Two shareholder groups have filed separate lawsuits against H&R Block Inc.’s board of directors, saying the members turned a blind eye while the company sold products that led to “serious and systemic ethical and legal violations.”

Momentum Partners of New York, an investment group, and the pension fund of Iron Workers Local 16 filed the shareholder derivative suits last week in U.S. District Court in Kansas City.

The suits criticize Block’s refund anticipation loan program, its “Peace of Mind” tax and audit insurance, its Express IRAs, its sale of Enron Corp. securities and its mutual fund market timing practices.

Shares of H&R Block lost 19 cents to close at $23.27 in trading Tuesday on the New York Stock Exchange.