BALA CYNWYD, Pa., Sept. 6, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The following statement was issued today by the law firm of Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP:
Notice is hereby given that the class period for the class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on behalf of all securities purchasers of The Wet Seal, Inc. (Nasdaq:WTSLA) ("Wet Seal" or the "Company") has been extended. The new class period is January 9, 2003 through August 19, 2004 inclusive (the "Class Period").
If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Schiffrin & Barroway, LLP (Marc A. Topaz, Esq. or Darren J. Check, Esq.) toll free at 1-888-299-7706 or 1-610-667-7706, or via e-mail at info@sbclasslaw.com.
The complaint charges Wet Seal, Peter D. Whitford, Joseph E. Deckop, and Irving Teitelbaum with violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. More specifically, the Complaint alleges that the Company failed to disclose and misrepresented the following material adverse facts which were known to defendants or recklessly disregarded by them: (1) that the Company's strategic initiatives plan was not strengthening the Company's corporate standing. In fact, the Company's strategic initiatives plan was a complete and total disaster that was leading the Company into financial ruin; (2) that demand for the Company's products was based on deep-discounting and that without deep-discounting its products, demand for such was at an all time low; and (3) that as a result of the above, the Company's projections, outlooks, and positive statements, were lacking in any reasonable basis when made.
On August 19, 2004, Wet Seal, after the market closed, shocked the market by reporting that net loss from continuing operations of $3.20 per share for the second quarter ended July 31, 2004. Following this post-market announcement, shares of Wet Seal shed $1.25 per share, or 59.52 percent, to close at $0.85 per share on unusually high trading volume on August 20, 2004.
Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of class members and is represented by the law firm of Schiffrin & Barroway, which prosecutes class actions in both state and federal courts throughout the country. Schiffrin & Barroway is a driving force behind corporate governance reform, and has recovered in excess of a billion dollars on behalf of institutional and high net worth individual investors. For more information about Schiffrin & Barroway, or to sign up to participate in this action online, please visit http://www.sbclasslaw.com
If you are a member of the class described above, you may, not later than October 25, 2004 move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff of the class, if you so choose. A lead plaintiff is a representative party that acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. In order to be appointed lead plaintiff, the Court must determine that the class member's claim is typical of the claims of other class members, and that the class member will adequately represent the class. Under certain circumstances, one or more class members may together serve as "lead plaintiff." Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. You may retain Schiffrin & Barroway, or other counsel of your choice, to serve as your counsel in this action.
More information on this and other class actions can be found on the Class Action Newsline at www.primezone.com/ca