Robert Kalkstein, Et Al. V. Darden Restaurants Inc., Et Al. 08-CV-507

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA ORLANDO DIVISION

ROBERT KALKSTEIN, Individually and On Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, CIVIL ACTION NO. 5b1-- 02_(, - ($K Plaintiff, U:04,- CV,

vs. CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT

DARDEN RESTAURANTS, INC., CLARENCE OTIS, JR. and C. BRADFORD RICHMOND, JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Defendants.

Plaintiff, Robert Kalkstein ("Plaintiff'), alleges the following based upon the investigation by Plaintiffs counsel, which included, among other things; a review of the defendants' public documents, conference calls and announcements made by defendants, United

States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") filings, wire and press releases published by and regarding Darden Restaurants, Inc. ("Darden" or the "Company"), securities analysts' reports and advisories about the Company, and information readily available on the Internet, and

Plaintiff believes that substantial additional evidentiary support will exist for the allegations set forth herein after a reasonable opportunity for discovery.

NATURE OF THE ACTION AND OVERVIEW

1. This is a federal class action on behalf of purchasers of Darden's securities between June 19, 2007 and December 18, 2007 inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to pursue remedies under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act").

1 2. Darden owns and operates nearly 1,400 Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama

Breeze, Smokey Bones, Capital Grille, Longhorn Steakhouse and Seasons 52 restaurants.

3. On December 18, 2007, the Company shocked investors when it announced that its earnings for the quarter fell below expectations. Further, the Company announced that it expected diluted net earnings per share in 2008 to be 2% to 4%, in stark contrast to the 10% to

12% projection the Company gave in August 2007.

4. Upon the release of this news, the Company's shares declined $7.74 per share, or

21.3 percent, to close on December 19, 2007 at $28.60 per share, on unusually heavy trading volume.

5. The Complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, defendants failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's financial well-being, and prospects.

Specifically, defendants failed to disclose or indicate the following: (1) that the Company's food costs were rising at a higher rate than the Company admitted; (2) that same-store sales at the

Company's restaurants were experiencing negative trends; (3) that the Company's restaurants were underperforming; (4) that the Company lacked adequate internal and financial controls; and

(4) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company's statements about its financial well-being and future business prospects were lacking in any reasonable basis when made.

6. As a result of defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Company's securities, Plaintiff and other Class Members have suffered significant losses and damages.

JURISDICTION AND VENUE

7. The claims asserted herein arise under and pursuant to Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, (15 U.S.C. §§ 78j(b) and 78t(a)), and Rule l0b-5 promulgated thereunder (17

2 C.F.R. § 240.10b-5).

8. This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action pursuant to

Section 27 of the Exchange Act (15 U. S.C. § 78aa) and 28 U.S.C. § 1331. .

9. Venue is proper in this Judicial District pursuant to Section 27 of the Exchange

Act, 15 U.S.C. § 78aa and 28 U.S.C. § 1391(b). Many of the acts and transactions alleged

herein, including the preparation and dissemination of materially false and misleading

information, occurred in substantial part in this Judicial District. Additionally, Darden's

principal executive offices are located within this Judicial District.

10. In connection with the acts, conduct and other wrongs alleged in this Complaint,

defendants, directly or indirectly, used the means and instrumentalities of interstate commerce,

including but not limited to, the United States mails, interstate telephone communications and

the facilities of the national securities exchange.

PARTIES

11. Plaintiff, Robert Kalkstein, as set forth in the accompanying certification, incorporated by reference herein, purchased Darden's securities at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period and has been damaged thereby.

12. Defendant Darden is a Florida corporation with its principal executive offices

located at 5900 Lake Ellenor Drive, Orlando, Florida.

13. Defendant Clarence Otis, Jr. ("Otis") was, at all relevant times, the Company's

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ("CEO").

14. Defendant C. Bradford Richmond ("Richmond") was, at all relevant times, the

Company's Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") and Senior Vice President.

15. Defendants Otis and Richmond are collectively referred to hereinafter as the

3 "Individual Defendants." The Individual Defendants, because of their positions with the

Company, possessed the power and authority to control the contents of Darden's reports to the

SEC, press releases and presentations to securities analysts, money and portfolio managers and institutional investors, i.e., the market. Each defendant was provided with copies of the

Company's reports and press releases alleged herein to be misleading prior to, or shortly after, their issuance and had the ability and opportunity to prevent their issuance or cause them to be corrected. Because of their positions and access to material non-public information available to them, each of these defendants knew that the adverse facts specified herein had not been disclosed to, and were being concealed from, the public, and that the positive representations which were being made were then materially false and misleading. The Individual Defendants are liable for the false statements pleaded herein, as those statements were each "group- published" information, the result of the collective actions of the Individual Defendants.

SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS

Background

16. Darden owns and operates nearly 1,400 Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama

Breeze, Smokey Bones, Capital Grille, Longhorn Steakhouse and Seasons 52 restaurants.

Materially False and Misleading Statements Issued During the Class Period

17. The Class Period begins on June 19, 2007. On this day, the Company issued a press release entitled "Darden Restaurants Reports 13% Increase in Annual Diluted Net EPS

From Continuing Operations; Announces Quarterly Dividend of 18 Cents Per Share; Discusses

Fiscal 2008 Financial Outlook." Therein, the Company, in relevant part, stated:

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) today reported results for the fiscal year and fiscal fourth quarter ended May 27, 2007. For the fiscal year, diluted net earnings per share from continuing

4 operations increased 13% to $2.53 from $2.24 in the prior year. In the fourth quarter, diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations increased 8% to 67 cents, versus 62 cents in the prior year.

Darden Restaurants , the world's largest casual dining company, reported that full year sales from continuing operations were $5.57 billion, compared to $5.35 billion in the prior year. This 4.0% increase reflects same- restaurant sales growth at Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Bahama Breeze, as well as new restaurant growth at Olive Garden. In the fourth quarter, sales from continuing operations increased 3.2% to $1.46 billion, driven primarily by strong same-restaurant sales growth and new restaurant growth at Olive Garden.

"We had competitively superiorfinancial results from continuing operations this year in what was clearly a difficult environment for our industry and we also made considerable strategic progress," said Clarence Otis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darden. "As a result, we begin fiscal 2008 in a strong competitive position and with great confidence we can achieve our goal of being the best in casual dining, now and for generations. When you combine the strength and resiliency that Olive Garden, Red Lobster and Bahama Breeze demonstrated this year, the promise that Seasons 52 continues to show, our talented and dedicated employees and the financial strength we possess, this Company's future is bright. And it's a future that we believe will be marked by an acceleration in profitable sales growth, beginning with our anticipated strong financial performance in fiscal 2008."

Fiscal 2008 Outlook

Darden expects combined same-restaurant sales growth in fiscal 2008 of between 2% and 4% for Red Lobster and Olive Garden. The Company also expects approximately 3% unit growth in fiscal 2008, comprised mainly ofOlive Garden restaurants.

"We expect that solid same-restaurant sales growth at Red Lobster, Olive Garden and Bahama Breeze and strong cost management, combined with an acceleration in new restaurant expansion at Olive Garden, will result in 10% to 12% diluted net earnings per share growth from continuing operations in fiscal 2008," said Otis. "We believe this is a well-supported growth plan that reflects the emerging cost pressures in the casual dining industry and our expectation that casual dining sales growth will continue to be relatively soft before improving in the second halfofourfiscal year. " [Emphasis added.]

18. On August 2, 2007, the Company issued a press release entitled "Darden

Restaurants Reports July Same-Restaurant Sales Results." Therein, the Company, in relevant part, stated:

Same-restaurant sales at Red Lobster increased 8% to 9% for fiscal July, which reflected a 4% to 5% increase in guest counts and a 4% increase in check average The check average increase was a result of a 3% increase in pricing and a 1% increase from menu mix changes. Last year, Red Lobster had an approximate 2% decrease in same-restaurant sales.

Same-restaurant sales at Olive Garden increased approximately 5% for fiscal July, which reflected an approximate I% increase in guest counts and an approximate 4% increase in check average. The check average increase was a result of an approximate 3% increase in pricing and a 0% to 1% increase from menu mix changes. Last year, Olive Garden had a 2% to 3% increase in same- restaurant sales. [Emphasis added.]

19. On September 28, 2007, the Company issued a press release entitled "Darden

Restaurants Reports 18% Increase in First Quarter Diluted Net EPS From Continuing

Operations; Announces Quarterly Dividend of 18 Cents Per Share; Confirms Fiscal 2008

Financial Outlook." Therein, the Company, in relevant part, stated:

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) today reported diluted net earnings per share for the first quarter ended August 26, 2007. In the first quarter, diluted net earnings per share from continuing operations increased 18% to 73 cents, versus 62 cents in the prior year. First quarter sales from continuing operations were $1.47 billion, compared to $1.36 billion in the prior year, a 7.9% increase that reflects strong same-restaurant sales growth at Red Lobster and Olive Garden, as well as new restaurant growth at Olive Garden.

