CClaimWatch
In litigation — no settlement yetfinance

Morgan Stanley RICO Class Action

Verified September 30, 2026Found via the federal court docketHow ClaimWatch verifies cases

Still being litigated: the claims below are allegations, not findings, and there is no settlement, claim form or payout yet.

Where this case stands

In litigation

The case has been filed and is being fought in court. There is no settlement, no claim form and no payout yet; many class actions are dismissed or never certified.

Pending in the District Court, S.D. New York (No. 1:25-cv-00115).

  1. January 6, 2025
    Case filed

What happened

A proposed class action was filed by James Bertonis against Morgan Stanley and several other brokerage firms, asserting claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The docket text does not detail the specific underlying allegations, but it indicates the action is being voluntarily dismissed without prejudice as to certain defendants. These are allegations in a newly filed case, not proven facts and not yet a settlement.

Do you qualify?

No settlement exists yet, so there is nothing to file and no class definition to check. If the case settles, the settlement will define exactly who qualifies — watch this case and we'll let you know.

How to file

There is no claim to file yet. If this case reaches a settlement, a claim process will open — usually with an official settlement website and a filing deadline.

Common questions

Can I file a claim in the Morgan Stanley RICO Class Action case?
No. The case is still being litigated — there is no settlement, no claim form, and no payout. It was filed January 6, 2025 in the District Court, S.D. New York (No. 1:25-cv-00115).What a class action lawsuit is →
Who are the attorneys in the Morgan Stanley RICO Class Action?
For the plaintiffs: Ralph M. Stone (Stone Law Group PLLC). For Morgan Stanley: Bernard J. Garbutt , III (Morgan, Lewis and Bockius LLP (NY)); Lara Samet Buchwald (Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (NYC)); Cristina M Rincon (Davis Polk & Wardwell, LLP); Chui-Lai Cheung (Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (NYC)). From the public court docket.

Who's involved

Plaintiffs

  • James Bertonis

Defendants

  • Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
  • The Charles Schwab Corporation
  • Merrill Lynch Pierce Fenner & Smith Incorporated
  • Bank Of America Corporation
  • E* Trade Securities LLC
  • Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC
  • Morgan Stanley

Counsel for plaintiffs

Counsel for defendants

Other cases these firms appear in

From the public court docket, contact details as filed; not an endorsement.

Guides:What is a class action lawsuit?How class membership worksYour options as a class member

Summarised from public settlement documents; confirm terms on the official settlement website. ClaimWatch is not a law firm, and filing a claim is free.

More finance settlements

View all →
November 24, 2026finance

Brimmer v. City of Overland Special Deterrent Fees Settlement

Up to $80

February 10, 2027finance

Non-Bank ATM Surcharge Settlement

Settlement Fund will be distributed proportionally (pro rata) to each valid claimant after deductions for attorneys' fees (up to 30%), litigation costs, notice and administration costs, and service awards (up to $17,500 per class representative)

Deadline TBDfinance

CFPB v. Tempoe LLC - Consumer Lease Settlement