Why Documentation Is Critical

In a securities fraud class action, your documentation is the foundation of your claim. Without it, there is no way to establish three things that every class action claim requires:

  1. You purchased shares — and specifically when you purchased them (must be during the class period)
  2. What you paid — the price per share, which determines how much you were allegedly defrauded
  3. What you lost — the difference between your purchase price and the post-disclosure value

Attorneys use this information to calculate your estimated recoverable loss. Courts use loss calculations to determine who is appointed lead plaintiff. And the claims administrator in any eventual settlement uses transaction records to calculate each class member's proportionate recovery.

The good news: virtually all brokerage accounts retain complete transaction history, and most make it straightforward to download. You don't need to be an accountant or a legal professional — you just need to know what to look for and where to find it.

What Documents You Need

Documentation Checklist
✓ Trade Confirmations (Buy Orders) — For each purchase of the stock during the class period: date, number of shares, price per share, and total amount paid. Your broker sends a confirmation for each transaction.
✓ Trade Confirmations (Sell Orders) — If you sold any shares, the date sold, number of shares sold, and price per share received. This determines actual realized losses.
✓ Account Statements — Monthly or quarterly statements covering the class period. These provide a continuous record of your position and corroborate individual trade confirmations.
✓ 1099-B Tax Forms — Your annual tax form showing realized gains and losses from stock sales. Useful for corroborating trades made in tax years within the class period.
✓ Current Account Statement (if still holding) — If you still hold shares purchased during the class period, a current statement showing the current market value establishes your unrealized loss.

How to Get Your Documents from Your Broker

Every major brokerage has an online portal where you can access and download your account history. Here's how to do it at the most common brokerages:

1

Log into your brokerage account

Navigate to your account's history or transaction section. Look for terms like "Trade History," "Account Activity," "Transaction History," or "Order History."

2

Filter by ticker symbol and date range

Search for the specific stock ticker (e.g., "IMMR") and set the date range to cover the class period — for IMMR, that's June 10, 2024 through July 30, 2025 (plus any sell transactions that followed).

3

Download as PDF or CSV

Most brokerages let you download transaction history as a PDF statement or CSV file. Download both if available — attorneys can work with either format. PDFs are generally preferred because they carry the broker's header and account identification.

4

Download account statements

Separately download monthly or quarterly account statements for the period. These are typically found under "Documents" or "Statements." Download the statements from the start of the class period through the present.

5

Note your account number and broker name

Make note of which brokerage holds the account (e.g., Fidelity, Schwab, TD Ameritrade/Schwab, E*TRADE, Robinhood). If you held the stock in multiple accounts or at multiple brokerages, repeat this process for each account.

Multiple brokerage accounts? Some investors hold the same stock across multiple accounts — taxable, IRA, Roth IRA. Document each account separately. Losses across all your accounts may be aggregated for the purposes of your claim.

How to Calculate Your Loss

While attorneys will calculate your exact recoverable loss, you can estimate it yourself using a simple formula:

Estimated Loss = (Purchase Price × Shares) − (Current Market Value × Shares Still Held) − (Sale Price × Shares Sold)

In plain terms:

  • Calculate what you paid for shares purchased during the class period
  • Subtract what those shares are worth today (or what you sold them for)
  • The difference is your estimated gross loss

DropCounsel tip: The IMMR intake form at dropcounsel.com/immr automatically calculates your estimated loss when you enter your purchase date, share count, purchase price, and current/sale value. You don't need to do the math yourself.

Keep in mind that "recoverable loss" in a securities case is not necessarily equal to your total investment loss. Courts apply specific damage calculation methodologies (such as the "90-day look-back" period under the PSLRA) that may limit the maximum per-share damages. An attorney can provide a more precise estimate.

Submitting Your Documents for Review

Once you've gathered your documents, the submission process is straightforward:

  1. Submit your basic information through the intake form at the case page. You'll provide your contact information, purchase dates, share counts, prices, and estimated loss.
  2. Upload your brokerage documents (optional but helpful). The IMMR intake form accepts PDF uploads of your brokerage statements directly.
  3. Wait for attorney contact. A securities attorney at Javitch Law Office will review your submission and contact you within 1–2 business days with an evaluation of your claim.

Don't wait to gather perfect documentation. Submit your basic information first — attorneys work with incomplete records all the time and can help you locate any missing documents. The important thing is to establish contact before any applicable deadlines pass.

Practical Tips for Protecting Your Records

Beyond what's needed for the immediate claim, here are some practices that protect investors in any future securities litigation:

  • Enable paperless statements and archive them annually — PDFs stored in cloud storage are easy to access years later when litigation arises.
  • Keep records for at least 7 years. Securities litigation can take years to resolve, and class member claims processes may occur long after the initial lawsuit was filed.
  • Don't delete email confirmations from your broker. Transaction confirmation emails are additional evidence of your purchase dates and prices.
  • If your brokerage was acquired or merged (e.g., TD Ameritrade → Schwab), contact the successor firm — historical records are typically transferred.
  • If you can't locate old records, the IRS Form 1099-B from your annual tax return shows all stock sales and their cost basis. Your tax preparer may have this on file.