FINRA Securities Arbitration & Securities Fraud Claims

Representing Investors in Securities Fraud Claims & FINRA Securities Arbitration

The attorneys at Moulton & Arney, LLP have successfully represented thousands of individual investors in securities fraud claims and FINRA securities arbitration. These cases involve a variety of traditional and non-traditional investments. Non-traditional investments, such as limited partnerships, options trading, insurance products, collateralized mortgage obligations and derivatives, have grown in popularity in recent years and present additional dangers for investors.

We have represented investors from across the country in securities arbitration and litigation for claims including:

• Investment fraud
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Misrepresentation and/or omission of material facts
• Providing false information
• Over concentration of investments
• Stockbroker negligence
• Ponzi schemes
• Stockbroker misconduct
• Stock manipulation
• Stockbroker fraud
• Unauthorized trading
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest.

Understanding FINRA securities arbitration

What is Investment Securities Arbitration?

Arbitration is a binding dispute-resolution process in which an impartial arbitrator or panel of arbitrators hear the evidence and decide how the dispute is resolved. An arbitration award is a final resolution and can be filed in court to have the same effect as a court judgment. Many brokerage firms require their clients to sign agreements stating that they will use arbitration, rather than take legal action, in the event of a disagreement. Stock, futures, or options exchanges and other professional or regulatory associations are often involved in administering arbitration proceedings.

Who are the FINRA Arbitrators?

Arbitrators are diverse people from many different walks of life. Potential arbitrators must submit personal profiles to FINRA. Their profiles detail their education, work history, experience, involvement with investment issues, and other relevant background and qualifications. If accepted, the potential arbitrators receive training, and their names and profiles go into a pool from which arbitrators are randomly selected for a given case., Some arbitrators work in the securities industry; others may be teachers, homemakers, investors, business people, medical professionals, or lawyers. Arbitrators should be fair and impartial.

The parties in an arbitration are given a list of potential arbitrators along with their profiles. FINRA rules allow the parties to strike a certain number of arbitrators (ensuring they will not be on the panel) and to rank the remaining arbitrators in order of preference. FINRA staff then appoint the arbitrator(s) for the case by taking the highest ranking individuals from the parties’ lists. If there are not enough arbitrators remaining after all the parties’ strikes, additional arbitrators are randomly appointed for the case.

Arbitrators can also be removed from a case to avoid a conflict of interest.

Arbitrators do not work for FINRA, though they receive a fee through FINRA in recognition of their service. The arbitrator fees are included in the costs of arbitration and are paid by one or more of the parties as decided by the arbitrators in their award, or in some cases as agreed by the parties (for example, in case of a settlement).

FINRA Securities Arbitration Attorneys

The investment and securities fraud attorneys at Moulton & Arney, LLP have extensive experience representing individual investors in securities arbitration and litigation. Cindy Moulton and Lance Arney have successfully represented thousands of clients in securities and investment fraud cases, with combined claims of hundreds of millions of dollars.

If you have suffered an investment loss, you may be entitled to recover all or part of your investment. To find out more about your potential claims against your broker/financial advisor, investment firm, or securities firm, please contact an experienced investment fraud attorney.