Office of Hearing Officers’ Decisions and Orders
The Office of Hearing Officers is an office of impartial adjudicators of disciplinary cases brought by FINRA’s Department of Enforcement against FINRA members.
The Office of Hearing Officers maintains strict independence from FINRA's regulatory programs and is physically separated from other FINRA departments.
Hearing officers are not involved in the investigative process. Employment protections exist for hearing officers to further ensure their independence; they may not be terminated except by the FINRA Chief Executive Officer, with a right to appeal to the Audit Committee of FINRA's Board of Governors.
Important Note for Pending Cases: Parties with cases currently pending before OHO are not required to transition to the new Docket Portal. OHO will issue orders in all existing cases confirming that while the OHO Docket Portal is operational as of October 7, parties in pending matters will continue to use email for filing and service as they have been doing. This ensures continuity for ongoing proceedings while establishing the new portal as the standard platform for future cases.
| Date of Decision | Proceeding No. | Title | Type | Order No. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 04, 2016 | 2013036836801 | Order Denying Respondent’s Rule 9252 Request | Disciplinary Order | 16-10 |
| March 04, 2016 | 2011029916501 | Kent Lehman | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| March 03, 2016 | 2014040968501 | Omnibus Order on Pre-Hearing Motions | Disciplinary Order | 16-13 |
| February 29, 2016 | 2014043020901 | Order Denying Respondent’s Motion Pursuant to FINRA Rule 9252 and Granting Respondent Leave to Supplement | Disciplinary Order | 16-07 |
| February 29, 2016 | 2012034936005 | APPEALED: David Joseph Escarcega | Disciplinary Decision | |
| February 26, 2016 | 2014041724601 | Order Denying Respondents’ Motions 1) For Summary Disposition and 2) To Disqualify Enforcement Counsel | Disciplinary Order | 16-16 |
| February 25, 2016 | 2014043020901 | Order Denying Respondent’s Motion to Compel Production of Documents | Disciplinary Order | 16-08 |
| February 22, 2016 | 2014040501801 | Order Denying Motion for Permission to Present Expert Testimony | Disciplinary Order | 16-06 |
| February 16, 2016 | 20080148227-02 | Order Denying Respondents’ Preclusion Motion | Disciplinary Order | 16-05 |
| February 12, 2016 | 2013036678201 | Tracy Chen | Disciplinary Decision | |
| February 03, 2016 | 2012033393401 | Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Respondent’s Motion in Limine to Exclude the Testimony of KA, BS, and MC. | Disciplinary Order | 16-04 |
| January 29, 2016 | 2014040295201 | Order Denying Respondents’ Motion for Expert Testimony | Disciplinary Order | 16-02 |
| January 28, 2016 | 2015044379701 | Order Denying Motion to Dismiss | Disciplinary Order | 16-03 |
| January 20, 2016 | 2015044960501 | Order Denying Motion to Admit Newly Discovered Evidence, dated January 20, 2016. | Disciplinary Order | 16-01 |
| January 15, 2016 | 2012033362101 | APPEALED: Thomas Edmund Connors | Disciplinary Decision | |
| January 14, 2016 | 2012033981601 | David Wolk | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| December 23, 2015 | 2014041372002 | John Soon Lee | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| December 22, 2015 | 2014040968501 | Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Enforcement's Motion in Limine to Preclude the Respondent from Introducing Testimony and Evidence at the Hearing | Disciplinary Order | 15-15 |
| December 21, 2015 | 2013038021001 | Valentino Infante | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| December 18, 2015 | ARB150039 | Order Dismissing Expedited Proceeding Pursuant to FINRA Rule 9559(m) | Expedited Order | EXP15-02 |
| December 18, 2015 | 2012034393801 | APPEALED: Aon D. Miller | Disciplinary Decision | |
| December 14, 2015 | 2014038991402 | Lee R. Sobel | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| December 14, 2015 | 2013038018901 | Peter N. Dourdas | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| December 07, 2015 | 2011026544301 | Global Arena Capital Corp. | Disciplinary Decision - Default | |
| December 03, 2015 | ARB150048 | Order Granting Complaint’s Motion for an Order Pursuant to Rule 9559(m) and Deeming September 15, 2015 Notice of Suspension Final FINRA Action | Expedited Order | EXP15-03 |