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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
May 27, 2020 2017053843901 Michael Patrick Murphy Disciplinary Decision
May 27, 2020 2017053462401 Order Denying Respondent’s Motion To Amend Answer Disciplinary Order
May 21, 2020 2016048393501 Shopoff Securities, Inc., William A Shopoff, and Stephen R. Shopoff Disciplinary Decision
May 15, 2020 2017054405401 APPEALED: William Joseph Kielczewski Disciplinary Decision
May 01, 2020 2018059510201 APPEALED: Thomas Lykos Disciplinary Decision
April 16, 2020 ARB190040 Stephen Paul Seglund Expedited Decision
April 09, 2020 2018060216701 Bryce P. Jenney Disciplinary Decision - Default
March 27, 2020 2011027666902r Merrimac Corporate Securities, Inc. and Robert G. Nash Disciplinary Decision
March 27, 2020 2009017440201r APPEALED: Louis Ottimo Disciplinary Decision
March 27, 2020 2015047303901 Linda C. Milberger Disciplinary Decision
March 26, 2020 2015045257501 Order On Motion For Summary Disposition Of Affirmative Defenses Disciplinary Order
March 16, 2020 2014043863001 Peter Orlando Disciplinary Decision
March 06, 2020 2015047244701 Order Denying Respondent Shea’s Motion To Sever Disciplinary Order
March 06, 2020 2019061947501 Erik P. Pica Disciplinary Decision - Default
February 28, 2020 SD-2202 Kevin McKenna with Aegis Capital Corp. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
February 27, 2020 2018057829001 James G. McKinney Disciplinary Decision - Default
February 11, 2020 SD-2236 G.A. Repple & Company Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
February 11, 2020 SD-2237 Alan P. Siegel with G.A. Repple & Co. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
February 07, 2020 2017056688202 Daniel J. Arcuri Disciplinary Decision - Default
February 05, 2020 2018059545201 APPEALED: Robert Juan Escobio Disciplinary Decision
January 31, 2020 2018059510201 Order Governing Post-Hearing Briefing Disciplinary Order
January 21, 2020 2017054405401 Order Governing Withdrawal Of Certain Admitted Exhibits That Were Admitted Disciplinary Order
January 21, 2020 2017054405401 Order Regarding Filing Transcript Of Voice Message Disciplinary Order
January 14, 2020 SD-2190 Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 20, 2019 2016048921102 Order Granting Motion to Withhold From Production Documents Outside the Scope of This Proceeding Disciplinary Order