News for North Texas
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

UPDATE: Mark Cuban Back On Stand At Insider Trading Trial

BJ Austin
/
KERA News

Mark Cuban’s insider trading trial continues today, with the Dallas Mavericks owner back on the witness stand.

Cuban told jurors he first learned that the Securities and Exchange Commission was suing him for alleged insider trading when he tuned into the cable channel CNBC one morning in 2008.

The billionaire is accused of dumping his stock in the internet search firm Mamma.com in 2004 after receiving confidential information from the company's CEO about a pending sale of additional stock.  Prosecutors say that Cuban avoided a big loss by selling his 600,000 shares.

Cuban says there was no confidentiality agreement. CEO Guy Faure sent a follow-up email giving Cuban and his financial advisers the name of the investment banker who was pitching the sale of additional stock to clients.

Cuban said he generally doesn’t agree to treat as confidential information what people tell him about investments. He countered the government’s claim that he broke a secrecy vow in 2004 when he unloaded his shares.

Cuban detailed his concern over connections between Mamma.com and a convicted stock swindler, Irving Kott. Cuban's lawyer offered emails indicating he raised questions with company officials and spoke with FBI and SEC officials about Kott.

Cuban's attorney asked why he didn't just settle with the SEC five years ago.

"I did nothing wrong,” Cuban replied. “I refused to be bullied." 

Cuban is expected to wrap up his testimony today.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Eric Aasen is KERA’s managing editor. He helps lead the station's news department, including radio and digital reporters, producers and newscasters. He also oversees keranews.org, the station’s news website, and manages the station's digital news projects. He reports and writes stories for the website and contributes pieces to KERA radio. He's discussed breaking news live on various public radio programs, including The Takeaway, Here & Now and Texas Standard, as well as radio and TV programs in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
Former KERA reporter BJ Austin spent more than 25 years in broadcast journalism, anchoring and reporting in Atlanta, New York, New Orleans and Dallas. Along the way, she covered Atlanta City Hall, the Georgia Legislature and the corruption trials of Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.