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Lyft wins termination of shareholder suit over earnings report mistake

A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit accusing Lyft of defrauding shareholders by waiting too long to correct a mistake in an incomes release that caused the ridesharing company's stock cost to gyrate extremely.

U.S. District Judge Trina Thompson in San Francisco stated shareholders in the

proposed class action

did not show why it was unreasonable for Lyft to need 42 minutes to fix its Feb. 13, 2024 release, instead of doing it instantly.

The release at 4:05 p.m. EST (2105 GMT) stated Lyft expected among its earnings margins to expand by 500 basis points, or 5 percentage points, in 2024 when it actually anticipated 50 basis points.

Lyft's share cost rapidly increased 67%, but gave back the majority of those gains after the business's primary monetary officer offered the proper margin at 4:47 p.m. on an investor teleconference. A. official correction followed 7 minutes later.

Shareholders said Lyft's mistake surpassed carelessness. and totaled up to reckless and intentional indifference to the. fact.

But the judge found no proof that the San. Francisco-based business and its magnates meant to. defraud anyone by reporting an incorrect revenue margin.

She likewise stated the federal appeals court in San. Francisco, in a 2015 case involving Web services service provider. Yahoo, said waiting six weeks to fix declarations would not. breach any responsibility to remedy.

Robert Finkel, a lawyer for the investors, declined. to comment. Lyft did not immediately react to ask for. remark.

Thompson stated the shareholders can attempt to amend their. complaint.

The suit sought damages for financiers who bought Lyft. shares at supposedly inflated costs between 4:05 p.m. and 4:51. p.m. on Feb. 13, 2024.

During that period, Lyft's market price increased as much as. $ 3.2 billion, and then shed about $2.9 billion of that increase.

Roughly 13% of Lyft's stock had been shorted since. Jan. 31, compared with 3% at rival Uber.

The case is Chen v Lyft Inc et al, U.S. District Court,. Northern District of California, No. 24-01330.

(source: Reuters)