From Forbes:
"The SEC also moved Sunday to limit the damage to brokerage customers of Lehman. They would be covered by the Securities Investor Protection Corp., a form of insurance similar to banking's Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Under the SIPC, brokerage accounts are insured up to $500,000, and $100,00 for cash, but many firms provide additional insurance coverage. According to the SIPC's website, the insurance fund stood at $1.52 billion.
It was not clear Sunday night how many of Lehman's brokerage customers would be exposed to losses, or in what amount. The SEC says it is working with Lehman to ensure that customers will not be adversely affected by a liquidation of the firm. "