On September 15, 2011, Southern District of New York Judge Laura Taylor Swain granted in part Morgan Stanley’s motion to dismiss claims in a putative class action by MBS investors that Morgan Stanley violated Sections 11, 12, and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933. Plaintiffs allege that Morgan Stanley made material misrepresentations regarding its ratings and the appraisals and underwriting standards of the underlying mortgages in the marketing and sale of the MBS. Judge Swain found that Plaintiffs failed to sufficiently allege any facts supporting any misrepresentation regarding the derivation or integrity of the MBS ratings or that Morgan Stanley had a duty to disclose any alleged underlying flaws in the ratings process. Judge Swain found that Plaintiffs’ allegations regarding the appraisals and underwriting standards were sufficient and denied the motion to dismiss with respect to those claims. Decision.