, or, if they had acquired
21 such securities during the Class Period, they would not have done so at the artificially inflated prices
22 which they paid.
23 59. By virtue of the foregoing, Defendants violated Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act
24 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder.
25 60. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ wrongful conduct, Plaintiff and the
26 other members of the Class suffered damages in connection with their respective purchases and
27 sales of the Company’s securities during the Class Period.
28

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

17
 Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 19 of 23

1 SECOND CLAIM
2 Violation of Section 20(a) of The Exchange Act
Against the Individual Defendants
3
61. Plaintiff repeats and re-alleges each and every allegation contained above as if fully
4
set forth herein.
5
62. Individual Defendants acted as controlling persons of Netflix within the meaning of
6
Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act as alleged herein. By virtue of their high-level positions and their
7
ownership and contractual rights, participation in, and/or awareness of the Company’s operations
8
and intimate knowledge of the false financial statements filed by the Company with the SEC and
9
disseminated to the investing public, Individual Defendants had the power to influence and control
10
and did influence and control, directly or indirectly, the decision-making of the Company, including
11
the content and dissemination of the various statements which Plaintiff contends are false and
12
misleading. Individual Defendants were provided with or had unlimited access to copies of the
13
Company’s reports, press releases, public filings, and other statements alleged by Plaintiff to be
14
misleading prior to and/or shortly after these statements were issued and had the ability to prevent
15
the issuance of the statements or cause the statements to be corrected.
16
63. In particular, Individual Defendants had direct and supervisory involvement in the
17
day-to-day operations of the Company and, therefore, had the power to control or influence the
18
particular transactions giving rise to the securities violations as alleged herein, and exercised the
19
same.
20
64. As set forth above, Netflix and Individual Defendants each violated Section 10(b)
21
and Rule 10b-5 by their acts and omissions as alleged in this Complaint. By virtue of their position
22
as controlling persons, Individual Defendants are liable pursuant to Section 20(a) of the Exchange
23
Act. As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ wrongful conduct, Plaintiff and other members
24
of the Class suffered damages in connection with their purchases of the Company’s securities during
25
the Class Period.
26
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
27
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for relief and judgment, as follows:
28

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

18
 Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 20 of 23

1 (a) Determining that this action is a proper class action under Rule 23 of the Federal
2 Rules of Civil Procedure;
3 (b) Awarding compensatory damages in favor of Plaintiff and the other Class members

4 against all defendants, jointly and severally, for all damages sustained as a result of Defendants’
5 wrongdoing, in an amount to be proven at trial, including interest thereon;
6 (c) Awarding Plaintiff and the Class their reasonable costs and expenses incurred in this
7 action, including counsel fees and expert fees; and
8 (d) Such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
9 JURY TRIAL DEMANDED
10 Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury.
11
12 DATED: May 3, 2022 GLANCY PRONGAY & MURRAY LLP
By: /s/ Robert V. Prongay
13
Robert V. Prongay
14 Charles Linehan
Pavithra Rajesh
15 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100
Los Angeles, California 90067
16 Telephone: (310) 201-9150
17 Facsimile: (310) 201-9160
Email: [email protected]
18
THE LAW OFFICES OF FRANK R. CRUZ
19 Frank R. Cruz
1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100
20 Los Angeles, CA 90067
21 Telephone: (310) 914-5007

22 Attorneys for Plaintiff

23
24
25
26
27
28

CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

19
 Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 21 of 23

SWORN CERTIFICATION OF PLAINTIFF

NETFLIX, INC. SECURITIES LITIGATION

I, Fiyyaz Pirani, as Trustee of the Imperium Irrevocable Trust (the “Trust”) certify that:

1. I have reviewed the Complaint, adopt its allegations, and authorize the filing of a
Lead Plaintiff motion on my behalf.

2. I am duly authorized to institute legal action on the Trust’s behalf against Netflix, Inc.
and other defendants.

3. I did not purchase the Netflix, Inc. securities that are the subject of this action at the
direction of plaintiff’s counsel or in order to participate in any private action arising
under this title.

