This rule is no longer applicable. NASD
IM-8310-3 has been superseded by FINRA Rule 8313. Please consult the appropriate FINRA Rule.
(a) NASD shall, in response to a request, release to the requesting party a copy of any identified disciplinary complaint or disciplinary decision issued by NASD or any subsidiary or Committee thereof; provided, however, that each copy of:
(1) a disciplinary complaint shall be accompanied by the following statement: "The issuance of a disciplinary complaint represents the initiation of a formal proceeding by NASD in which findings as to the allegations in the complaint have not been made and does not represent a decision as to any of the allegations contained in the complaint. Because this complaint is unadjudicated, you may wish to contact the respondent before drawing any conclusions regarding the allegations in the complaint."
(2) a disciplinary decision that is released prior to the expiration of the time period provided under the Rule 9000 Series for appeal or call for review within NASD or while such an appeal or call for review is pending, shall be accompanied by a statement that the findings and sanctions imposed in the decision may be increased, decreased, modified, or reversed by NASD;
(3) a final decision of NASD that is released prior to the time period provided under the Act for appeal to the Commission or while such an appeal is pending, shall be accompanied by a statement that the findings and sanctions of NASD are subject to review and modification by the Commission; and
(4) a final decision of NASD that is released after the decision is appealed to the Commission shall be accompanied by a statement as to whether the effectiveness of the sanctions has been stayed pending the outcome of proceedings before the Commission.
(b)(1) NASD shall release to the public information with respect to any disciplinary complaint initiated by the Department of Enforcement or the Department of Market Regulation of NASD, the NASD Regulation, Inc. Board of Directors, or the NASD Board of Governors containing an allegation of a violation of a designated statute, rule or regulation of the Commission, NASD, or Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, as determined by the NASD Regulation, Inc. Board of Directors (a "Designated Rule"); and may also release such information with respect to any disciplinary complaint or group of disciplinary complaints that involve a significant policy or enforcement determination where the release of information is deemed by the President of NASD Regulatory Policy and Oversight to be in the public interest.
(2) Information released to the public pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) shall be accompanied by the statement required under paragraph (a)(1).
(c)(1) NASD shall release to the public information with respect to any disciplinary decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9000 Series imposing a suspension, cancellation or expulsion of a member; or suspension or revocation of the registration of a person associated with a member; or suspension or barring of a member or person associated with a member from association with all members; or imposition of monetary sanctions of $10,000 or more upon a member or person associated with a member; or containing an allegation of a violation of a Designated Rule; and may also release such information with respect to any disciplinary decision or group of decisions that involve a significant policy or enforcement determination where the release of information is deemed by the President of NASD Regulatory Policy and Oversight to be in the public interest. NASD also may release to the public information with respect to any decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9550 Series imposing a suspension or cancellation of the member or a suspension or bar of the association of a person with a member, unless NASD determines otherwise. NASD may, in its discretion, determine to waive the requirement to release information with respect to a disciplinary or other decision under those extraordinary circumstances where the release of such information would violate fundamental notions of fairness or work an injustice. NASD also shall release to the public information with respect to any temporary cease and desist order issued pursuant to the Rule 9800 Series. NASD may release to the public information on any disciplinary or other decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9000 Series, not specifically enumerated in this paragraph, regardless of sanctions imposed, so long as the names of the parties and other identifying information is redacted.
(A) NASD shall release to the public, in unredacted form, information with respect to any disciplinary decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9300 Series that does not meet one or more of the criteria in IM-8310-3(c)(1) for the release of information to the public, provided that the underlying decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9200 Series meets one or more of the criteria in IM-8310-3(c)(1) for the release of information to the public, and information regarding such decision has been released to the public in unredacted form.
(B) In the event there is more than one respondent in a disciplinary decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9000 Series, and sanctions imposed on one or more, but not all, of the respondents meets one or more of the criteria in IM-8310-3(c)(1) for the release of information to the public, NASD shall release to the public, in unredacted form, information with respect to the respondent(s) who meet such criteria, and may release to the public, in redacted form, information with respect to the respondent(s) who do not meet such criteria. Notwithstanding the foregoing, NASD shall release to the public, in unredacted form, information with respect to any respondent in a disciplinary decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9300 Series if the sanctions imposed on such respondent in the underlying decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9200 Series meet one or more of the criteria for release of information to the public, and information with respect to that respondent has been released in unredacted form.
(2) Information released to the public pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) shall be accompanied by a statement to the extent required for that type of information under paragraphs (a)(2)–(4).
(d) If a decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9000 Series other than by the National Adjudicatory Council is not appealed to or called for review by the National Adjudicatory Council, the decision shall become effective on a date set by NASD but not before the expiration of 45 days after the date of decision.
(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (d), expulsions and bars imposed pursuant to the provisions of Rules 9216 and 9270 shall become effective upon approval or acceptance by the National Adjudicatory Council, and information regarding any sanctions imposed pursuant to those Rules may be released to the public pursuant to paragraph (c) immediately upon such approval or acceptance.
(f) If a decision issued pursuant to the Rule 9000 Series is called for review by the NASD Board of Governors, the decision shall be stayed pending a final determination and decision by the Board.
(g) If a decision of NASD imposing monetary sanctions of $10,000 or more or a penalty of expulsion, revocation, suspension and/or barring of a member from being associated with all members is appealed to the Commission, notice thereof shall be given to the membership and to the press as soon as possible after receipt by NASD of notice from the Commission of such appeal and NASD's notice shall state whether the effectiveness of the Board's decision has been stayed pending the outcome of proceedings before the Commission.
(h) In the event an appeal to the courts is filed from a decision by the Commission in a case previously appealed to it from a decision of NASD, involving the imposition of monetary sanctions of $10,000 or more or a penalty of expulsion, revocation, suspension and/or barring of a member from being associated with all members, notice thereof shall be given to the membership as soon as possible after receipt by NASD of a formal notice of appeal. Such notice shall include a statement whether the order of the Commission has been stayed.
(i) Any order issued by the Commission of revocation or suspension of a member's broker/dealer registration with the Commission; or the suspension or expulsion of a member from NASD; or the suspension or barring of a member or person associated with a member from association with all broker/dealers or membership; or the imposition of monetary sanctions of $10,000 or more shall be released to the public through a notice containing the effective date thereof sent as soon as possible after receipt by NASD of the order of the Commission.
(j) Cancellations of membership or registration pursuant to NASD's By-Laws, Rules and Interpretative Material shall be released to the public as soon after the effective date of the cancellation as possible.
(k) Releases to the public referred to in paragraphs (b) and (c) above shall identify the NASD Rules and By-Laws or the SEC Rules violated, and shall describe the conduct constituting such violation. Releases may also identify the member with which an individual was associated at the time the violations occurred if such identification is determined by NASD to be in the public interest.
(l) NASD shall release to the public, in the form issued by the National Adjudicatory Council, information with respect to any decision issued by the National Adjudicatory Council pursuant to Rule 1015. In its discretion, the National Adjudicatory Council may have redacted certain information from such decisions prior to their issuance.
