Skip to main content

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
September 09, 2014 2011025617702 Order Denying Respondents’ Motion to Permit Expert Testimony Disciplinary Order
September 09, 2014 SD-2012 David S. Thomas, Jr. with Purshe Kaplan Sterling Investments, Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
August 12, 2014 20100226015-01 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Jack Brian Weinstock Disciplinary Decision
August 11, 2014 2009019042402 Extended Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. James E. Rooney, Jr. Disciplinary Decision
August 08, 2014 SD-2037 Jason Ginder with National Securities Corporation Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
August 08, 2014 SD-2037 Jason Ginder with National Securities Corp. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
August 05, 2014 2011027402201 ; CALLED FOR REVIEW: Raymond Thomas Clark Disciplinary Decision
August 01, 2014 20080127674 & 20080133768 Angelo Xagoraris Disciplinary Decision
July 25, 2014 2011027007901 APPEALED: Shashishekhar Doni Disciplinary Decision
July 21, 2014 2010021303301 North Woodward Financial Corp. and Douglas A. Troszak Disciplinary Decision
July 18, 2014 2009019837302 APPEALED: Blair C. Mielke and Frederick W. Shultz Disciplinary Decision
July 16, 2014 2012033128703 Order Granting Motion to Limit Dissemination and Use of Personal Confidential Information Disciplinary Order
July 08, 2014 2009020465801 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Keith D. Geary

Related Documents

Disciplinary Decision
July 08, 2014 2012032950101 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Joseph R. Butler

Related Documents

Disciplinary Decision
July 03, 2014 20110275168-01 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Market Regulation v. Jonathan Kohanof Disciplinary Decision
June 25, 2014 2012034211301 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Success Trade Securities, Inc. and Fuad Ahmed

Related Documents

Disciplinary Decision
June 17, 2014 2011026788801 Order Denying Summary Disposition Disciplinary Order
June 13, 2014 2010025350001 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Roric E. Griffith

Related Documents

Disciplinary Decision
June 03, 2014 2010023724601 David Kristian Evansen Disciplinary Decision
May 27, 2014 2011028003001 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. Ashik Akberali Kapasi Disciplinary Decision
May 20, 2014 2010021621201 Michael Pino Disciplinary Decision
May 16, 2014 2011028502101 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v. North Woodward Financial Corp. and Douglas A. Troszak

Related Documents

Disciplinary Decision
May 14, 2014 2011025674101 Shlomi S. Eplboim Disciplinary Decision
May 09, 2014 2010023349601 APPEALED: Denise M. Olson Disciplinary Decision
May 08, 2014 2012031142101 Hearing Panel Decision in Department of Enforcement v.John Allan Waldock, Jr. Disciplinary Decision