Interesting little tid bit that I discovered in my email. I wonder how many others are out there. Eliot is great at making headlines in cases that end up being dismissed or being dropped, yet the results are very difficult to find.

Spitzer Drops Key Charges in Civil Case Against Hank Greenberg and Howard Smith

David Boies, lead lawyer to Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, reacted to the latest development in the civil case against his client filed by the N.Y. Attorney General by stating, “We appreciate that the Attorney General has kept an open mind, considered the facts we have presented, and has now decided to drop these key claims from the complaint. We are confident that when all the facts are out, the remaining claims, which relate to accounting disputes involving much smaller amounts than the claims that are being dropped, will also be dismissed.”

Howard Opinsky, spokesman for Mr. Greenberg added, “As we have said, Mr. Greenberg’s actions as chairman and CEO of AIG were legal, based on sound business judgment and in the best interests of AIG shareholders. Shareholders are owed an explanation as to why $1.6 billion in company funds were spent to settle allegations that do not withstand scrutiny.”

Boies added, “To the extent that the remaining accounting disputes affected AIG’s financial statements at all, most of the effect is attributable to accounting decisions that were undisputedly reviewed with, and approved by, AIG’s current management.”

Vincent Sama and Andrew Lawler, lead lawyers to Howard Smith, stated, “We are pleased by this development and are confident that, after all the facts are considered, the remaining claims will be dismissed.”

The most explosive and financially significant claims in the Attorney General’s suit were dropped pending a potential court order on Thursday to compel the production of documents central to Greenberg’s defense. Today’s action follows a court order earlier this year requiring AIG to turn over to Greenberg the so-called “internal investigation” report upon which the Attorney General based his complaint and efforts by Greenberg’s lawyers to further expedite discovery to enable them to seek dismissal of the entire case.