6 In the first quarter, diluted net losses per share from discontinued operations were one cent compared to diluted net losses per share from discontinued operations of three cents in the prior year. Including losses from discontinued operations, diluted net earnings per share for the first quarter were 72 cents compared to diluted net earnings of 59 cents for the same period last year.

"This quarter we once again delivered competitively superior financial results," said Clarence Otis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darden. "We have talented teams in our restaurants and restaurant support center. Guided by a proven approach to our business that combines strong brand management and restaurant operations excellence, they are working on the right things. We're delighted with how guests are responding, which is reflected in our track record of same-restaurant excellence. It provides a strong platform for the accelerated new restaurant growth we plan with the pending acquisition of RARE Hospitality."

Fiscal 2008 Financial Outlook

Darden reiterated that it expects combined U.S. same-restaurant sales growth in fiscal 2008 of between 2% and 4% for Red Lobster and Olive Garden, and that it expects to open approximately 40 net new restaurants at its existing businesses this fiscal year. As a result, the Company expects total sales growth from its existing businesses of between 6% and 7% in fiscal 2008. The Company continues to anticipate that diluted net earnings per share growth will be 10% to 12% in fiscal 2008, excluding one-time transaction and integration related costs and the impact ofpurchase price accounting adjustments related to the pending RARE Hospitality transaction.

Assuming the RARE Hospitality transaction closes in October 2007, as expected, the Company will provide an updated fiscal 2008 consolidated financial outlook including additional detail regarding the financial integration ofRARE Hospitality, when it releases its second quarter earnings in December 2007. [Emphasis added.]

20. The statements contained in % 17-19 were materially false and misleading when made because defendants failed to disclose or indicate the following: (1) that the Company's food costs were rising at a higher rate than the Company admitted; (2) that same-store sales at

7 the Company's restaurants were experiencing negative trends; (3) that the Company's restaurants were underperforming; (4) that the Company lacked adequate internal and financial controls; and

(4) that, as a result of the foregoing, the Company's statements about its financial well-being and future business prospects were lacking in any reasonable basis when made.

The Truth Beeins to Emerge

21. On December 18, 2007, after the market closed, the Company shocked investors when it issued a press release entitled, "Darden Restaurants Reports Second Quarter Sales and

Diluted Net Earnings Per Share; Announces Quarterly Dividend of 18 Cents Per Share; Updates

Fiscal 2008 Financial Outlook." Therein, the Company, in relevant part, stated:

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) today reported sales and diluted net earnings per share for the second quarter ended November 25, 2007. The results include the effect of the acquisition of RARE Hospitality International, Inc. (LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille), which closed on October 1, 2007, as well as other items discussed below. Second quarter sales from continuing operations were $1.52 billion, which includes two months of sales (October and November) from the acquisition, compared to $1.30 billion reported in the prior year. This represents a 17% increase over the prior year, which reflects the addition of LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille, as well as meaningful new and same-restaurant growth at Olive Garden.

In the second quarter, diluted net earnings per share were 30 cents. The Company estimates that, in aggregate, the acquisition and other items adversely affected diluted net earnings per share by approximately 12 cents in the second quarter. More specifically, in the second quarter : ( 1) integration and purchase accounting adjustments related to the RARE acquisition reduced diluted net earnings per share by approximately nine cents, (2) incremental financing costs reduced diluted net earnings per share by approximately four cents, (3) operating contribution and associated tax benefits from the acquisition increased diluted net earnings per share by approximately three cents and (4) litigation charges relating to the settlement of certain legal issues in California reduced diluted net earnings per share by approximately two cents. The Company reported diluted net earnings per share of 41 cents in

8 the prior year's second quarter. In this year's second quarter, diluted net losses per share from discontinued operations were zero compared to diluted net losses per share from discontinued operations of four cents in the prior year.

