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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2015 | 2012032997201 | APPEALED: Stephen Grivas | Disciplinary Decision |
| Jul 10, 2015 | 2009017440201 | APPEALED: Louis Ottimo | Disciplinary Decision |
| Jun 30, 2015 | 2012033128703 | APPEALED: Brian Michael White | Disciplinary Decision |
| Jun 29, 2015 | 20110263957-01 | Jack Lawrence Howard | Disciplinary Decision |
| Jun 26, 2015 | 2011030072301 | Audra Lynn Lalley | Disciplinary Decision |
| Jun 24, 2015 | 20070092503-01 | Robin Maranda Oscher | Disciplinary Decision |
| Jun 23, 2015 | SD-2059 | Stephen Pocina with Eroom Securities LLC | Statutory Disqualification, Approvals |
| Jun 16, 2015 | 2011025851501 | APPEALED: KCD Financial, Inc. | Disciplinary Decision |
| Jun 8, 2015 | ARB140066 | Michael Albert DiPietro | Expedited Decision, Rule 9550 Expedited Decisions |
| Jun 5, 2015 | 20140407790-01 | Richard Francis Kenny, Jr. | Disciplinary Decision |
| Jun 4, 2015 | 2011025444501 | Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Strike Portions of Enforcement's Post-Hearing Appendix | Disciplinary Order |
| May 21, 2015 | 2012032519101 | APPEALED: Robert Earl Holaday | Disciplinary Decision |
| May 18, 2015 | 20110279263-01 | APPEALED: Matthew Joseph Sheerin | Disciplinary Decision |
| May 6, 2015 | 2009016317701 | The Dratel Group, Inc. and William M. Dratel | Disciplinary Decision |
| May 4, 2015 | 2009016159110 | Anthony Spagnolo, III | Disciplinary Decision |
| May 4, 2015 | 2009016159111 | Brian Sanders | Disciplinary Decision |
| May 4, 2015 | M00010006 | APPEALED: In the Matter of the New Membership Application Firm X | Membership Decision, Redacted Decision |
| Apr 30, 2015 | SD-1960 | Scott Mathis with DPEC, Inc. | Statutory Disqualification, Approvals |
| Apr 29, 2015 | 2009017195204 | Merrimac Corporate Securities, Inc. | Disciplinary Decision |
| Apr 28, 2015 | 2012033351801 | CALLED FOR REVIEW: Paolo Franca Iida | Disciplinary Decision |
| Apr 22, 2015 | SD-1962 | Candace J. Lee with Financial Services International Corp | Statutory Disqualification, Approvals |
| Apr 16, 2015 | SD-2054 | Patrick Lubin with Dinosaur Securities | Statutory Disqualification, Approvals |
| Apr 16, 2015 | 2007011413501 | APPEALED: Brookstone Securities, Inc., Antony Lee Turbeville, Christopher Dean Kline and David William Locy | Disciplinary Decision |
| Apr 8, 2015 | 2010024522103 | Order Denying Motion Pursuant to FINRA Rule 9234 | Disciplinary Order |
| Apr 8, 2015 | 2011025622001 | Order Denying Respondent's Motion for Leave to Permit Expert Testimony | Disciplinary Order |