(a) Except as provided in Rule 12300(a)(2), a claimant must serve any answer to a counterclaim on each other party through the Party Portal within 20 days of receipt of the counterclaim. At the same time, the claimant must file the answer to the counterclaim with the Director.

(b) The answer must include the relevant facts and available defenses to the counterclaim.

(a) Respondent(s) must serve each other party with the following documents within 45 days of receipt of the statement of claim:

The respondent may include any additional documents supporting the answer to the statement of claim.

(a) Filing Claim with the Director

To initiate an arbitration, a claimant must file the following with the Director:

The claimant may include any additional documents supporting the statement of claim.

(a) The Director will serve the Claim Notification Letter on an associated person directly at the person's residential address or usual place of abode.

(a) Party Portal

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this Rule and in Rule 12800, FINRA will pay the panel an honorarium, as follows:

(a) U.S. Hearing Location

(a) The panel may sanction a party for failure to comply with any provision in the Code, or any order of the panel or single arbitrator authorized to act on behalf of the panel.

Unless prohibited by applicable law, sanctions may include, but are not limited to:

(a) This rule provides procedures under which parties and arbitrators may communicate directly.

(b) Only parties that are represented by counsel may use direct communication under this rule.