4. I am willing to serve as a representative party on behalf of a class and will testify at

deposition and trial, if necessary.

5. My transactions in Netflix, Inc. securities during the Class Period set forth in the
Complaint are as follows:

(See attached transactions)

6. I have not sought to serve, nor served, as a representative party on behalf of a class
under this title during the last three years, except for the following:

Pirani v. Slack Techs., Inc., et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-05857 (N.D. Cal.)

In re 2U, Inc. Securities Class Action, Case No. 8:19-cv-03455 (D. Md.)

7. I will not accept any payment for serving as a representative party, except to receive
my pro rata share of any recovery or as ordered or approved by the court, including
the award to a representative plaintiff of reasonable costs and expenses (including lost
wages) directly relating to the representation of the class.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing are true and correct statements.

4/28/2022
________________ _________________________________________
Date Fiyyaz Pirani
Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 22 of 23
Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 23 of 23
 Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1-1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 1 of 2
CIVIL COVER SHEET
JS-CAND 44 (Rev. 10/2020)

The JS-CAND 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law,
except as provided by local rules of court. This form, approved in its original form by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the Clerk of
Court to initiate the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
I. (a) PLAINTIFFS DEFENDANTS
FIYYAZ PIRANI, as TRUSTEE OF IMPERIUM IRREVOCABLE TRUST, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly
Situated NETFLIX, INC., REED HASTINGS, TED SARANDOS, and SPENCER NEUMANN

(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff Harris County, Texas County of Residence of First Listed Defendant
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES) (IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)
NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF
THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED.
(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) Attorneys (If Known)
Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP
1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, CA 90067; Tel: (310) 201-9150

II. BASIS OF JURISDICTION (Place an “X” in One Box Only) III. CITIZENSHIP OF PRINCIPAL PARTIES (Place an “X” in One Box for Plaintiff
(For Diversity Cases Only) and One Box for Defendant)
PTF DEF PTF DEF
1 U.S. Government Plaintiff 3 Federal Question Citizen of This State 1 1 Incorporated or Principal Place 4 4
(U.S. Government Not a Party)
of Business In This State
Citizen of Another State 2 2 Incorporated and Principal Place 5 5
2 U.S. Government Defendant 4 Diversity of Business In Another State
(Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III)
Citizen or Subject of a 3 3 Foreign Nation 6 6
Foreign Country

