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SECURITIES CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2013
SECURITIES CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS  
SECURITIES CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS

17.   SECURITIES CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS

  • On November 7, 2011 and November 22, 2011, the Company and certain current and former senior officers, some of whom also are or were directors of the Company, were named as defendants in two putative class action lawsuits, styled Jerome Stone v. Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd., et al., and Chris Hastings v. Agnico-Eagle Mines Limited, et al., respectively, which were filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. On February 6, 2012, the Court ordered that the two complaints be consolidated under the caption In re Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. Securities Litigation, and lead counsel was appointed. On April 6, 2012, a Consolidated Complaint was issued against the Company and certain of its current and former senior officers and directors. The Consolidated Complaint alleges that the Company had violated federal securities law in connection with its disclosure related to the Goldex mine. The Consolidated Complaint seeks, among other things, damages on behalf of persons who purchased or acquired securities of the Company during the period July 28, 2010 to October 19, 2011. The Consolidated Complaint has not been certified as a class action, and the Company intends to vigorously defend it. On January 14, 2013, Judge Oetken granted the Company's motion to dismiss the Consolidated Complaint and all claims therein and denied the plaintiffs' request for leave to amend the Consolidated Complaint. On February 12, 2013, the plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court for Appeals for the Second Circuit. On October 3, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit issued a summary order affirming the dismissal of the Complaint for the reasons stated in the District Court's January 14, 2013 opinion. Unless their time is extended, the plaintiffs have 90 days in which to file a petition for a writ of certiorari, requesting review by the United States Supreme Court.

    On March 8, 2012 and April 10, 2012, a Notice of Action and Statement of Claim (collectively, the "Ontario Claim") were issued by William Leslie, AFA Livforsakringsaktiebolag and certain other entities against the Company and certain of its current and former officers, some of whom also are or were directors of the Company. On September 27, 2012, the plaintiffs issued a Fresh as Amended Statement of Claim. The Fresh as Amended Statement of Claim alleges that the Company's public disclosure concerning water flow issues at its Goldex mine was misleading. The Ontario Claim was issued by the plaintiffs on behalf of all persons and entities who acquired securities of the Company during the period March 26, 2010 to October 19, 2011, excluding persons resident or domiciled in the Province of Quebec at the time they purchased or acquired such securities. The plaintiffs seek, among other things, damages of C$250.0 million and to certify the Ontario Claim as a class action. On April 17, 2013 an Order was granted on consent certifying a class action proceeding and granting leave for the claims under Section 138 of the Securities Act (Ontario) to proceed. The Company intends to vigorously defend the action on the merits.

    On April 12, 2012, two senior officers of the Company, who also are or were directors of the Company, were served with a Motion for Leave to Institute a Class Action and for the Appointment of a Representative Plaintiff (the "Quebec Motion"). The action is on behalf of all persons and entities with fewer than 50 employees resident in Quebec who acquired securities of the Company between March 26, 2010 and October 19, 2011. The proposed class action is for damages of C$100.0 million arising as a result of allegedly misleading disclosure by the Company concerning its operations at the Goldex mine. On October 15, 2012, the plaintiffs served an amended Quebec Motion seeking leave to commence an action under the Securities Act (Quebec) in addition to seeking authorization to institute a class action. On October 1, 2013, the Quebec court certified the class action on terms identical to those set out in the consent Order granted in Ontario on April 17, 2013. No date has been set for the hearing to argue the class action on the merits. The Company intends to vigorously defend the action on the merits.