Investors burned in the Aequitas financial scandal scored a major victory when a handful of accounting firms, securities operations and lawyers accused of aiding and abetting the fraud agreed to settle for $234.6 million.
Together with funds raised by the receiver through the sale of various Aequitas assets, the total recovery could exceed $300 million.
The settling defendants are accounting giant Deloitte, Portland law firm Tonkon Torp, EisnerAmper, a second accounting firm, legal giant Sidley Austin TD Ameritrade; Integrity Bank & Trust of Colorado; and the rating agency Duff & Phelps.