Corporations and securities brief ~ SEC extends filing deadlines for Katrina victims News
Corporations and securities brief ~ SEC extends filing deadlines for Katrina victims

[JURIST] Leading Friday's corporations and securities law news, the US Securities and Exchange Commission [official website] has announced that it will indefinitely extend filing deadlines for businesses in the areas affected by hurricane Katrina. In a press release, the SEC also said that it will work with banks and companies to ensure that SEC mandates do not interfere with recovery from the disaster. The SEC also said that it will closely monitor the recovery effort for Katrina-related scams. Reuters has more.

In other corporations and securities law news…

  • Bank of America [corporate website] has disclosed that it has received a Wells Notice from the SEC. The notice informed the company that the SEC's staff has advised the agency to pursue civil charges against the bank. In a filing [text] with the SEC, the bank said that the agency had been investigating a subsidiary, Banc of America Securities, for trading and investment actions between 1999 and 2002. AP has more.
  • Boeing's machinists union went on strike following an overwhelming vote on Thursday [union press release]. The International Association of Machinists [union website] said that the union was a result of a weak contract proposal during a time of economic prosperity for Boeing. The strike affects eighteen thousand workers who manufacture all of Boeing's airplanes. In a press release, Boeing said that it will not attempt to continue producing airplanes during the strike. AP has more.
THIS DAY @ LAW

Benito Mussolini becomes Prime Minister of Italy

Fascist leader Benito Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy on October 31, 1922 after being appointed by King Victor Emmanuel II. Mussolini came to power after his paramilitary "blackshirts" marched on Rome to take control of the country's government. Italy would be under Mussolini's authoritarian rule until 1943, after which he was arrested and subsequently freed by the Nazis. Mussolini would rule a breakaway republic in Italy's north until his execution by anti-fascist partisans in 1945. Learn more about Benito Mussolini.

Nevada admitted to US after telegraphing Constitution

On October 31, 1864, Congress admitted Nevada as the 36th state in the US. With President Lincoln coming up for re-election and looking for support for his proposed 13th Amendment to the Constitution, Nevadans had moved quickly to meet the legal requirements for statehood, ultimately sending the entire text of the proposed state constitution to Washington by telegraph, creating in the longest—and most expensive—telegram on record to that date.

India PM Indira Gandhi assassinated

On October 31, 1984, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two security guards, precipitating riots throughout the country.