Chipotle investors may receive additional information about the case by clicking the link "Join this Class Action" above.
According to the complaint, Chipotle, together with its subsidiaries, develops and operates fast-casual and fresh Mexican food restaurants. As of November 10, 2015, it operated approximately 1,900 restaurants, including 17 Chipotle restaurants outside the United States and 11 ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen restaurants. The complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, the defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the company’s business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Chipotle’s quality controls were not in compliance with applicable consumer and workplace safety regulations; (ii) Chipotle’s quality controls were inadequate to safeguard consumer and employee health; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, Chipotle’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
During the week of August 18, 2015, approximately 100 patrons and employees of a Chipotle restaurant in Simi Valley, California became ill. On September 4, 2015, the Ventura County Environmental Health Division announced that the illnesses were a norovirus outbreak. Health inspectors said that the restaurant in question contained dirty and inoperative equipment, equipment directly linked to the sewer, and other sanitary and health violations. Following this news, between August 18 and September 4, 2015, Chipotle stock fell $26.29, or 3.6%, to close at $719.23 on September 4, 2015.
Between August 19 and September 3, 2015, approximately 64 people fell ill after dining at Chipotle restaurants in Minnesota. On September 17, 2015, the Minnesota Department of Health announced that the illnesses were salmonella linked to tomatoes consumed at 22 Chipotle locations. The affected restaurants changed tomato suppliers but did not close. Following this news, between August 19 and September 17, 2015, Chipotle stock fell $15.08, or approximately 2%, to close at $730.20 on September 17, 2015.
On or around November 1, 2015, Chipotle closed all of its restaurants in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, following reports of approximately 20 cases of E. coli by Chipotle patrons. Following this news, Chipotle stock fell $16.23, or approximately 2.5%, to close at $624.00 on November 2, 2015. Then, beginning on or around December 2, 2015, more than 140 Boston College students fell ill after dining at a Chipotle restaurant in Brighton, Massachusetts. On December 9, 2015, health officials confirmed that the students had contracted norovirus. Following this news, between December 1 and December 9, 2015, Chipotle stock fell $32.73, or roughly 5.6%, to close at $548.01 on December 9, 2015.
On January 6, 2016, pre-market, Chipotle announced that the company was served in December 2015 with a federal grand jury subpoena as part of a criminal investigation tied to the previous summer’s norovirus outbreak at the Company’s restaurant in Simi Valley. The investigation is being conducted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Following this news, Chipotle stock fell $22.36, or 4.98%, to close at $426.67 on January 6, 2016.
If you are a member of the class described above, you may no later than March 8, 2016 , 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. Your ability to share in any recovery is not, however, affected by the decision whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff. Any member of the purported class may move the court to serve as a lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an inactive class member.
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP has not filed a complaint in this matter. 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 Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP.
CONTACT:
Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
James Maro, Esq.
Adrienne Bell, Esq.
280 King of Prussia Road
Radnor, PA 19087
1-888-299-7706 (toll free) or 1-610-667-7706