"While we are pleased that our sales growth this quarter once again outpaced our industry, we did see some sales softness because of what continued to be a difficult consumer environment," said Clarence Otis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darden. "As a result of this softness and a tougher than anticipated cost environment, we were unable to meet our expectations for earnings growth. Still, we believe our competitively strong top-line is evidence of the underlying strength of our brands and the excellence of the teams working to make those brands compelling for guests. We are also making great progress integrating our two newest brands, LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille, and continue to expect to achieve meaningful financial and operational synergies as a result ofthe acquisition. These synergies strengthen our ability to meet near-term cost challenges and, longer-term, they will enable us to become an even stronger, higher value creating organization as we work to be the best in our industry now and for generations. "

Fiscal 2008 Financial Outlook

Darden confirmed that it continues to expect combined U.S. same-restaurant sales growth in fiscal 2008 of between 2% and 4% for Red Lobster, Olive Garden and LongHorn, and that it expects to open approximately 65 net new restaurants this fiscal year, including new restaurants at LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille for October 2007 through May 2008. As a result, the Company expects total sales growth of between 19 % and 20% in fiscal 2008, including sales from LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille for October 2007 through May 2008, compared to reported sales of $5.57 billion in fiscal 2007. Given the dynamics ofthe current cost environment, which are due in part to the impact a weaker U.S dollar is having on commodities and the cost ofproducts Darden imports from many different countries, the Company now anticipates that diluted net earnings per share growth will be 2% to 4% in fiscal 2008, which includes the transaction and integration related costs and purchase accounting adjustments related to the RARE Hospitality acquisition. These costs and. adjustments will adversely impact diluted net earnings per share by approximately

9 five percentage points in fiscal 2008. Excluding the transaction and integration related costs and purchase accounting adjustments, diluted net earnings per share growth would be 7% to 9% infiscal 2008. [Emphasis added.]

22. On this news, the Company's shares fell an additional $7.74 per share, or 21.3 percent, to close on December 19, 2007 at $28.60 per share, on unusually heavy trading volume.

PLAINTIFF'S CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS

23. Plaintiff brings this action as a class action pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil

Procedure 23(a) and (b)(3) on behalf of a Class, consisting of all those who purchased Darden's securities between June 19, 2007 and December 18, 2007, inclusive (the "Class Period") and who were damaged thereby. Excluded from the Class are defendants, the officers and directors of the Company, at all relevant times, members of their immediate families and their legal representatives, heirs, successors or assigns and any entity in which defendants have or had a controlling interest.

24. The members of the Class are so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable. Throughout the Class Period, Darden's securities were actively traded on the New

York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). While the exact number of Class members is unknown to

Plaintiff at this time and can only be ascertained through appropriate discovery, Plaintiff believes that there are hundreds or thousands of members in the proposed Class. Record owners and other members of the Class may be identified from records maintained by Darden or, its transfer agent and may be notified of the pendency of this action by mail, using the form of notice similar to that customarily used in securities class actions.

25. Plaintiffs claims are typical of the claims of the members of the Class as all members of the Class are similarly affected by defendants' wrongful conduct in violation of federal law that is complained of herein.

10 26. Plaintiff will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the members of the

Class and has retained counsel competent and experienced in class and securities litigation.

27. Common questions of law and fact exist as to all members of the Class and predominate over any questions solely affecting individual members of the Class. Among the questions of law and fact common to the Class are:

(a) whether the federal securities laws were violated by defendants' acts as

alleged herein;

(b) whether statements made by defendants to the investing public during the

Class Period misrepresented material facts about the business, operations

and management of Darden; and

proper measure of damages.

28. A class action is superior to all other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of this controversy since joinder of all members is impracticable. Furthermore, as the damages suffered by individual Class members may be relatively small, the expense and burden of individual litigation make it impossible for members of the Class to individually redress the wrongs done to them. There will be no difficulty in the management of this action as a class action.

UNDISCLOSED ADVERSE FACTS

29. The market for Darden's securities was open, well-developed and efficient at all relevant times. As a result of these materially false and misleading statements, and failures to disclose, Darden's securities traded at artificially inflated prices during the Class Period. Plaintiff and other members of the Class purchased or otherwise acquired Darden's securities relying upon

11 the integrity of the market price of Darden's securities and market information relating to

Darden, and have been damaged thereby.

30. During the Class Period, defendants materially misled the investing public, thereby inflating the price of Darden's securities, by publicly issuing false and misleading statements and omitting to disclose material facts necessary to make defendants' statements, as set forth herein, not false and misleading. Said statements and omissions were materially false and misleading in that they failed to disclose material adverse information and misrepresented the truth about the Company, its business and operations, as alleged herein.

