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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
December 21, 2018 SD-2229 COR Clearing LLC Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 20, 2018 SD-2157 Allan Wolfe Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 12, 2018 2016051299201 Stewart Clinton Malloy Disciplinary Decision - Default
November 29, 2018 2014041860801 APPEALED: Sandlapper Securities, LLC, Trevor Gordon and Jack Bixler Disciplinary Decision
November 29, 2018 SD-2095 Ronald B. Smith Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
November 23, 2018 2017052871401 Order Denying Respondent’s Motion for Discovery and Motion Pursuant to Rule 9253 Disciplinary Order
November 21, 2018 SD-2203 Gates Capital Corporation Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
November 14, 2018 2014041862701 APPEALED: Spencer Edwards, Inc. Disciplinary Decision
November 13, 2018 2016050205901 APPEALED: Charles A. Laverty Disciplinary Decision
November 12, 2018 2015047303901 APPEALED: Kyle P. Harrington and Linda C. Milberger Disciplinary Decision
November 09, 2018 2016049197001 Sean William Killoran Disciplinary Decision - Default
November 06, 2018 2016052604602 Craig Scott Hartman Disciplinary Decision - Default
October 31, 2018 2016050025401 Order Granting in Part Enforcement’s Pre-Hearing Motion Disciplinary Order
October 30, 2018 2015046971701 Windsor Street Capital, L.P. (f/k/a Meyers Associates, L.P.) Disciplinary Decision
October 30, 2018 2017053669301 Jason David Disciplinary Decision - Default
October 29, 2018 FPI180004 Jessica Bower Blake Expedited Decision
October 17, 2018 2015044782401 APPEALED: Robbi J Jones and Kipling Jones & Company, Ltd. Disciplinary Decision
October 11, 2018 2012030731802 APPEALED: William H. Murphy & Co., Inc., and William H. Murphy Disciplinary Decision
October 09, 2018 2016050741702 Thomas A. Davis Disciplinary Decision - Default
October 08, 2018 2016048912703 Order Denying Bruce Meyers’ Motion to Compel Disciplinary Order
October 04, 2018 2013037401001 Stanley Clayton Niekras Disciplinary Decision
October 03, 2018 2012033832501 Matthew David Rubin Disciplinary Decision
October 02, 2018 2014042291901 APPEALED: Gopi Krishna Vungarala Disciplinary Decision
September 27, 2018 2016052504602 Atiq U. Khan Disciplinary Decision - Default
September 14, 2018 2014039775501 James Randall Clay Disciplinary Decision