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Adjudications & Decisions

When FINRA determines that violations of securities rules have occurred and formal disciplinary action is necessary, the Enforcement 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.


View All Adjudications & Decisions

Choose Year
Date of Decision Proceeding No. Title Type
February 11, 2000 CAF980031 Hearing Panel Decision as to Respondent Redacted Decision
February 08, 2000 C02990034 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. I.C. Rideau, Lyons, & Co., Inc., Lamar A. Lyons, Sr., and Joyce A. Green Disciplinary Decision
February 07, 2000 CMS950041 In the Matter of Market Regulation Committee, Complainant, vs. Respondent 1 and Respondent Firm 2 Disciplinary Decision, Redacted Decision
January 31, 2000 C9A990007 Order Granting Motion for Order Permitting Certain Witnesses to Have Counsel Present Disciplinary Order
January 18, 2000 C02990052 Order Granting Enforcement's Motion for Leave to Offer Telephone Testimony Disciplinary Order
January 18, 2000 CMS960235 Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc., Thomas Anthony Crocamo, Carl DeFelice, Joseph Louis Ferrarese, Peter William Ferriso, Jr., Robert Scott Ranzman, Charles McMichael Simonds, & David Robert Slaine Disciplinary Decision
January 13, 2000 C3A990050 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Jim Newcomb

Related Documents

Disciplinary Decision
January 13, 2000 C02990017 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Dennis Frank Riggi Disciplinary Decision
January 04, 2000 C10990121 Order Denying Enforcement's Motion For Summary Disposition Disciplinary Order
January 01, 2000 SD00007 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Denials
January 01, 2000 SD00001 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
January 01, 2000 SD00006 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
January 01, 2000 SD00002 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Denials
January 01, 2000 SD00010 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Denials
January 01, 2000 SD00004 Proposed Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
January 01, 2000 SD00011 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
January 01, 2000 SD00003 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Denials
January 01, 2000 SD00013 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Denials
January 01, 2000 SD00005 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
January 01, 2000 SD00012 In the Matter of the Association of X Redacted Decision, Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 30, 1999 CAF990018 Order Denying Motion for Summary Disposition Disciplinary Order
December 17, 1999 C02980051 Gordon Kerr Disciplinary Decision
December 14, 1999 C04990005 Bradford Lee Brinton Disciplinary Decision
December 10, 1999 C10970145 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Monitor Investment Group, Ltd., Michael Galasso, Jr., Emmanuel Gennuso, Patrick Giglio, and Steven Goldstein

Related Documents

Disciplinary Decision
December 02, 1999 CAF980013 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Herman Epstein Disciplinary Decision