31. At all relevant times, the material misrepresentations and omissions particularized in this Complaint directly or proximately caused or were a substantial contributing cause of the damages sustained by Plaintiff and other members of the Class. As described herein, during the

Class Period, defendants made or caused to be made a series of materially false or misleading statements about Darden's financial well-being and prospects. These material misstatements and omissions had the cause and effect of creating in the market an unrealistically positive assessment of Darden and its financial well-being and prospects, thus causing the Company's securities to be overvalued and artificially inflated at all relevant times. Defendants' materially false and misleading statements during the Class Period resulted in Plaintiff and other members of the Class purchasing the Company's securities at artificially inflated prices, thus causing the damages complained of herein.

LOSS CAUSATION

32. Defendants' wrongful conduct, as alleged herein, directly and proximately caused the economic loss suffered by Plaintiff and the Class.

33. During the Class Period, Plaintiff and the Class purchased Darden's securities at

12 artificially inflated prices and were damaged thereby. The price of Darden's securities significantly declined when the misrepresentations made to the market, and/or the information alleged herein to have been concealed from the market, and/or the effects thereof, were revealed, causing investors' losses.

SCIENTER ALLEGATIONS

34. As alleged herein, defendants acted with scienter in that defendants knew that the public documents and statements issued or disseminated in the name of the Company were materially false and misleading; knew that such statements or documents would be issued or disseminated to the investing public; and knowingly and substantially participated or acquiesced in the issuance or dissemination of such statements or documents as primary violations of the federal securities laws. As set forth elsewhere herein in detail, defendants, by virtue of their receipt of information reflecting the true facts regarding Darden, their control over, and/or receipt and/or modification of Darden's allegedly materially misleading misstatements and/or their associations with the Company which made them privy to confidential proprietary information concerning Darden, participated in the fraudulent scheme alleged herein.

35. Additionally, during the Class Period, and with the Company's securities trading at artificially inflated prices, Company insiders sold 439,390 shares of the Company's stock for gross proceeds of $19,061,837. This trading by Company insiders is evidenced by the following chart:

Date of Trade Inside Trader Number of Price per Gross Proceeds Shares Share October 11, 2007 McGillicudy, Cornelius III 23,250 $44.06 - $1,024,000 $44.06

13 October 4, 2007 Collins, Valerie K. 35,104 $43.43 - $1,525,000 $43.43

October 4, 2007 George, David C. 82,710 $43.34 $3,584,651

October 2, 2007 Lee, Eugene I. Jr. 75,000 $43.21 $3,240,750

September 27, Moullet, Barry B. 29,000 $43.21 - $1,253,000 2007 $43.21

September 24, Burns, Lauire B. 31,044 $43.36 $1,346,067 2007

September 24, Lyons, Daniel M. 129,416 S43.26 - $5,599,000 2007 $43.26

September 21, Pickens, David T. 22,409 $44.07 - $988,000 2007 $44.07 June 30, 2007 Collins, Valerie K. 479 $43.86 - S21,000 $43.86

June 30, 2007 Richmond, C. Bradford 395 $43.86 - $17,000 $43.86

June 30, 2007 Pickens, David T. 1,279 $43.86 - $56,000 $43.86 June 30, 2007 Madsen, Andrew H. 2,623 $43.86 $115,044

June 30, 2007 Burns, Lauire B. 872 $43.86 - $38,000 $43.86

June 30, 2007 Shives, Paula J. 1,072 $43.86 - $47,000 $43.86 June 30, 2007 Moullet, Barry B. 738 $43.86 - $32,000 $43.86

June 30, 2007 Lyons, Daniel M. 754 $43.86 - $33,000 $43.86

June 30, 2007 Otis, Clarence Jr. 3,245 $43.86 $142,325

TOTAL: 439,390 $19,061,837

14 Applicability of Presumption of Reliance: Fraud On The Market Doctrine

36. At all relevant times, the market for Darden's securities was an efficient market for the following reasons, among others:

(a) Darden's securities met the requirements for listing, and were listed and

actively traded on the NYSE, a highly efficient and automated market;

(b) As a regulated issuer, Darden filed periodic public reports with the SEC

and the NYSE;

market communication mechanisms, including through regular

disseminations of press releases on the national circuits of major newswire

services and through other wide-ranging public disclosures, such as

communications with the financial press and other similar reporting

services; and

(d) Darden was followed by several securities analysts employed by major

brokerage firms who wrote reports which were distributed to the sales

force and certain customers of their respective brokerage firms. Each of

these reports was publicly available and entered the public marketplace.