IV. NATURE OF SUIT (Place an “X” in One Box Only)

CONTRACT TORTS FORFEITURE/PENALTY BANKRUPTCY OTHER STATUTES
110 Insurance PERSONAL INJURY PERSONAL INJURY 625 Drug Related Seizure of 422 Appeal 28 USC § 158 375 False Claims Act
120 Marine Property 21 USC § 881 423 Withdrawal 28 USC 376 Qui Tam (31 USC
310 Airplane 365 Personal Injury – Product
130 Miller Act Liability 690 Other § 157 § 3729(a))
315 Airplane Product Liability
140 Negotiable Instrument 367 Health Care/ LABOR PROPERTY RIGHTS 400 State Reapportionment
320 Assault, Libel & Slander
150 Recovery of Pharmaceutical Personal 410 Antitrust
330 Federal Employers’ 710 Fair Labor Standards Act 820 Copyrights
Overpayment Of Injury Product Liability 430 Banks and Banking
Liability 720 Labor/Management 830 Patent
Veteran’s Benefits 368 Asbestos Personal Injury 450 Commerce
340 Marine Relations 835 Patent─Abbreviated New
151 Medicare Act Product Liability
345 Marine Product Liability 740 Railway Labor Act Drug Application 460 Deportation
152 Recovery of Defaulted PERSONAL PROPERTY 470 Racketeer Influenced &
350 Motor Vehicle 751 Family and Medical 840 Trademark
Student Loans (Excludes 370 Other Fraud Corrupt Organizations
355 Motor Vehicle Product Leave Act 880 Defend Trade Secrets
Veterans) 371 Truth in Lending
Liability 790 Other Labor Litigation Act of 2016 480 Consumer Credit
153 Recovery of 380 Other Personal Property
360 Other Personal Injury 791 Employee Retirement 485 Telephone Consumer
Overpayment SOCIAL SECURITY
Damage Income Security Act Protection Act
of Veteran’s Benefits 362 Personal Injury -Medical 861 HIA (1395ff)
Malpractice 385 Property Damage Product 490 Cable/Sat TV
160 Stockholders’ Suits Liability IMMIGRATION 862 Black Lung (923) 850 Securities/Commodities/
190 Other Contract 462 Naturalization 863 DIWC/DIWW (405(g)) Exchange
CIVIL RIGHTS PRISONER PETITIONS
195 Contract Product Liability Application 864 SSID Title XVI
440 Other Civil Rights 890 Other Statutory Actions
HABEAS CORPUS 465 Other Immigration
196 Franchise 865 RSI (405(g)) 891 Agricultural Acts
441 Voting 463 Alien Detainee Actions
REAL PROPERTY 442 Employment FEDERAL TAX SUITS 893 Environmental Matters
510 Motions to Vacate
210 Land Condemnation 443 Housing/ Sentence 870 Taxes (U.S. Plaintiff or 895 Freedom of Information
Accommodations Defendant) Act
220 Foreclosure 530 General
445 Amer. w/Disabilities– 871 IRS–Third Party 26 USC 896 Arbitration
230 Rent Lease & Ejectment 535 Death Penalty
Employment § 7609 899 Administrative Procedure
240 Torts to Land OTHER
446 Amer. w/Disabilities–Other Act/Review or Appeal of
245 Tort Product Liability 540 Mandamus & Other Agency Decision
290 All Other Real Property 448 Education
550 Civil Rights 950 Constitutionality of State
555 Prison Condition Statutes
560 Civil Detainee–
Conditions of
Confinement

V. ORIGIN (Place an “X” in One Box Only)

1 Original 2 Removed from 3 Remanded from 4 Reinstated or 5 Transferred from 6 Multidistrict 8 Multidistrict
Proceeding State Court Appellate Court Reopened Another District (specify) Litigation–Transfer Litigation–Direct File

VI. CAUSE OF Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing (Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity):
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, 15 U.S.C. §§78j(b) and 78t(a) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the SEC (17 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5)
ACTION
Brief description of cause:
Securities Fraud - Violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act and SEC Rule 10b-5; PSLRA
VII. REQUESTED IN X CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION DEMAND $ CHECK YES only if demanded in complaint:
COMPLAINT: UNDER RULE 23, Fed. R. Civ. P. JURY DEMAND: Yes No

VIII. RELATED CASE(S), JUDGE DOCKET NUMBER

IF ANY (See instructions):
IX. DIVISIONAL ASSIGNMENT (Civil Local Rule 3-2)
(Place an “X” in One Box Only) SAN FRANCISCO/OAKLAND SAN JOSE EUREKA-MCKINLEYVILLE

DATE 05/03/2022 SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD s/ Robert V. Prongay

JS-CAND 44 (rev. 10/2020) Case 3:22-cv-02672 Document 1-1 Filed 05/03/22 Page 2 of 2

