SEC Approves Amendments to Arbitration Codes to Provide an Additional Hearing Option in Simplified Arbitration
Simplified Arbitration
Regulatory Notice | |
Notice Type Rule Amendment |
Referenced Rules & Notices FINRA Rule 12600 FINRA Rule 12800 FINRA Rule 13600 FINRA Rule 13800 |
Suggested Routing Compliance Legal Registered Representatives |
Key Topics Arbitration Codes of Arbitration Procedure Simplified Arbitration |
Summary
FINRA has amended its rules to provide a new option for simplified arbitration.1 The amendments provide an additional hearing option for parties in arbitration with claims of $50,000 or less, excluding interest and expenses.
The amendments are effective September 17, 2018.
The text of the amendments is set forth in Attachment A.
Questions concerning this Notice should be directed to:
Background & Discussion
The Code of Arbitration Procedure for Customer Disputes (Customer Code) and the Code of Arbitration Procedure for Industry Disputes (Industry Code, and together with the Customer Code, the Codes) provide two options for administering cases with claims involving $50,000 or less, excluding interest and expenses. The default option is a decision by a single arbitrator based on the parties' pleadings and other materials submitted by the parties. The alternative option is a full hearing with a single arbitrator. Under the Customer Code, a customer may request a hearing (regardless of whether the customer is a claimant or respondent),2 and under the Industry Code, only the claimant may request a hearing.3 If a hearing is requested, it is generally held in person, and there are no limits on the number of hearing sessions that can take place.
FINRA amended the Codes to provide an additional hearing option for parties in arbitration with claims of $50,000 or less, excluding interest and expenses (Special Proceeding). When filing a statement of claim through the Dispute Resolution Portal (DR Portal), a claimant will be prompted to choose one of the three options, including a Special Proceeding. When FINRA transmits the statement of claim to the respondent, FINRA will advise the respondent if the claimant has elected a Special Proceeding. The Special Proceeding option is subject to regular provisions of the Codes relating to prehearings and hearings, including all fee provisions, with several limiting conditions. The conditions are intended to ensure that parties have an opportunity to present their case to an arbitrator in a convenient and cost-effective manner that is less demanding than a regular hearing. Specifically:
FINRA anticipates that arbitrators will follow the usual order of proceedings. The claimant(s) will present an opening statement, followed by the respondent(s)' opening statement. The claimants will then present their case-in-chief, followed by the respondent(s)' case-in-chief. Any rebuttal would occur afterwards. The arbitrator will proceed with his or her questioning. The claimant(s) will present a closing statement, followed by the respondent(s)' closing statement. With the exception of the requirements for Special Proceedings, an arbitrator may vary the hearing procedure in his or her discretion, provided all parties are allowed a full and fair opportunity to present their respective cases.
FINRA will create a dedicated hearing script for Special Proceedings that the arbitrator will read at the start of the Special Proceeding. FINRA will also modify its Initial Pre Hearing Conference Script (IPHC Script) so that parties in Special Proceedings will have advance knowledge of the rule's requirements, including the pre-hearing exchanges of documents and exhibits. Unlike regular hearings, parties will need to file their exhibits with FINRA before the Special Proceeding so that FINRA may send the exhibits to the arbitrators. The IPHC Script will also address the need for parties to have all exhibits available while they testify telephonically.
FINRA will train arbitrators on Special Proceedings by producing a unique video training module and distributing training materials on ODR's webpage and publications including The Neutral Corner.
FINRA will monitor how the process is working to determine whether it should modify the program in anyway.
Effective Date
The amendments are effective September 17, 2018, and apply to cases filed on or after that date.
1.See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 83276 (May 17, 2018), 83 Federal Register 100 (May 23, 2018) (Order Approving File No. SR-FINRA-2018-003).
2.See FINRA Rule 12800(c).
3.See FINRA Rule 13800(c).
4. Except for the two-hearing-session time limit for a Special Proceeding, FINRA would not impose any restrictions on the arbitrator's ability to ask the parties questions and has incorporated a substantial amount of time for arbitrator questions. Specifically, since FINRA would limit the parties' combined presentations to five hours, the arbitrator would have up to three hours to ask questions. In addition, FINRA would not prohibit the arbitrator from allowing parties additional time for their presentations or witness testimonies, so long as the hearing on the merits is completed within the two-hearing-session limit.
Attachment A
Proposed new language is underlined; deletions are in brackets.
Customer Code
This rule applies to arbitrations involving $50,000 or less, exclusive of interest and expenses. All arbitrations administered under this rule will be decided on the pleadings and other materials submitted by the parties unless the customer requests a hearing under paragraph (c) of this rule. Except as otherwise provided in this rule, all provisions of the Code apply to such arbitrations.
FINRA will pay the arbitrator an honorarium of $350 for each arbitration [administered underthis rule] decided on the pleadings and other materials submitted by the parties. In cases where the customer requests a hearing, the regular provisions of the Code relating to arbitrator honoraria will apply.
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Industry Code
FINRA will pay the arbitrator an honorarium of $350 for each arbitration [administered under this rule] decided on the pleadings and other materials submitted by parties. In cases where the claimant requests a hearing, the regular provisions of the Code relating to arbitrator honoraria will apply.