Securities Arbitration

Angel Aquino of Morgan Stanley Claims for Puerto Rico Bonds

February 27, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Investment broker Angel Edgardo Aquino-Velez (CRD#: 2687333) is no longer working as a broker, according to FINRA. Velez was previously registered as a broker, with the last place of employment listed as Morgan Stanley (CRD# 149777). His name is also listed as “Angel Edgardo Aquino,” “Angel E AquinoVelez” and, “Angel Edgardo AquinoVelez.” Velez worked for Morgan Stanley from 2010 through 2017, for Merrill Lynch from 2006 through 2009, and UBS Financial Services, Inc./UBS Financial Services, Inc. of Puerto Rico from 2000 through 2006. Since leaving Morgan Stanley in 2017, Velez is not listed as working as a broker, or in any financial services capacity requiring registration.

Silver Law Group represents other investors in claims against Morgan Stanley relating to Angel Aquino. Since 2001, Velez has had a number of customer disputes have been filed against him. Many were settled by Merrill Lynch during his tenure of employment. FINRA arbitration claims filed during Velez’s tenure at Morgan Stanley are still open, with the most recent involving “unsuitability with respect to Puerto Rico investments,” from 2013 to 2017, among other things (“inter alia.”) No money damages are specified in the latest dispute, but previous disputes dating back to July of 2016 have a combined outstanding total of $17,559,000. Morgan Stanley agreed to pay one customer dispute the amount of $80,000, resolving a securities arbitration of “unsuitability with respect to the Puerto Rico closed-end fund investment – 2012 to 2013.” Customer complaints include “unsuitability” and “misrepresentation” in relation to investments Velez was involved with.

Contact Our Firm if You’ve Invested with Angel Aquino

Christopher Robert Hickman, formerly of Cetera Advisors, LLC.

February 27, 2018 | Silver Law Group

FINRA suspended Christopher Robert Hickman in June of 2017 for six months. This suspension is a result of Hickman’s violations of NASD Rule 2310, and FINRA Rules 2111 and 2010, regarding the unsuitable trading of Unit Investment Trusts, or “UITs.” Hickman neither denied nor confirmed the findings, and consented to the sanctions, which included a five-month suspension and a fine of $5,000, and included customer restitution of $115,989.75 (with interest.) Hickman was in the Delray Beach, Florida office of Cetera.

Hickman recommended these UITs to his customers and sell them within a year of purchase. The UITs in question had a 24-month maturity, and come with significant up-front charges, up to 3.95%. The average holding period for his customers was 136 days. After their sale, Hickman again recommended his customers purchase the same types of UITs with the proceeds and sell them after less than a year, repeating the process. Six of his customers suffered losses of approximately $115,989.75.

During his tenure at Cetera Advisors, LLC., Hickman was also the subject of several customer disputes, most of which were settled, and one denied. The last customer dispute, in April of 2017, involved “breach of fiduciary duty, violation of FINRA rules, negligence, breach of contract, and elder abuse,” and was settled for $15,000.

Scott Silver Participates in the University of Miami School of Law Class Action Forum

February 13, 2018 | Silver Law Group

On December 8, 2017, the University of Miami School of Law held its annual class action forum. Of particular interest was hot topics in class action and mass torts plus a keynote speech from the attorney representing many NFL players in litigation relating to concussions.

Scott Silver is a 1996 graduate of Miami Law School and an active member of the Law School alumni program. In 2016, Silver Law Group was instrumental in helping the University of Miami Investor Rights Clinic receive a $107,000 Cy Pres Award from one of our class actions relating to the U.S. Pension Trust Corp. fraud which resulted in a substantial recovery for our clients.

The Investor Rights Clinic is an important program which teaches students about securities arbitration while helping investors, who may not be able to find counsel, pursue FINRA arbitration claims for securities and investment fraud. Scott Silver is a frequent lecturer at investor rights clinics around the country including University of Miami and Albany Law School in New York.

The Definitive Guide to Securities Arbitration and Mediation

September 1, 2016 | Silver Law Group

The Definitive Guide to Securities Arbitration and Mediation on silverlaw.com

If you decide to use FINRA’s dispute resolution process to resolve a dispute with a broker or financial firm, you have two options, arbitration and mediation.

