The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce P.A. represents investors throughout Utah who have lost money due to broker misconduct and securities fraud.
As experienced Utah investment fraud lawyers with over 45 years helping victims, we understand the betrayal you feel when a trusted financial advisor violates their duty to protect your investments.
Investment fraud occurs when brokers misrepresent risks, make unauthorized trades, or recommend unsuitable investments that benefit them instead of you.
You did nothing wrong, and you are not alone. Securities fraud victims often blame themselves, but the fault lies with professionals who violated securities laws and their fiduciary obligations.
Our Utah investment fraud attorneys know how to prove broker misconduct and recover your losses through FINRA claims and litigation and any other means possible.
Contact us on our Salt Lake City line at (800) 732-2889 for a free consultation about your investment losses. We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover money for you.
How a Utah Investment Fraud Attorney Can Help You
If you’ve suffered losses due to investment or securities fraud, the Utah investment and stockbroker fraud attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. can help you understand your rights, investigate your claims, and pursue recovery.
Broker Misrepresentation and Fraudulent Statements
Misrepresentation involves brokers providing false or misleading information about investments, leading investors into decisions causing significant financial harm. Under the Utah Uniform Securities Act (Title 61, Chapter 1), investors have protection against such deceptive practices. If you suspect fraudulent misrepresentation, our experienced investment fraud attorneys can evaluate your case, identify violations, and potentially help you recover lost funds.
Excessive Trading (Churning)
Churning occurs when brokers excessively trade in an investor’s account to generate commissions, disregarding the investor’s financial goals and best interests. FINRA Rule 2111 prohibits such unsuitable transactions. The investment fraud lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. have extensive experience analyzing trading patterns to uncover churning and can assist in holding negligent brokers accountable.
Unauthorized Trading
Unauthorized trading happens when brokers execute transactions without the investor’s consent. This practice is illegal under the Utah Uniform Securities Act, specifically Utah Code § 61-1-1. Our attorneys are skilled in tracing unauthorized transactions and may help you recover losses through arbitration or litigation.
Broker Negligence and Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Brokers and financial advisors owe investors a fiduciary duty, meaning they must act in the investor’s best interests. Violating this duty can lead to significant investor harm. The Utah Revised Business Corporation Act reinforces this responsibility. Our investment fraud attorneys can review your broker’s actions and potentially recover compensation for breaches of fiduciary duty.
Ponzi Schemes and Pyramid Schemes
Ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes promise high returns with minimal risk but ultimately collapse, causing severe losses. These are specifically addressed and prohibited under Utah Code § 61-1-1. The lawyers at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. have successfully pursued recovery in numerous complex cases, often recovering significant compensation for affected investors.
Unsuitable Investment Recommendations
Brokers must recommend investments suited to an investor’s risk tolerance, financial goals, and situation. Unsuitable recommendations are violations under FINRA Rule 2111 and Utah securities regulations. Our attorneys can help determine if recommendations were unsuitable and take action to recover your investment losses.
Theft of Investment Funds or Securities
Theft and conversion of investment funds or securities constitute severe securities fraud, criminally actionable under Utah criminal statutes, including Utah Code § 76-6-404. The investment fraud attorneys at our firm may assist victims in reporting such crimes and seeking financial recovery through civil actions.
Failure to Disclose Investment Risks
Failure to adequately disclose investment risks can lead to significant losses. Under Utah securities law, brokers must fully disclose all material information about investments. Our attorneys can investigate claims of nondisclosure, helping investors hold brokers accountable for hidden risks.
Statute of Limitations for Utah Securities Fraud
In Utah, securities fraud claims must generally be filed within two years from discovery or within five years from the occurrence of the fraud. Prompt consultation with an attorney is crucial to ensure timely filing.
Additional Securities Violations and Practices We Handle:
- Market manipulation
- Over-concentration of assets
- Fraudulent IPOs
- Violation of SEC Rule 10b-5 (Insider Trading)
Resources:
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Utah Attorney General Consumer Protection Division
Can I Recover my Investment Losses?
In order to recover your investment losses, you must prove that your broker-dealer or financial advisor violated the federal securities laws or Utah Uniform Securities Act, breached their fiduciary duty to you as an investor or breached their contracts to follow FINRA rules.
