Adjudications & Decisions
When FINRA determines that violations of securities rules have occurred and formal disciplinary action is necessary, the Enforcement Department files a complaint with the Office of Hearing Officers (OHO).
The Office arranges a three-person panel to hear the case. The panel is chaired by a hearing officer who is an employee of the Office of Hearing Officers. The Chief Hearing Officer appoints two industry panelists, drawn primarily from a pool of current and former securities industry members of FINRA's District Committees, as well as its Market Regulation Committee, former members of FINRA's National Adjudicatory Council (NAC) and former FINRA Governors.
At the hearing, the parties present evidence for the panel to determine whether a firm or individual has engaged in conduct that violates FINRA rules, SEC regulations or federal securities laws. In reaching its decision, the hearing panel also considers previous court, SEC, and NAC decisions to determine if violations occurred. The NAC is the national committee which reviews initial decisions rendered in FINRA disciplinary and membership proceedings.
For each case, the hearing panel will issue a written decision explaining the reasons for its ruling and consult the FINRA Sanction Guidelines to determine the appropriate sanctions if violations have occurred. FINRA also, when feasible and appropriate, can order firms and individuals to make restitution to harmed customers.
Appeals Process
Under FINRA's disciplinary procedures, a firm or individual has the right to appeal a hearing panel decision to the NAC, or the NAC may on its own initiate a review of a decision. On appeal, the NAC will determine if a hearing panel's findings were legally correct, factually supported and consistent with FINRA's Sanction Guidelines. While a panel decision is on appeal, the sanction is not enforced against the firm or individual.
Unless FINRA's Board of Governors decides to review the NAC's appellate decision, that decision represents FINRA's final action. A firm or individual can appeal FINRA's decision to the SEC and then to federal court.
View All Adjudications & Decisions
| Date of Decision | Proceeding No. | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 22, 1998 | C8A960040 | In the Matter of District Business Conduct Committee For District No. 8, Complainant, vs. Respondent Firm 1, and Respondent 2 | Disciplinary Decision, Redacted Decision |
| March 22, 1998 | C8A960040 | Podesta & Co. & Carol P. Foley | Disciplinary Decision |
| March 19, 1998 | C07970055 | Hearing Panel Decision | Redacted Decision |
| March 12, 1998 | C3A960040 | Cindy M. Goldberg | Disciplinary Decision |
| March 10, 1998 | C05970035 | Order Granting in Part Motion of Complainant to Exclude Respondents' Expert Witness and Certain Other Witnesses | Disciplinary Order |
| March 10, 1998 | CMS970026 | Final Pre-Hearing Conference Order, Order Granting Respondents' Motion to Adjourn the March 17, 1998 Hearing, Order Rejecting Respondents' Contested Offer of Settlement, and Order Denying the Department of Enforcement's Motion for Partial Summary Disposition | Disciplinary Order |
| March 06, 1998 | C02970007 | Aaron Eugene Granath | Disciplinary Decision |
| March 06, 1998 | C07960085 | Adam S. Levy | Disciplinary Decision |
| February 27, 1998 | CMS950110 | La Jolla Capital Corp. & Harold Bailey Gallison, Jr. | Disciplinary Decision |
| February 25, 1998 | C10970033 | Order Directing Written Submissions in Place of Hearing | Disciplinary Order |
| February 25, 1998 | CAF970002 | Order Regarding Motion of Respondents and Enforcement's Motion to Strike | Disciplinary Order |
| February 19, 1998 | C07930034 | Escalator Securities, Inc., & Howard A. Scala | Disciplinary Decision |
| February 17, 1998 | C9B970016 | Order Regarding Production Under Rule 9251 | Disciplinary Order |
| February 05, 1998 | CAF970002 | Order Regarding Severance | Disciplinary Order |
| February 03, 1998 | CMS960085 | James T. Patten & Greater Metropolitan Investment Services, Inc. | Disciplinary Decision |
| February 02, 1998 | C04970029 | Order Staying Proceeding | Disciplinary Order |
| January 29, 1998 | CAF970011 | Order Denying Motion to Disqualify Counsel for Complainant and Hearing Panelists | Disciplinary Order |
| January 29, 1998 | CAF970011 | Order Denying Motion for Recusal of Hearing Officer | Disciplinary Order |
| January 27, 1998 | CAF970011 | Order Granting Department of Enforcement's Motion to Amend the Complaint | Disciplinary Order |
| January 27, 1998 | C3A970067 | Order Granting Department of Enforcement's Motion for Telephone Testimony | Disciplinary Order |
| January 23, 1998 | C3B960004 | Otto M. Bruun | Disciplinary Decision |
| January 23, 1998 | C02960042 | Stephen J. Gluckman | Disciplinary Decision |
| January 23, 1998 | C07960009 | James S. Pritula | Disciplinary Decision |
| January 22, 1998 | CMS970026 | Order Granting the Department of Enforcement's Motion for Telephone Testimony, Denying Respondents' Motion for Use of an Expert Witness and Denying Respondents' Motion to Compel Production of Documents | Disciplinary Order |
| January 22, 1998 | C07960091 | Robert L. Wallace | Disciplinary Decision |