When investors have a dispute with a brokerage firm registered with FINRA that cannot be settled through mutual agreement or outside settlement, the case may be arbitrated or mediated through FINRA’s dispute resolution forum, which includes both arbitration and mediation.

Securities arbitration and mediation have been found to be much faster, less expensive, and less complex than litigation when it comes to resolving financial disputes between investors and brokers, financial advisors, or brokerage firms.

5 Signs You Should Contact Your Securities Arbitration Attorney

August 18, 2016 | Silver Law Group

5 Signs You Should Contact Your Securities Arbitration Attorney on silverlaw.com

You think your financial advisor has committed investment fraud, when should you lawyer up?

A securities arbitration attorney can be an essential asset if you have questions about what a financial advisor is doing with your money, have been under-informed or misinformed about your investments, or are facing an upcoming hearing with the Financial Investment Regulatory Authority (FINRA) about your investments. Here are five signs you should contact your securities arbitration attorney today:

1. You want a FINRA hearing

Martin Waldman Subject of a Securities Arbitration Claim

May 19, 2016 | Silver Law Group

Martin Waldman Subject of a Securities Arbitration Claim on silverlaw.com

This is the fourth complaint filed against the Raymond James broker Martin “Skip” Waldman of Boca Raton, Florida.

Boca Raton broker Martin Waldman now faces yet another client complaint. In his 13 years in the securities industry, Waldman has several reported disclosure events on his professional track record.

Waldman has been registered with and employed by the Boca Raton, Florida, office of Raymond James & Associates, Inc. since May of 2009. Prior to that, Waldman was registered with Vision Investment Services, Inc. and Northern Trust Securities, Inc., both located in Boca Raton.

Tiffany Peacock-Asakawa Gets 10-Month Suspension Following Allegations of False Representation and Document Falsification

October 30, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Tiffany Peacock-Asakawa Gets 10-Month Suspension Following Allegations of False Representation and Document Falsification on silverlaw.com

Broker was also fined $15,000 for accepting trade orders she was not licensed to accept

Tiffany Peacock-Asakawa was suspended from practicing in the securities industry for 10 months in August, following allegations that she was involved in false representation and the falsification of records of trade orders at her member firm, according to FINRA.

According to FINRA reports, Peacock-Asakawa allegedly accepted trade orders that she was not licensed to accept, as she was not registered as a financial adviser in Hawaii. Sanctions were levied against her in the form of a 10-month suspension from the industry and a $15,000 fine.

Jon Cox Barred From Securities Industry After FINRA Launches Investigation

July 28, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Investigation follows termination from LPL Financial

Jon Lawrence Cox, who has been in the securities industry since June 1990, according to FINRA documents, has been barred as of April 29 after allegedly failing to respond to three written requests from FINRA to provide information to aid an investigation into allegations against him.

Cox was discharged from LPL Financial after allegedly violating policies about outside business activities, according to a disclosure made by the firm. After receiving this information, FINRA launched its own investigation into whether those activities violated its rules as well. FINRA requested information from Cox, who allegedly did not provide it, leading to his barring.

Two LPL Financial LLC Brokers, Thomas Caniford and Andrew Carter, Permanently Barred by FINRA

July 27, 2015 | Silver Law Group

Both brokers barred following termination from same firm

One broker had over 30 years’ experience in the securities industry. One broker had only one year of experience in the securities industry. Yet both brokers were terminated from LPL Financial LLC within a month of each other.

According to the FINRA BrokerCheck website, both Thomas H. Caniford and Andrew M. Carter were terminated earlier this year from the firm for what seem to be fairly similar reasons.

Broker Focus: Patrick Teutonico in the Spotlight for Unauthorized Transactions

July 22, 2015 | Silver Law Group

According to FINRA Teutonico failed to observe high standards of commercial honor.

According to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Broker Check website, broker Patrick Teutonico is once again in the spotlight. Over the course of 17 years in the securities industry, Teutonico has 10 disclosures to report.

To provide some background, brokers are required by FINRA – known as the industry watchdog – to disclose different types of events, from customer complaints to IRS tax liens, judgments and even criminal matters. As such, Teutonico has 10 on his record, many of which involve allegations of unsuitable and unauthorized transactions. According to InvestmentNews, only about 12% of financial advisors have any type of disclosure event on their records. Therefore, it would seem the number of disclosures by Teutonico is relatively high.