In most cases, this means filing a FINRA arbitration claim against the broker-dealer and/or representative.
The majority of securities fraud cases are handled by FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) rather than being brought to the court system.
FINRA arbitration is a streamlined, cost-effective way to resolve disputes between investors and their brokers without going to court – it also allows you to collect punitive damages, which are not available in civil court.
What Can an Investment Loss Lawyer Do for Investors?
An investment loss recovery lawyer helps investors recover investment losses that they lost due to a financial advisor or broker who did not act in their best interest.
Typically, the lawyer will help the investor recover their losses through a process called FINRA arbitration.
Investment Losses? Let’s talk.
or, give us a ring at 800-732-2889.
Our Track Record: Protecting Utah Investors
Here are a few examples that showcase our track record:
1) FINRA Arbitration Settlement $1,950,000
We settled an arbitration at the 11th hour against a broker-dealer and affiliated investment advisor who misused their discretionary authority. Utah investors facing similar misconduct with leveraged investments can take confidence from this result, where the advisor deployed a highly speculative strategy involving leveraged oil and gas exchange traded fund investments in a margin account that effectively leveraged the assets 6X. The recovery came through proving that during the 2020 COVID-19 crash, the trust account suffered catastrophic losses due to this unsuitable overleveraging.
2) FINRA Arbitration Award $3,266,200
Case No. 90-01044
Jack Friedlander, et al. v. Margaretten Securities
This arbitration involved complex structured products consisting of stripped coupon mortgage-backed securities and pass-through certificates. Like many Utah residents who’ve encountered unsuitable complex investments, these clients were misled about the true risks involved. Despite the broker’s defense, we secured an award that included not only compensatory damages but also punitive damages and attorney fees, demonstrating how arbitrators will punish egregious misconduct.
3) FINRA Arbitration Settlement $725,000
In a rare case with contributions from the clearing broker, we represented investors whose financial advisor “cherry picked” profitable transactions for himself at the end of each trading day. This case demonstrates our ability to help Utah investors with sophisticated fraud schemes, as the settlement in 2009 required proving the advisor’s systematic theft and securing recovery not just from the small broker-dealer but also from the clearing firm that enabled the misconduct.
Contact our Utah Securities and Investment Loss Attorneys Today
The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., is a law firm specializing in representing defrauded investors recover. Utah investment fraud lawyer Robert Wayne Pearce specializes in getting individuals their money back from bad investments using any and all available methods.
If you are an investor who has recently dealt with investment loss due to potential securities or investment fraud, we want to help.
If you have questions about how to move forward, contact our team online or call our Salt Lake City office line at (800) 732-2889 for a free confidential consultation with a Utah securities lawyer. We will fight aggressively for your financial recovery and for justice.
Our law firm serves clients throughout Utah:
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- Cottonwood Heights
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- Ogden
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- Millcreek
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- Taylorsville
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- Halladay
Client Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions
What are common signs of investment fraud in Utah?
Red flags include unexpected losses, unauthorized trades, frequent turnover in your account (churning), or complex products you didn’t fully understand. If your broker withheld risks or pushed you toward high-commission investments, it may be misconduct under Utah or federal law.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront—we only collect fees if we recover money for you. All initial consultations are free and confidential.
Can I recover my investment losses if I signed a disclosure or arbitration agreement?
Yes. Disclosures do not excuse fraud or negligence, and most claims are handled through FINRA arbitration, not civil court. We regularly represent Utah investors in arbitration and have a strong success record in such proceedings.
What is the statute of limitations for filing an investment fraud claim in Utah?
In Utah, you typically have two years from the date you discovered the fraud—or five years from when it occurred—to file a claim. The sooner you act, the better your chances of recovery.
Do I really need a lawyer to pursue an investment fraud claim?
Yes. Investment fraud cases are complex and often involve proving broker misconduct through FINRA rules, SEC laws, and Utah statutes. An experienced attorney can help you build a strong case, navigate arbitration, and maximize recovery.
[Written by attorney Robert Wayne Pearce (Attorney Bio)]