Adjudication and Decisions
When FINRA determines that violations of securities rules have occurred and formal disciplinary action is necessary, the Enforcement Department or Market Regulation 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.
Date of Decision | Proceeding No. |
Title![]() |
Type |
---|---|---|---|
Dec 29, 1997 | CAF970002 | Order Regarding Respondent Motion for an Extension of Time to Answer | Disciplinary Order |
Jul 18, 2000 | C10000046 | Order Regarding Respondent's Motion for Leave to File a Late Answer | Disciplinary Order |
Feb 1, 2007 | E3A20050065 | Order Regarding Respondent's Pre-Hearing Submissions | Disciplinary Order |
Mar 23, 2006 | E102003130804 | Order Regarding Respondent's Pre-Hearing Submissions | Disciplinary Order |
Mar 26, 2000 | CAF980002 | Order Regarding Respondents' Motion to Preclude Designation of Transcripts; Respondents' Motion for a Protective Order; and Enforcement's Motion for Post-Hearing Submissions in Excess of Twenty-Five Pages | Disciplinary Order |
Feb 24, 2005 | C3A040023 | Order Regarding Respondents' Pre-Hearing Submissions | Disciplinary Order |
Apr 11, 2017 | 2014042524301 | Order Regarding Respondent’s Interrogatories, Requests for Production of Documents, and Requests for Admissions | Disciplinary Order |
Jun 1, 2011 | 2010021196801 | Order Regarding Respondent’s Motion to Stay | Disciplinary Order |
Oct 31, 2016 | 2014042524301 | Order Regarding Respondent’s Motions to Stay Case Management and Scheduling Order and to Strike and/or For a More Definite Statement. | Disciplinary Order |
Feb 5, 1998 | CAF970002 | Order Regarding Severance | Disciplinary Order |
Oct 29, 2003 | CAF030008 | Order Regarding the Department's Motions in Limine | Disciplinary Order |
Mar 28, 2007 | CAF040079 | Order Regarding Witnesses | Disciplinary Order |
Mar 1, 2000 | C05990026 | Order Rejecting Contested Offer of Settlement | Disciplinary Order |
Apr 30, 2003 | C3B020015 | Order Rejecting Contested Offer of Settlement | Disciplinary Order |
Oct 12, 2004 | CAF040056 | Order Rejecting Filing | Disciplinary Order |
Aug 15, 2016 | 2013038986001 | Order Rejecting Offer of Settlement | Disciplinary Order |
Mar 16, 2007 | C02050006 | Order Requiring Counsel to File Notice of Representation or Withdrawal | Disciplinary Order |
Sep 1, 2006 | E0220030845-01 | Order Requiring Counsel to File Notice Pursuant to Rule 9142 | Disciplinary Order |
Jan 10, 2006 | E8A2004065102 | Order Requiring Respondent to Supplement His Rule 9252 Request | Disciplinary Order |
Sep 9, 2004 | C9B040033 | Order Requiring Respondent to Supplement his Rule 9252 Requests | Disciplinary Order |
Oct 31, 2007 | 20070077587 | Order Resolving Certain Pre-Hearing Motions | Disciplinary Order |
Jun 11, 2007 | E102003025201 | Order Ruling on (1) Objections to Witnesses, (2) Motion to Substitute Exhibit, (3) Motions in Limine, and (4) Motions to Strike the Respondents' Affirmative Defenses | Disciplinary Order |
Feb 15, 2007 | 2005000316701 | Order Ruling on Department of Enforcement's (1) Objections to Witnesses and Documents, (2) Motion to Partially Strike Respondents' Pre-Hearing Brief, (3) Motion in Limine, and (4) Motion for Ruling on the Admissibility of Documents and Business Records | Disciplinary Order |
Oct 28, 2004 | CAF040020 | Order Ruling On Pre-Hearing Motions | Disciplinary Order |
Oct 12, 2004 | CAF040020 | Order Ruling On Pre-Hearing Motions | Disciplinary Decision |