OUR ATTORNEYS HELP BROKERS NATIONWIDE WITH EXPUNGEMENT PROCEEDINGS

Broker and investment advisor records are now generally available to the public through the BrokerCheck tool on FINRA’s website, so it is extremely important to protect your reputation.

It is unlikely that you will gather many new clients if they find negative comments about you in the public record.

The filing of a public complaint may also trigger Registration Problems with state agencies. If a customer files a false claim, a claim that is clearly erroneous, or a claim about a transaction in which you were never involved, then you may have the right to have that negative information expunged from the Central Depository Record (CRD).

When a complaint arises out of a defective structured product designed by your employer, you may be able to expunge that claim as it is not a sales practice violation, forgery, theft, misappropriation or conversion of funds.

In order to do so, you need an attorney experienced in not only FINRA arbitration proceedings but one who has handled state court litigation matters since it is a two-step process in both forums.

The attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. have been helping brokers and financial advisors nationwide clear their name through expungement proceedings from our Boca Raton, Florida offices.

ATTORNEY PEARCE WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT EXPUNGEMENT

Attorney Pearce has over 40 years of experience handling FINRA arbitration proceedings for investors and brokers and knows the difference between valid and frivolous complaints that should be removed from a broker’s record.

He is available to answer all of your questions, but some of the more frequently asked questions and answers about expungement are set forth below:

1. What types of information can be expunged?

The information that is typically expunged arises out of disputes between customers and member firms or their associated persons that have been reported on Forms U-4 and U-5 by the brokerage firm in response to those claims.

Complaints about defective structured products may also be expunged. On occasion, brokerage firms themselves publish defamatory material and engage in Form U-5 Abuse, which may be expunged.

2. What steps should one take to seek expungement?

If a party seeking expungement is involved in an arbitration proceeding, he or she should request expungement in his or her answer, counterclaim, or statement of claim.

The arbitrators will decide whether to grant a request for expungement on the basis of one or more of the 3 standards specified in Rule 2080 of the FINRA Code of Arbitration Procedure.

This rule spells out special procedural requirements relating to requests to expunge customer dispute information, including that the arbitrators hold a recorded in-person or telephonic hearing, review settlement documents, and consider the amount of payments made to any party in any other terms and conditions of settlement.

If the arbitrators grant expungement relief, they are also required to briefly explain in the award the factual bases for finding that the expungement is appropriate under one or more of the Rule 2080 standards.

3. What are the findings that arbitrators must make for expungement?

Arbitrators have the ability to order expungement for a variety of reasons. However, if a party does not want FINRA to challenge the expungement order and waive participation in any subsequent court confirmation proceeding, the arbitrators must affirmatively find that the subject matter of the claim or the information in the CRD system meets one or more of three standards:

i. The claim, allegation, or information is factually impossible or clearly erroneous.

ii. The registered person was not involved in the allegedly investment-related sales practice violation, forgery, theft, misappropriation, or conversion of funds.

iii. The claim, allegation, or information is false.

4. If the arbitrators awarded expungement, what is the next step to clear the record?

First, the party seeking expungement needs to send a letter to FINRA formally requesting a waiver of any participation in any court confirmation proceeding along with the relevant documents, such as the statement of claim, the answer, any settlement agreement, the arbitration award, and any other relevant documents. The staff will review the submission and either grant or deny the waiver request. If FINRA denies the waiver request, a party can still proceed with the expungement but must name FINRA as a party to the court proceeding. FINRA and State authorities can both challenge the expungement and a judge will decide whether it is in the public interest to have your record expunged.

5. Can a record be expunged without a court proceeding?

FINRA may expunge, without a court order, expungement directives contained in arbitration awards rendered in disputes between registered representatives and firms in which the arbitration panel states that the expungement relief is being granted because of the defamatory nature of the information; i. e., in cases involving Form U-5 Abuse.

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CHANGES IN THE EXPUNGEMENT RULES AND PROCEDURES REQUIRE EXPERIENCED FINRA EXPUNGEMENT LAWYERS

FINRA expungement proceeding rules and procedures are changing to make it more difficult and expensive to expunge unfounded customer complaints and false and defamatory statements on brokers’ CRD and BrokerCheck records. These changes are in response to sharp criticism from the public about the large number of expungements for so-called “rogue brokers” and other abuses, including the $1 damage request to trigger the lowest $50 filing fee and simplified one-arbitrator expungement proceeding.

