Investment Fraud Lawyers Serving West Palm Beach
Losing your savings to a broker or financial advisor who mishandled your accounts is a serious blow, and the investment fraud lawyers at Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. represent West Palm Beach investors in exactly that situation. We have extensive experience helping clients throughout Palm Beach County recover the savings that brokerage firm misconduct put at risk. If you have watched your money disappear because of bad advice or outright deception, we will fight to get back what is rightfully yours.
The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., has been fighting for defrauded investors like you for over 45 years, recovering $185 million for clients harmed by investment fraud. Our experienced West Palm Beach attorneys will hold the responsible party accountable and pursue every dollar of your investment losses. Call (800) 732-2889 today for a free consultation.
Investigations of West Palm Beach, Florida Brokers by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce
Based on the secatty.com site (the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A.), the firm has published broker-specific investigations covering several West Palm Beach-based financial professionals, drawn from FINRA BrokerCheck records. Among those it has profiled are Mark Feliciano of Bankers Life Securities, Robert Scarborough of Morgan Stanley (formerly Merrill Lynch), John Chanda of MML Investors Services (formerly ProEquities), Donald Dever of UBS Financial Services, and John Fulton of UBS Financial Services. The allegations described across these profiles center on a handful of recurring themes rather than a single type of misconduct. Feliciano’s disclosed disputes involve claims that he recommended unsuitable investment products, including indexed annuities, that did not match clients’ stated goals. Scarborough’s disclosed dispute concerns a client’s allegation that a structured product purchased for her account was unsuitable given her circumstances. Chanda’s profile flags a pattern of customer complaints and raises supervisory questions about the firms with which he has been associated. Dever’s disclosed dispute involves a client’s claim that he failed to follow specific instructions on how trades should be executed, resulting in losses on equity positions later settled by the firm. Across these write-ups, the firm frames the complaints as unresolved allegations, noting that none of the brokers has admitted wrongdoing and that settlements do not constitute an admission of misconduct. The site uses these profiles to encourage current or former clients of these advisors to review their account activity and consider whether they may have a viable claim.
Investment Fraud Cases We Handle in West Palm Beach
Investment fraud takes many forms, from Ponzi schemes to insider trading, and our West Palm Beach attorneys handle the full range of misconduct that costs investors their savings. Below are the case types we pursue most often for clients across Palm Beach County.Why Choose Robert Wayne Pearce as Your Investment Fraud Lawyer in West Palm Beach?
Recovering money lost to investment fraud takes an attorney who understands how brokerage firms build their defenses and how arbitration panels weigh a claim. The right lawyer can be the deciding factor in whether you walk away made whole or empty-handed.
- 45+ Years of Experience: Robert Wayne Pearce has handled investment fraud cases for over four decades, giving our firm an inside understanding of how brokerage firms defend themselves.
- $185 Million Recovered: Our firm has recovered $185 million for clients harmed by investment fraud across the country.
- 99%+ Success Rate: Mr. Pearce has recovered funds for over 99% of his clients through court litigation, arbitrations, and settlements nationwide and internationally.
- 200+ Cases Tried: Attorney Pearce has tried over 200 cases to trial verdict or arbitration award, with only 4 losses for clients in his career.
- No Fees Unless We Win: We represent clients on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover for you.
Meet The Team
ROBERT WAYNE PEARCE
Securities Attorney
ADAM KARA LOPEZ
Securities AttorneyHow Florida Securities Law Affects Your West Palm Beach Investment Fraud Claim
Florida securities law gives defrauded investors rights that work alongside federal securities laws, oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the FINRA arbitration process. Understanding how state law applies helps you see what you may be able to recover.
The Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act, found in Chapter 517 of the Florida Statutes, prohibits fraud in the sale of securities. It also gives investors a direct path to hold wrongdoers accountable. A few features of state law are most important for West Palm Beach investors:
- Florida's blue sky law: This state securities law lets a defrauded investor sue to rescind the transaction and recover the amount paid plus interest.
- State registration requirements: Brokers, firms, and many securities sold in Florida must be registered, and violations can support your claim.
- Filing deadlines: State securities laws set time limits that affect your right to recover.
Our attorneys evaluate every avenue Florida law provides.
How Investment Fraud Cases Work in Florida
Most West Palm Beach investment fraud claims move through three stages, from your first call with us to a final resolution. Knowing what lies ahead makes the process far less daunting.
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Step 1:
Free Case Review and Claim Evaluation
We review your account records and losses, then evaluate the strength of your claim during a free consultation with no obligation. -
Step 2:
Filing Your FINRA Arbitration Claim
Once we identify the misconduct, we file your securities arbitration claim with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority against the broker, the brokerage firm, or both. -
Step 3:
Hearing, Award, or Settlement
Your case ends in one of three ways: through a hearing before an arbitration panel, a written award, or a negotiated settlement that returns your losses. - Contact Our Experienced West Palm Beach Investment Fraud Attorneys Now for a Free Consultation Get A Free Consultation
Contact our West Palm Beach investment fraud attorneys today for a free and confidential consultation about your losses. Many investors who come to us feel anxious and uncertain after discovering that someone they trusted put their savings at risk. We want you to know we will fight to get back what is rightfully yours.
Acting quickly is important, because filing deadlines under state law and FINRA rules limit the time you have to recover.
Our attorneys have recovered $185 million for investors harmed by fraud, and we are ready to put that experience to work for you. Call (800) 732-2889 now to discuss your case at no cost or obligation.
Other Areas in Florida We Serve
Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., represents investment fraud victims throughout West Palm Beach and the surrounding Palm Beach County communities. Wherever you are in the region, our attorneys are ready to help you pursue the losses a broker or firm has cost you. If you believe you have been the victim of investment fraud anywhere in South Florida, we understand how unsettling that discovery can be, and we encourage you to reach out for a free consultation. Areas served include:West Palm Beach Investment Fraud F.A.Q
Investors across West Palm Beach often have the same questions before deciding to pursue a claim. Here are clear answers to the four we hear most.What is the difference between FINRA arbitration and going to court for my West Palm Beach claim?
Most claims against brokerage firms go through FINRA arbitration rather than federal court, because the account agreement you signed contains a mandatory arbitration clause. Arbitration is generally faster and less expensive than a courtroom trial, and a panel of arbitrators decides the outcome instead of a judge or jury.
What damages can I recover in a Florida investment fraud case?
You may recover compensatory damages for your lost investment value, along with interest and, in some cases, punitive damages where the misconduct was especially serious. As one example, an investor whose account was churned can pursue both the commissions drained from the account and the market gains that suitable investments would have produced.
How much does it cost to hire an investment fraud lawyer?
Our firm handles investment fraud cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no upfront cost to get started. We only collect a fee if we recover money for you, so the financial risk of pursuing your claim stays with us.
How long do I have to file an investment fraud claim in Florida?
Florida law and FINRA rules both set strict deadlines that limit how long you have to file a claim. These time limits vary depending on the type of misconduct and when it was discovered, so the safest step is to speak with an attorney as soon as you suspect fraud.