37. As a result of the foregoing, the market for Darden's securities promptly digested current information regarding Darden from all publicly-available sources and reflected such information in the price of Darden's securities. Under these circumstances, all purchasers of

Darden's securities during the Class Period suffered similar injury through their purchase of

Darden's securities at artificially inflated prices and a presumption of reliance applies.

15 NO SAFE HARBOR

38. The statutory safe harbor provided for forward-looking statements under certain circumstances does not apply to any of the allegedly false statements pleaded in this Complaint.

Many of the specific statements pleaded herein were not identified as "forward-looking statements" when made. To the extent there were any forward-looking statements, there were no

meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to

differ materially from those in the purportedly forward-looking statements. Alternatively, to the

extent that the statutory safe harbor does apply to any forward-looking statements pleaded

herein, defendants are liable for those false forward-looking statements because at the time each

of those forward-looking statements was made, the particular speaker knew that the particular

forward-looking statement was false, and/or the forward-looking statement was authorized

and/or approved by an executive officer of Darden who knew that those statements were false

when made.

FIRST CLAIM Violation of Section 10(b) of The Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 Promulgated Thereunder Aeainst All Defendants

39. Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation contained above as if

fully set forth herein.

40. During the Class Period, defendants carried out a plan, scheme and course of

conduct which was intended to and, throughout the Class Period, did: (i) deceive the investing

public, including Plaintiff and other Class members, as alleged herein; and (ii) cause Plaintiff and

other members of the Class to purchase Darden's securities at artificially inflated prices. In

furtherance of this unlawful scheme, plan and course of conduct, defendants, and each of them,

took the actions set forth herein.

16 41. Defendants (i) employed devices, schemes, and artifices to defraud; (ii) made untrue statements of material fact and/or omitted to state material facts necessary to make the statements not misleading; and (iii) engaged in acts, practices, and a course of business which operated as a fraud and deceit upon the purchasers of the Company's securities in an effort to maintain artificially high market prices for Darden's securities in violation of Section 10(b) of the

Exchange Act and Rule lOb-5. All defendants are sued either as primary participants in the wrongful and illegal conduct charged herein or as controlling persons as alleged below.

42. Defendants, individually and in concert, directly and indirectly, by the use, means or instrumentalities of interstate commerce and/or of the mails, engaged and participated in a continuous course of conduct to conceal adverse material information about Darden's financial well-being and prospects, as specified herein.

43. These defendants employed devices, schemes and artifices to defraud, while in possession of material adverse non-public information and engaged in acts, practices, and a course of conduct as alleged herein in an effort to assure investors of Darden's value and performance and continued substantial growth, which included the making of, or the participation in the making of, untrue statements of material facts and omitting to state material facts necessary in order to make the statements made about Darden and its business operations and future prospects in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, as set forth more particularly herein, and engaged in transactions, practices and a course of business which operated as a fraud and deceit upon the purchasers of Darden's securities during the Class Period.

44. Each of the Individual Defendants' primary liability, and controlling person liability, arises from the following facts: (i) the Individual Defendants were high-level executives

17 and/or directors at the Company during the Class Period and members of the Company's

management team or had control thereof; (ii) each of these defendants, by virtue of their

responsibilities and activities as a senior officer and/or director of the Company, was privy to and

participated in the creation, development and reporting of the Company's internal budgets, plans,

projections and/or reports; (iii) each of these defendants enjoyed significant personal contact and

familiarity with the other defendants and was advised of, and had access to, other members of the

Company's management team, internal reports and other data and information about the

Company's finances, operations, and sales at all relevant times; and (iv) each of these defendants

was aware of the Company's dissemination of information to the investing public which they

knew or recklessly disregarded was materially false and misleading.

45. The defendants had actual knowledge of the misrepresentations and omissions of

material facts set forth herein, or acted with reckless disregard for the truth in that they failed to

ascertain and to disclose such facts, even though such facts were available to them. Such

defendants' material misrepresentations and/or omissions were done knowingly or recklessly and

for the purpose and effect of concealing Darden's financial well-being and prospects from the

investing public and supporting the artificially inflated price of its securities. As demonstrated

by defendants' overstatements and misstatements of the Company's financial well-being and

prospects throughout the Class Period, defendants, if they did not have actual knowledge of the

misrepresentations and omissions alleged, were reckless in failing to obtain such knowledge by

deliberately refraining from taking those steps necessary to discover whether those statements

were false or misleading.