Once the first change has been put into effect, no longer will brokers be able to include $1 in damages along with their request for expungement in order for their claim to fall under the low end of FINRA’s graduated filing fee (and hearing fee) schedule. Instead of paying a $50 filing fee, brokers will now be charged $1,575 (and broker-dealers will be hit with a $3,750 processing fee and $1,900 surcharge, all for being named as a nominal respondent in the proceeding).

FINRA has voted upon and submitted new rules to the SEC for approval which: 1) require an expungement request to be filed two years after the customer dispute ends; 2) all expungement requests to be heard by special panels of three arbitrators; and 3) require all brokers to testify in-person or via videoconference – not telephonically (although customers will still be permitted to appear telephonically or through a written statement).

Undoubtedly, the specially trained three-arbitrator panels will tighten the rules and place a heavy burden on those brokers who deserve and seek expungement, which is all the more reason why you will need a skilled and experienced trial lawyer to represent you in expungement proceedings going forward.

Hear From Our Clients

At The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., we believe the ultimate barometer of our success is surpassing the expectation of our clients.

The following clients have direct knowledge of our firm's processes from the inside and experienced our fierce advocacy.

Hear From Our Clients

  • "Bob Pearce is the real-life Marvel Hero who fights for small investors against brokerage institutions who manage investors’ hard-earned money carelessly, and even worse, conduct fraud outright."

    Bob Pearce is the real-life Marvel Hero who fights for small investors against brokerage institutions who manage investors’ hard-earned money carelessly, and even worse, conduct fraud outright. For years, we were misled by a brokerage firm who told us they would correct the wrong or compensate us for their mistakes. Only after we started working with Bob, we realized how powerful and wonderful it is to have a top legal expert by your side. Bob is immensely detail oriented, knowledgeable, professional, and confident. We are more than happy with the outcome Bob achieved for us within just a few months. Thank you, Bob!

    - Q Wang -
  • “Robert Pearce is part of that unusual breed of lawyers that are able to create empathy with clients and thoroughly adopt their cause”

    No half efforts here. He and his group of professionals are outstanding strategists that can execute with precise fervor and unyielding determination. Theirs is a huge wave of facts, research, precedents and preparation, that has impressed me in its thoroughness and creativity, and most importantly with the results. No stone goes unturned and no effort is ever spared. In my book, he and they are those of a very rare kind that one wants to keep for a very long time.

    - Ramon Flores-Esteves -
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    Just like the song from HAMILTON, it's so nice to have Bob Pearce on your side. He is the consumate plaintiff's lawyer: smart. dedicated, fully able to try a case but a great negotiator in a mediation. He did a wonderful job for us, fully supporting us through the process and more than holding his own against a large national law firm.

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  • "He never felt intimidated and his study of the case and perseverance prevailed at all times."

    Attorney Robert Pearce was our lawyer in a case against a Brokerage Firm and I'm witness to his ability and intelligence to deal with lawyers from the most prominent law firm in New York which was the key to recovering much of our losses cheered by their negligence. He never felt intimidated and his study of the case and perseverance prevailed at all times.

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  • "In the end, Bob and I had the last laugh when the arbitrators awarded me almost 6 million dollars."

    No lawyer except Bob said I had a chance of winning. When UBS Lawyers laughingly offered me zero to settle the dispute, Bob became even more determined to prove everybody wrong. Bob was extremely prepared, and always a step ahead of the opposing attorneys throughout the arbitration. In the end, Bob and I had the last laugh when the arbitrators awarded me almost 6 million dollars.

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  • "Every meeting and phone call was made with dedication and desire to help our family every step of the way."

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FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEYS WHO CAN HANDLE YOUR FINRA EXPUNGEMENT PROBLEMS

The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. understands what is at stake in securities industry expungement proceedings and constantly strives to secure the most favorable result possible. For dedicated representation by Attorney Pearce, who has substantial experience with FINRA expungement proceedings, contact us online or by telephone at 800-732-2889.