Luigi Mangione is facing second-degree murder charges for allegedly shooting Brian Thompson, United Healthcare CEO on December 4. However, as Luigi Mangione pleaded not guilty to state murder and terrorism charges on December 23, legal battles surrounding Brian Thompson are coming to light.
The Hollywood Firefighters Pension Fund in Florida has filed a lawsuit against UnitedHealth Group executives, including the late Brian Thompson, alleging insider trading.
The lawsuit, submitted in May to a federal court in Minnesota, also names United Healthcare Group CEO Andrew Witty and Board Chairman Stephen Hemsley. It seeks a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all people who purchased UnitedHealth common stock between March 14, 2022, and February 27, 2024.
According to Healthcare Finance, the complaint alleges that the UnitedHealth Group executives named above sold substantial amounts of their personally held company stock before the public disclosure of a Department of Justice antitrust investigation into the company.
Former CEO Brian Thompson sold over $15 million worth of shares, while Board Chairman Stephen Hemsley sold under $85 million in stock during this period.
The lawsuit stated:
"The truth emerged on February 27, 2024, when The Wall Street Journal reported that the DOJ had reopened its antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth,"
According to the New York Post, Thompson’s recent stock sale marked his first since taking charge of UnitedHealth’s insurance division in 2021. Reports indicate that his stock options still had several years remaining before expiration.
Given Thompson's recent death, the court has extended the deadline for the executives to respond to the allegations to March 1, 2025.
What other legal battles was Brian Thompson embroiled in?
According to Distractify Magazine, just days after Thompson’s death, investigative journalist Ken Klippenstein revealed details about his DUI incident. The event took place on March 11, 2017, in Maple Grove, Minnesota. A month later, Thompson admitted guilt to a fourth-degree DWI, classified as a misdemeanor.
As outlined by North Star Criminal Defense, this charge typically applies to first-time offenders with a blood alcohol concentration below 0.16 and no aggravating factors.
According to Klippenstein, Thompson served a brief jail sentence at the Hennepin County Adult Corrections facility in Minnesota and was placed on probation.
A summary of what went down in Luigi Mangione's court hearing on 23 December
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According to CBS News, Luigi Mangione appeared in a New York courtroom on Monday, where he entered a not-guilty plea to state charges related to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson earlier this month near a Manhattan hotel.
Mangione is facing 11 state charges, including first-degree murder with a terrorism-related motive. The judge scheduled Mangione's next court hearing for February 21.
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