46. As a result of the dissemination of the materially false and misleading information

and failure to disclose material facts, as set forth above, the market price of Darden's securities

0 was artificially inflated during the Class Period. In ignorance of the fact that market prices of

Darden's securities were artificially inflated, and relying directly or indirectly on the false and misleading statements made by defendants, or upon the integrity of the market in which the securities trades, and/or in the absence of material adverse information that was known to or recklessly disregarded by defendants , but not disclosed in public statements by defendants during the Class Period, Plaintiff and the other members of the Class acquired Darden's securities during the Class Period at artificially high prices and were damaged thereby.

47. At the time of said misrepresentations and omissions, Plaintiff and other members of the Class were ignorant of their falsity, and believed them to be true. Had Plaintiff and the other members of the Class and the marketplace known the truth regarding the problems that

Darden was experiencing, which were not disclosed by defendants, Plaintiff and other members of the Class would not have purchased or otherwise acquired their Darden securities, or, if they had acquired such securities during the Class Period, they would not have done so at the artificially inflated prices which they paid.

48. By virtue of the foregoing, defendants have violated Section 10(b) of the

Exchange Act and Rule lOb-5 promulgated thereunder.

49. As a direct and proximate result of defendants' wrongful conduct, Plaintiff and the other members of the Class suffered damages in connection with their respective purchases and sales of the Company's securities during the Class Period.

SECOND CLAIM Violation of Section 20(a) of The Exchange Act Against the Individual Defendants

50. Plaintiff repeats and realleges each and every allegation contained above as if fully set forth herein.

19 51. The Individual Defendants acted as controlling persons of Darden within the

meaning of Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act as alleged herein. By virtue of their high-level positions, and their ownership and contractual rights, participation in and/or awareness of the

Company's operations and/or intimate knowledge of the false financial statements filed by the

Company with the SEC and disseminated to the investing public, the Individual Defendants had

the power to influence and control and did influence and control, directly or indirectly, the

decision-making of the Company, including the content and dissemination of the various

statements which Plaintiff contends are false and misleading. The Individual Defendants were

provided with or had unlimited access to copies of the Company's reports, press releases, public

filings and other statements alleged by Plaintiff to be misleading prior to and/or shortly after

these statements were issued and had the ability to prevent the issuance of the statements or

cause the statements to be corrected.

52. In particular, each of these defendants had direct and supervisory involvement in

the day-to-day operations of the Company and, therefore, is presumed to have had the power to

control or influence the particular transactions giving rise to the securities violations as alleged

herein, and exercised the same.

53. As set forth above, Darden and the Individual Defendants each violated Section

10(b) and Rule lOb-5 by their acts and omissions as alleged in this Complaint. By virtue of their

positions as controlling persons, the Individual Defendants are liable pursuant to Section 20(a) of

the Exchange Act. As a direct and proximate result of defendants' wrongful conduct, Plaintiff

and other members of the Class suffered damages in connection with their purchases of the

Company's securities during the Class Period.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for relief and judgment, as follows:

20 (a) Determining that this action is a proper class action under Rule 23 of the

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure;

(b) Awarding compensatory damages in favor of Plaintiff and the other Class

members against all defendants, jointly and severally, for all damages

sustained as a result of defendants' wrongdoing, in an amount to be proven

at trial, including interest thereon;

incurred in this action, including counsel fees and expert fees; and

(d) Such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

JURY TRIAL DEMANDED

Plaintiff hereby demands a trial by jury.

Dated: April 4, 2008 Respectfully submitted,

By: s/Maya S. Saxena Maya S. Saxena

SAXENA WHITE P.A. Maya S. Saxena [email protected] Joseph E. White, III [email protected] Christopher S. Jones [email protected] 2424 N. Federal Highway Suite 257 Boca Raton, FL 33431 Tel: 561 394-3399 Fax: 561 394-3382

SCHIFFRIN BARROWAY TOPAZ & KESSLER, LLP D. Seamus Kaskela

21 [email protected] David M. Promisloff [email protected] 280 King of Prussia Road Radnor, PA 19087 Tel: (610) 667-7706 Fax: (610) 667-7056

Attorneys for Plaintiff