A National Securities Arbitration & Investment Fraud Law Firm
Silver Law Group is investigating Zynerba Pharmaceuticals (ZYNE), a publicly-traded company that is developing cannabinoid therapies for neuropsychiatric disorders, on behalf of investors in the company’s stock.
The investigation regards possible violations of federal securities laws by Zynerba officers and directors. Continue reading ›
Owners of Conagra Brands stock (CAG) are suing the packaged foods giant, alleging they were tricked into approving their nearly $11 billion acquisition of Pinnacle Foods.
Conagra, which is a component of the S&P 500, announced that it would acquire Pinnacle Foods in June, 2018. CEO Sean Connolly publicly assured investors that Conagra had done its due diligence into Pinnacle, which owns brands such as Birds Eye and Duncan Hines, and said that the two companies were a natural fit for each other. Continue reading ›
Silver Law Group, a securities and investment fraud law firm, is letting investors know that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Amarin Corporation on behalf of investors who purchased shares between September 24, 2018 and November 8, 2018. The complaint alleges that Amarin made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose important information regarding its “REDUCE-IT” trial for their drug Vascepa, which treats heart disease.
The purpose of the class action lawsuit is to recover monetary damages for alleged violations of federal securities laws. Continue reading ›
American Realty Capital New York City REIT has changed its name, and is now known as New York City REIT (NYCR). The trust recently updated its charter to reflect the new name.
Shares of NYCR were initially sold for $25 each. The company’s board recently approved net asset value of $20.26 per share as of June 30, 2018 (published on October 25, 2018.) Continue reading ›
Scott Vincent Kaup (CRD #1002907) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Summit Brokerage Services, Inc. (CRD #34643) of Stuart, NE. His previous employers include VSR Financial Services, Inc. (CRD #14503), also of Stuart, NE and American General Securities Incorporated (CRD #13626) of Phoenix, AZ. He has been in the business since 1981.
Kaup has two disclosures on his record. The first one, filed on 7/13/2018, alleges “unsuitable investment recommendations, material misrepresentations and omissions, and supervisory due diligence failures.” The client is requesting damages of $2,600,000.00. No additional information is available.
The second dispute was filed on 4/25/2016. This claim alleges that Kaup, from 3/30/2001 to 6/14/2010, breached his fiduciary duty, violated common law fraud regulations, made unsuitable recommendations for investments and committed negligence. The claim was settled for $173,000. Kaup denied all claims.
John William Cutshall (CRD #874352) is a registered broker and former registered investment advisor currently employed with Lombard Securities Incorporated (CRD #27954) of Woodsboro, MD. His previous employers include Morgan Stanley (CRD #149777), RBC Capital Markets, LLC (CRD #31194) and Ferris, Baker Watts, LLC (CRD #285), also of Frederick, MD. He has been in the industry since 1979.
Cutshall has four recent disclosures in his record. The most recent is a pending FINRA disciplinary complaint filed by their Department of Enforcement on 8/10/2018 (the full complaint is available here.) His actions are described in detail regarding the misappropriation of trusts that he was administering for three individuals. Between 2012 and 2014, Custshall abused his position for these trusts (for one elderly woman and a now-deceased married couple), converting and improperly using funds from the trusts.
The trust provided for the couple’s disabled daughter, who was in a residential facility for intellectually disabled individuals. When the daughter died in 2012, Cutshall used his position as a trustee to write 34 checks from the trust for a total of $400,000. These checks were deposited into his own bank account. Cutshall then presented an unwitnessed handwritten note that was allegedly written by the deceased husband, but not the wife. The note named Cutshall as a 50% beneficiary, defending his converting of funds from the trust. He took a total of $463,000, which was more than he was entitled to, assuming the note was genuine. Cutshall never disclosed this note until 2013, and failed to disclose to two firms that he was a client’s trustee.
Back in October, we told you about Kyusun Kim (CRD #2864085), a broker who was barred by FINRA after it was discovered he approached individuals who were near or at retirement age, and urged them to liquidate their pensions to invest in “alternative investments.” These investments included risky, non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs.)
BrokerCheck now reports that Sandlapper Wealth Management, LLC has discharged him from their employment as of 8/31/2018 after he was barred by FINRA.
The allegations against Kim included wrongful conduct, breaches of fiduciary duty, contract and conduct, violations of securities laws, fraud, financial elder abuse, negligent misrepresentation, inappropriate investments and unsuitable recommendations, as well as one allegation of forged signatures.
Donna Jean Hines (CRD #4275542, aka “Donna Jean Atchison” or “Donna J. Hines”) is a registered broker and investment advisor who is currently employed with Cetera Advisors LLC (CRD #10299) of Weston, WV. Her previous employers include Investment Planners, Inc. (CRD #18557), also of Weston, WV, Sammons Securities Company, LLC (CRD #115368) of Ann Arbor, MI, and Edward Jones (CRD #250) of St. Louis, MO. She has been in the industry since 2000.
On 06/12/20018, a customer filed a dispute against Hines, alleging unsuitable investments from 2005 through 2018, negligence, common law fraud and other claims, and requested damages of $142,026.00. Hines responded that a motion to compel would be filed to bring the case to arbitration, and reasons why the claims were without basis.
Three previous customer disputes were filed on 12/21/2015, 12/24/2015 and 12/28/2015. The claimants were children of a deceased customer, who each inherited from the customer’s estate. The claims allege misrepresentation, omissions, negligence and breaches in regards to “alternative investment products” that Hines sold the customer. The damages requested were different for each case, but all three claims were settled for $100,000. Hines’ response was that the alternative investments were purchased more than ten years ago. The client passed away in 2011, and the claims were settled to avoid the cost and expense of litigation.
Bryon Edwin Martinsen (CRD #1621649) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Centaurus Financial, Inc. (CRD #30833) of Northport, NY. His previous employers are AXA Advisors, LLC (CRD #6627) and The Equitable Life Assurance Society Of The United States (CRD #4039), both of New York, NY. He has been in the industry since 1987.
Martinsen has a total of eight disclosures on his record dating back to 1999, when he was discharged from AXA Advisors for engaging in outside business activities. He had previously been advised to end these business activities.
His most recent disclosure was filed on 6/25/2018. This customer disclosure is currently pending, and includes allegations of “unsuitable investments, misrepresentations, and omission of material risks, in connection with the sale of various investments.” The client has requested damages of $231,244.71. Martinsen denies the allegations.
Michael Turner Morrissett (CRD #1456789) is a registered broker and investment advisor who is currently employed with Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC (CRD #19616) of Roanoke, VA. His previous employers are First Union Brokerage Services, Inc. (CRD #8112) of Charlotte, NC and Dominion Investment Banking, Inc. (CRD #17523) He has been in the industry since 1986.
Morrissett is the subject of four disclosures, the most recent of which was filed on 4/5/2018. The claimants allege that Morrissett “misrepresented” two hedge funds in 2013 and 2015, and that the information provided on the two alternative investments was “misleading.” The clients have requested damages of $2,300,000. This case is currently pending.
The next customer dispute was filed on 1/15/2014, with the client alleging that Morrissett “pursued an unsuitable investment strategy beginning in 2000 that overexposed her account to the volatility of the equities markets during the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009.” The case was settled for $85,000 by the firm to avoid the expense and hassle of litigation.
Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog