(a) Form, Content, Notice, Docketing, and Service
(1) If a complaint is authorized, the Department of Enforcement
shall issue the complaint. Each complaint shall be in writing and signed by the Department of Enforcement
. The complaint shall specify in reasonable detail the conduct alleged to constitute the violative activity and the rule, regulation, or statutory provision the Respondent is alleged to be violating or to have violated. If the complaint consists of several causes of action, each cause shall be stated separately. Complaints shall be served by the Department of Enforcement
on each Party pursuant to Rules
9131 and
9134, and filed at the time of service with the Office of Hearing Officers pursuant to Rules
9135,
9136, and
9137.
(2) At the time of issuance of a complaint, the Department of Enforcement
may propose:
(A) an appropriate location for the hearing; and
(B) if the complaint alleges at least one cause of action involving a violation of a statute or a rule described in
Rule 9120 (u), that the Chief Hearing Officer select a Market Regulation Committee Panelist for the Hearing Panel, or, if applicable, the Extended Hearing Panel as described in
Rule 9231.
(b) Amendments to Complaint
The Department of Enforcement may file and serve an amended complaint once as a matter of course at any time before the Respondent answers the complaint. Otherwise, upon motion by the Department of Enforcement, the Hearing Officer may permit the Department of Enforcement to amend the complaint, including amendments so as to make the complaint conform to the evidence presented, after considering whether the Department of Enforcement has shown good cause for the amendment and whether any Respondent will suffer any unfair prejudice if the amendment is allowed. Amendments to complaints will be freely granted when justice so requires.
(c) Withdrawal of Complaint
With prior leave of the Hearing Officer, the Department of Enforcement may withdraw a complaint. If the Department of Enforcement withdraws the complaint before the earlier of (1) the Hearing Panel's or, if applicable, the Extended Hearing Panel's, issuance of a ruling on a motion for summary disposition, or (2) the start of the hearing on the merits, the withdrawal of the complaint by the Department of Enforcement shall be without prejudice and the Department of Enforcement shall be permitted to refile a case based on allegations concerning the same facts and circumstances that are set forth in the withdrawn complaint. If the Department of Enforcement requests to withdraw such complaint after the occurrence of either of the two events set forth in (1) and (2) in this paragraph, the Hearing Panel or, if applicable, the Extended Hearing Panel, after considering the facts and circumstances of the request, shall determine whether the withdrawal shall be granted with prejudice.
(d) Disciplinary Proceeding Docket
The Office of Hearing Officers shall promptly record each complaint filed with it in FINRA's disciplinary proceeding docket, and record in the disciplinary proceeding docket each event, filing, and change in the status of a disciplinary proceeding.
