The class action lawsuits against the former co-founder of FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, may withdraw their claims in the future. Bloomberg disclosed a proposed settlement, under which Bankman-Fried agreed to share key information with the authorities on who you probably know: celebrities who endorsed FTX. Such high-profile personalities are frequently accused by complainants of being party to a Ponzi scheme. The Bankman-Fried cooperation might influence the direction of pending civil litigation in the Southern District of Florida.
Shedding more light on FTX-related entities, such as venture capitalists and professionals who assisted the tasks by Bankman-Fried, would be done under the agreement. It consists of voluntarily releasing nonprivileged documents and an affidavit on his negative net worth. In exchange, the defendant would be released from the claims against him. These are both current and future ones. This being tactic increases the case uncertainty, a fact reflected in plaintiffs in their pleadings.
Celebrities focus on new FTX settlement strategy
The entrée of Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, and Gisele Bundchen, probably the most recognized figures as individuals in the sphere, attracted quite a lot of awareness about the issue. The famous ones (among others) are charged with creating a false perception by their endorsements of FTX, which resulted in losses among the investors. A settlement that centers around Bankman-Fried’s position to offer clarity that will toughen the case against such celebrities is the icing on the cake.
Bankman-Fried’s cooperation is a vital piece, as the plaintiffs believe that his testimony will not only help untangle the complex web of FTX, but also make a very relevant contribution to the entire case. This change in strategy is aimed at the lawsuit bringing evidence of the involved celebrity defendants’ fault, which can give the grounds for the new lawsuit against them. The ball, in this case, rests squarely with the presiding judge, who will take into account the settlement’s implication in the course of the legal proceedings already on.
Persisting legal proceedings and the sentences
The case, titled Garrison vs. Bankman-Fried et al., consolidates several rungs of suits against numerous promoters and insiders of FTX. The March 2023 FTX filings gave hints that Gary Wang, Caroline Ellison, and Nishad Singh had made the first step toward the settlement of their issue. The outcome of these schemes, for now, is under judicial supervision, and the court has yet to make a decision.
The legal action is being brought before the court against the backdrop of the criminal trial of the founders that was concluded with a verdict handed down in November 2023. He got a 24-year prison sentence in March after accusations of fraud and money laundering through FTX. These events display clearly that the company’s downfall had great legal implications and increasing demands on the part of the affected investors to seek compensation for their loss of money.
Civil cases parallel with criminal processes move independently, so all the parties of the cases are kept on their toes awaiting court decisions. However, the consequences may be much more dire than just financial, as it is highly possible that both the extent of the losses and legal precedents shaping the celebrity endorsement mechanisms in the cryptocurrency space will be determined based on these choices.
