Thomas, J., dissenting
SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
No. 17–1077
FRANCIS V. LORENZO, PETITIONER v. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
[March 27, 2019]
Justice Thomas, with whom Justice Gorsuch joins, dissenting.
In Janus Capital Group, Inc. v. First Derivative Traders, 564 U. S. 135 (2011), we drew a clear line between primary and secondary liability in fraudulent-misstatement cases: A person does not “make” a fraudulent misstatement within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Rule 10b–5(b)—and thus is not primarily liable for the statement—if the person lacks “ultimate authority over the statement.” Id., at 142. Such a person could, however, be liable as an aider and abettor under principles of secondary liability.
Today, the Court eviscerates this distinction by holding that a person who has not “made” a fraudulent misstatement can nevertheless be primarily liable for it. Because the majority misconstrues the securities laws and flouts our precedent in a way that is likely to have far-reaching consequences, I respectfully dissent.
I
To appreciate the sweeping nature of the Court’s holding, it is helpful to begin with the facts of this case. On October 14, 2009, the owner of the firm at which petitioner Frank Lorenzo worked instructed him to send e-mails to two clients regarding a debenture offering. The owner
