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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
July 05, 2000 C01000003 Order Denying Respondents' Motion Seeking Leave to Introduce Expert Witness Testimony Disciplinary Order
July 03, 2000 C9B990019 Hearing Panel Decision as to Respondent Redacted Decision
June 28, 2000 CAF970011 Richard Steven Levitov & Ralph Joseph Angeline Disciplinary Decision
June 27, 2000 C02990052 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Shailesh B. Patel

Related Documents

Disciplinary Decision
June 26, 2000 C10980008 Hearing Panel Decision as to Respondent Redacted Decision
June 23, 2000 C10990121 Majority Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Nelson C. Onyejiaka - Dissent Attached Disciplinary Decision
June 19, 2000 C9A980032 In the Matter of Department of Enforcement, Complainant v. Respondent 1 Disciplinary Decision, Redacted Decision
June 14, 2000 C8A000022 Order Denying Respondent's Motion for Withheld Document List Disciplinary Order
June 13, 2000 C8A990025 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Timothy James Fergus, Frank Thomas Devine, and Richard Alan Blake Disciplinary Decision
June 13, 2000 CMS000015 Notice of Withdrawal of Hearing Officer Disciplinary Order
June 12, 2000 C10990172 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. John L. Bauer Disciplinary Decision
June 08, 2000 C07990033 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Len K. Furman Disciplinary Decision
June 06, 2000 C9A990007 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Daniel D. Manoff

Related Documents

Disciplinary Decision
June 05, 2000 C05990034 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Charles Douglas Gulley, Jr. Disciplinary Decision
June 02, 2000 CAF980029 Aleksandr Shvarts Disciplinary Decision
June 01, 2000 CMS970027 Jerome E. Rosen Disciplinary Decision
May 17, 2000 C10970143 Order Denying Respondents' Motion to Compel Production of Information and Documents from Customer Witnesses Disciplinary Order
May 05, 2000 C10990212 Order Granting Enforcement's Motion to Consolidate Disciplinary Order
May 05, 2000 CAF990007 Order Denying Respondents' Motion Seeking Leave to Introduce Expert Witness Testimony Disciplinary Order
April 24, 2000 C8A990032 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Marcus K. Hughes and Christopher Aden Disciplinary Decision
April 20, 2000 C10970141 Marlowe Robert Walker, III Disciplinary Decision
April 19, 2000 C07990016 James O. Baxter, Jr. Disciplinary Decision
April 18, 2000 C3A980069 Michael A. Usher Disciplinary Decision
April 14, 2000 CMS960174 Vincent M. Carrella Disciplinary Decision
April 10, 2000 C01990002 Bernard San Juan Rondez Disciplinary Decision