United States v. Reliant Energy, et al. (N.D. Cal.) (2007)

This prosecution was one of several actions arising from the collapse of the deregulated California energy markets during the energy crisis of 2000-2001. The government's theory involved a novel application of the Commodities Exchange Act. After a lengthy process, including an unsuccessful appeal by the government to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as to a pretrial ruling, the case was resolved when, on the eve of trial following the remand, the government's offered deferred prosecution agreements to all defendants. For additional details, see RESISTING ARREST: Reliant Energy insisted that they hadn’t committed a Crime during the California Blackouts. Turns out They were Right, THE AMERICAN LAWYER (Nov. 8, 2007)