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ATTORNEYS COMPLETING CIVIL COVER SHEET FORM JS-CAND 44

Authority For Civil Cover Sheet. The JS-CAND 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replaces nor supplements the filings and
service of pleading or other papers as required by law, except as provided by local rules of court. This form, approved in its original form by the Judicial
Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the Clerk of Court to initiate the civil docket sheet. Consequently, a civil cover sheet is
submitted to the Clerk of Court for each civil complaint filed. The attorney filing a case should complete the form as follows:
I. a) Plaintiffs-Defendants. Enter names (last, first, middle initial) of plaintiff and defendant. If the plaintiff or defendant is a government agency, use
only the full name or standard abbreviations. If the plaintiff or defendant is an official within a government agency, identify first the agency and
then the official, giving both name and title.
b) County of Residence. For each civil case filed, except U.S. plaintiff cases, enter the name of the county where the first listed plaintiff resides at the
time of filing. In U.S. plaintiff cases, enter the name of the county in which the first listed defendant resides at the time of filing. (NOTE: In land
condemnation cases, the county of residence of the “defendant” is the location of the tract of land involved.)
c) Attorneys. Enter the firm name, address, telephone number, and attorney of record. If there are several attorneys, list them on an attachment, noting
in this section “(see attachment).”
II. Jurisdiction. The basis of jurisdiction is set forth under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 8(a), which requires that jurisdictions be shown in
pleadings. Place an “X” in one of the boxes. If there is more than one basis of jurisdiction, precedence is given in the order shown below.
(1) United States plaintiff. Jurisdiction based on 28 USC §§ 1345 and 1348. Suits by agencies and officers of the United States are included here.
(2) United States defendant. When the plaintiff is suing the United States, its officers or agencies, place an “X” in this box.
(3) Federal question. This refers to suits under 28 USC § 1331, where jurisdiction arises under the Constitution of the United States, an amendment
to the Constitution, an act of Congress or a treaty of the United States. In cases where the U.S. is a party, the U.S. plaintiff or defendant code
takes precedence, and box 1 or 2 should be marked.
(4) Diversity of citizenship. This refers to suits under 28 USC § 1332, where parties are citizens of different states. When Box 4 is checked, the
citizenship of the different parties must be checked. (See Section III below; NOTE: federal question actions take precedence over diversity
cases.)
III. Residence (citizenship) of Principal Parties. This section of the JS-CAND 44 is to be completed if diversity of citizenship was indicated above.
Mark this section for each principal party.
IV. Nature of Suit. Place an “X” in the appropriate box. If the nature of suit cannot be determined, be sure the cause of action, in Section VI below, is
sufficient to enable the deputy clerk or the statistical clerk(s) in the Administrative Office to determine the nature of suit. If the cause fits more than
one nature of suit, select the most definitive.
V. Origin. Place an “X” in one of the six boxes.
(1) Original Proceedings. Cases originating in the United States district courts.
(2) Removed from State Court. Proceedings initiated in state courts may be removed to the district courts under Title 28 USC § 1441. When the
petition for removal is granted, check this box.
(3) Remanded from Appellate Court. Check this box for cases remanded to the district court for further action. Use the date of remand as the filing
date.
(4) Reinstated or Reopened. Check this box for cases reinstated or reopened in the district court. Use the reopening date as the filing date.
(5) Transferred from Another District. For cases transferred under Title 28 USC § 1404(a). Do not use this for within district transfers or
multidistrict litigation transfers.
(6) Multidistrict Litigation Transfer. Check this box when a multidistrict case is transferred into the district under authority of Title 28 USC
§ 1407. When this box is checked, do not check (5) above.
(8) Multidistrict Litigation Direct File. Check this box when a multidistrict litigation case is filed in the same district as the Master MDL docket.
Please note that there is no Origin Code 7. Origin Code 7 was used for historical records and is no longer relevant due to changes in statute.
VI. Cause of Action. Report the civil statute directly related to the cause of action and give a brief description of the cause. Do not cite jurisdictional
statutes unless diversity. Example: U.S. Civil Statute: 47 USC § 553. Brief Description: Unauthorized reception of cable service.
VII. Requested in Complaint. Class Action. Place an “X” in this box if you are filing a class action under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23.
Demand. In this space enter the actual dollar amount being demanded or indicate other demand, such as a preliminary injunction.
Jury Demand. Check the appropriate box to indicate whether or not a jury is being demanded.
VIII. Related Cases. This section of the JS-CAND 44 is used to identify related pending cases, if any. If there are related pending cases, insert the docket
numbers and the corresponding judge names for such cases.
IX. Divisional Assignment. If the Nature of Suit is under Property Rights or Prisoner Petitions or the matter is a Securities Class Action, leave this
section blank. For all other cases, identify the divisional venue according to Civil Local Rule 3-2: “the county in which a substantial part of the
events or omissions which give rise to the claim occurred or in which a substantial part of the property that is the subject of the action is situated.”
Date and Attorney Signature. Date and sign the civil cover sheet.