Securities
Investing in securities is a serious matter involving your inheritance, retirement, or even your life savings. Your investments should be managed with great care – but, unfortunately, there are instances when an investor falls prey to an unscrupulous financial advisor. This person is usually looking out for his or her best interests, not the investor's. These unscrupulous financial planners may misrepresent their clients and can rob their victims of financial security. While government regulators are charged with finding and prosecuting these illegal and unethical practices, often they do so only after individual investors have lost their life savings.
To recover losses caused by a financial advisor who has mishandled your accounts, you must file a claim and pursue recourse through legal channels with the help of an attorney. Because investors usually sign account documents at brokerage firms requiring them to pursue claims through an arbitration process, most claims must be resolved via this channel. Gordon & Doner has extensive experience representing individuals in claims against brokerage houses.
Our firm represents individual clients, institutional investors and class representatives in a variety of cases, including securities, consumer fraud, defective products, employment, unfair trade practices, whistleblower, civil racketeering and class action. If you believe that you may have been a victim of securities fraud, you have certain rights which you should be aware of, rights which may provide you an opportunity to recover your losses from your stockbroker or brokerage firm.
Federal and Florida state laws provide individual and institutional investors with remedies for securities fraud by companies issuing securities, their officers and directors, underwriters, and accounting and other professionals who may be involved in the fraud. Common claims include "fraud on the market," where a company artificially inflates or maintains the market price of its stock by misrepresenting or failing to disclose the company's true financial performance. Other forms of securities fraud include:
- Churning
- Misrepresentation
- Excessive trading
- Unsuitability
- Unauthorized transactions
- Surprise margin calls
- Breach of fiduciary duty
Large stock market losses would only be rare occurrences if funds are properly invested. Negligence, dishonesty and fraud on behalf of the financial advisor or broker should be suspected if that is not the case.
Nearly all brokers and brokerage firms are regulated by the NASD – an organization, formerly known as the National Association of Securities Dealers, which represents people and companies in the securities industry in the U.S. It is also the primary organization responsible for regulation of the securities industry, with oversight from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Most allegations of fraud may be prosecuted under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
If you believe that you have suffered losses as a result of securities fraud contact Gordon & Doner right away. Whether you are a customer or broker with a claim against a brokerage firm, we can help.
At Gordon & Doner, we believe our system of justice works best when skilled attorneys that have the resources to fully prepare and try a case represent both sides. Please complete our online contact form or call us toll free at 1-888-ForTheInjured (1-888-367-8434).
