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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
February 08, 2024 SD-2345 Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
January 31, 2024 2023077669201 Damian M. Baird Disciplinary Decision - Default
January 29, 2024 SD-2348 Citigroup Global Markets Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
January 29, 2024 SD-2344 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
January 26, 2024 SD-2338 BofA Securities, Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
January 25, 2024 2017055886402 Cantone Research Inc., Anthony J. Cantone, and Raymond J. DeRobbio Disciplinary Decision
January 23, 2024 2018060897302 Darren M. Kubiak Disciplinary Decision - Default
January 17, 2024 SD-2339 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 20, 2023 SD-2314 Wedbush Securities, Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 14, 2023 SD-2340 Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 12, 2023 SD-2343 Barclays Capital Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 12, 2023 SD-2336 DWS Distributors, Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 12, 2023 SD-2341 UBS Financial Services, Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 12, 2023 SD-2347 Nomura Securities International, Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 12, 2023 SD-2337 Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 12, 2023 SD-2342 UBS Securities LLC Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 05, 2023 SD-2330 Joao M. Valente Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
December 01, 2023 DFC230002 Arque Capital, Ltd. Expedited Decision
October 05, 2023 FPI230003 Securities Capital Corporation Expedited Decision
October 04, 2023 ARB230012 John Knox Goodwin Expedited Decision
September 28, 2023 2018057235801 Megurditch Patatian Disciplinary Decision
September 26, 2023 2020065396501 APPEALED: Peter J. Fetherston Disciplinary Decision
September 22, 2023 SD-2355 Cambria Capital, LLC Statutory Disqualification, Approvals
September 21, 2023 M00010008 In the Matter of the Continuing Membership Application of Firm A Membership Decision, Redacted Decision
July 25, 2023 SD-2253 Domenick Migliorato with Velocity Capital LLC Statutory Disqualification, Approvals