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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 20, 2001 | C3A000056 | Order Denying Motion to Dismiss, in Part, Deferring Decision on Motion, in Part, and Directing Enforcement to Supplement its Opposition | Disciplinary Order |
| April 19, 2001 | C8A990071 | Respondent Firm 1, Respondent 2 & Respondent 3 | Disciplinary Decision, Redacted Decision |
| April 18, 2001 | CAF000015 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Josephthal & Co., Inc. | Disciplinary Decision |
| April 17, 2001 | CAF000013 | Order Denying Respondents' Motion for Summary Disposition and Motion to Dismiss the Fourth Cause of Action and Supplementing Order Granting Complainant's Motion for Summary Disposition on Cause Four of the Complaint Against Respondents | Disciplinary Order |
| April 06, 2001 | C07000084 | Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Reconsider and to Set Aside Default Decision | Disciplinary Order |
| April 03, 2001 | C9A990029 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Shannon Johnson | Disciplinary Decision |
| March 22, 2001 | C07000058 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Russell Montgomery, Jr. | Disciplinary Decision |
| March 20, 2001 | C10000102 | Hearing Panel Decision as to Respondent | Redacted Decision |
| March 08, 2001 | C9A000027 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Luther A. Hanson | Disciplinary Decision |
| March 06, 2001 | C07000003 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Jack H. Stein | Disciplinary Decision |
| March 06, 2001 | C02000037 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Paul John Hoeper | Disciplinary Decision |
| March 02, 2001 | EQS000002 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. A. G. Halvorson Securities Inc. | Expedited Decision, Rule 9540 Suspension Decisions |
| March 02, 2001 | C07000013 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. John F. Brown | Disciplinary Decision |
| February 27, 2001 | C8B000001 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Michael E. Zulick | Disciplinary Decision |
| February 15, 2001 | CMS000157 | Order Granting Respondent's Motion to Exclude Documents | Disciplinary Order |
| February 14, 2001 | CAF000045 | Order Granting Motions to Quash | Disciplinary Order |
| February 13, 2001 | C10000122 | Order Regarding Complainant's Motion for a Preclusion Order | Disciplinary Order |
| February 08, 2001 | C07000033 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Franklyn Ross Michelin and LH Ross & Company, Inc. | Disciplinary Decision |
| February 05, 2001 | C10970145 | Michael Galasso, Jr., Gerard McMahon, John Montelbano, Dwayne Leverett, & Todd Nejaime | Disciplinary Decision |
| February 02, 2001 | C8A000024 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Paul E. Carney | Disciplinary Decision |
| January 31, 2001 | C10000086 | Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Peter D. Ragofsky | Disciplinary Decision |
| January 30, 2001 | C07000023 | Hearing Panel Decision as to Respondent | Redacted Decision |
| January 26, 2001 | CAF000045 | Order Denying Complainant's Motion to Strike Affirmative Defenses | Disciplinary Order |
| January 23, 2001 | C10000172 | Order Denying Motion to Quash | Disciplinary Order |
| January 23, 2001 | C02990042,C02980085 | Robert Tretiak | Disciplinary Decision |