(a) Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent Procedures
(1) Notwithstanding
Rule 9211, if the Department of Enforcement
has reason to believe a violation has occurred and the member or associated person does not dispute the violation, the Department of Enforcement
may prepare and request that the member or associated person execute a letter accepting a finding of violation, consenting to the imposition of sanctions, and agreeing to waive such member's or associated person's right to a hearing before a Hearing Panel or, if applicable, an Extended Hearing Panel, and any right of appeal to the National Adjudicatory Council, the SEC, and the courts, or to otherwise challenge the validity of the letter, if the letter is accepted. The letter shall describe the act or practice engaged in or omitted, the rule, regulation, or statutory provision violated, and the sanction or sanctions to be imposed. Unless the letter states otherwise, the effective date of any sanction(s) imposed will be a date to be determined by FINRA staff.
(2)(A) If a member or person associated with a member submits an executed letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, by the submission such member or person associated with a member also waives:
(i) any right of such member or person associated with a member to claim bias or prejudgment of the General Counsel, the National Adjudicatory Council, or any member of the National Adjudicatory Council, in connection with such person's or body's participation in discussions regarding the terms and conditions of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, or other consideration of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, including acceptance or rejection of such letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent; and
(ii) any right of such member or person associated with a member to claim that a person violated the ex parte prohibitions of
Rule 9143 or the separation of functions prohibitions of
Rule 9144, in connection with such person's or body's participation in discussions regarding the terms and conditions of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, or other consideration of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, including acceptance or rejection of such letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent.
(B) If a letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent is rejected, the member or associated person shall be bound by the waivers made under paragraphs (a)(1) and (a)(2)(A) for conduct by persons or bodies occurring during the period beginning on the date the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent was executed and submitted and ending upon the rejection of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent.
(3) If the member or associated person executes the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent, it shall be submitted to the National Adjudicatory Council. The Review Subcommittee or the Office of Disciplinary Affairs may accept such letter or refer it to the National Adjudicatory Council for acceptance or rejection by the National Adjudicatory Council. The Review Subcommittee may reject such letter or refer it to the National Adjudicatory Council for acceptance or rejection by the National Adjudicatory Council.
(4) If the letter is accepted by the National Adjudicatory Council, the Review Subcommittee, or the Office of Disciplinary Affairs, it shall be deemed final and shall constitute the complaint, answer, and decision in the matter. If the letter is rejected by the Review Subcommittee or the National Adjudicatory Council, FINRA may take any other appropriate disciplinary action with respect to the alleged violation or violations. If the letter is rejected, the member or associated person shall not be prejudiced by the execution of the letter of acceptance, waiver, and consent under paragraph (a)(1) and the letter may not be introduced into evidence in connection with the determination of the issues set forth in any complaint or in any other proceeding.
(b) Procedure for Violation Under Plan Pursuant to SEA Rule 19d-1(c)(2)
(1) Notwithstanding
Rule 9211, FINRA or the National Adjudicatory Council may, subject to the requirements set forth in paragraphs (b)(2) through (b)(4) and in SEA Rule 19d-1(c)(2), impose a fine (not to exceed $2,500) and/or a censure on any member or associated person with respect to any rule listed in
Rule 9217. If the Department of Enforcement
has reason to believe a violation has occurred and if the member or associated person does not dispute the violation, the Department of Enforcement
may prepare and request that the member or associated person execute a minor rule violation plan letter accepting a finding of violation, consenting to the imposition of sanctions, and agreeing to waive such member's or associated person's right to a hearing before a Hearing Panel or, if applicable, an Extended Hearing Panel, and any right of appeal to the National Adjudicatory Council, the SEC, and the courts, or to otherwise challenge the validity of the letter, if the letter is accepted. The letter shall describe the act or practice engaged in or omitted, the rule, regulation, or statutory provision violated, and the sanction or sanctions to be imposed. Unless the letter states otherwise, the effective date of any sanction(s) imposed will be a date to be determined by FINRA staff.
(2)(A) If a member or person associated with a member submits an executed minor rule violation plan letter, by the submission such member or person associated with a member also waives:
(i) any right of such member or person associated with a member to claim bias or prejudgment of the General Counsel, the National Adjudicatory Council, or any member of the National Adjudicatory Council, in connection with such person's or body's participation in discussions regarding the terms and conditions of the minor rule violation plan letter or other consideration of the minor rule violation plan letter, including acceptance or rejection of such minor rule violation plan letter; and
(ii) any right of such member or person associated with a member to claim that a person violated the ex parte prohibitions of
Rule 9143 or the separation of functions prohibitions of
Rule 9144, in connection with such person's or body's participation in discussions regarding the terms and conditions of the minor rule violation plan letter or other consideration of the minor rule violation plan letter, including acceptance or rejection of such minor rule violation plan letter.
(B) If a minor rule violation plan letter is rejected, the member or person associated with a member shall be bound by the waivers made under paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2)(A) for conduct by persons or bodies occurring during the period beginning on the date the minor rule violation plan letter was executed and submitted and ending upon the rejection of the minor rule violation plan letter.
(3) If the member or associated person executes the minor rule violation plan letter, it shall be submitted to the National Adjudicatory Council. The Review Subcommittee or the Office of Disciplinary Affairs may accept such letter or refer it to the National Adjudicatory Council for acceptance or rejection by the National Adjudicatory Council. The Review Subcommittee may reject such letter or refer it to the National Adjudicatory Council for acceptance or rejection by the National Adjudicatory Council.
(4) If the letter is accepted by the National Adjudicatory Council, the Review Subcommittee, or the Office of Disciplinary Affairs, it shall be deemed final and FINRA shall report the violation to the SEC as required by the SEC pursuant to a plan approved under SEA Rule 19d-1(c)(2). If the letter is rejected by the Review Subcommittee or the National Adjudicatory Council, FINRA may take any other appropriate disciplinary action with respect to the alleged violation or violations. If the letter is rejected, the member or associated person shall not be prejudiced by the execution of the minor rule violation plan letter under paragraph (b)(1) and the letter may not be introduced into evidence in connection with the determination of the issues set forth in any complaint or in any other proceeding.
