On January 13, 2011, the New York State Common Retirement Fund announced a $4.25 million settlement of a securities suit against Merrill Lynch and two former officers. In the suit, the Fund alleged that Merrill Lynch tried to cover up the extent of its involvement in subprime mortgage-backed securities, thus artificially inflating the value of its stock. The lawsuit had been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in July. Press Release.