Securities Arbitration Lawyers Blog

Silver Law Group is Investigating Phillip Johnson of SunTrust Investment Services, Inc.

May 30, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Phillip Johnson was assessed by FINRA a deferred fine of $5,000 and suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities for three months. Without admitting or denying the findings, Johnson, a previous advisor with SunTrust Investment Services and DH Hill Securities, consented to the sanctions and to the entry of findings that he borrowed $528,000 from a customer, but failed to notify or obtain written approval of the loan in advance from his member firm. The findings stated that Johnson made an inaccurate statement on firm compliance questionnaires related to borrowing from a firm customer. The brokerage firm did not permit loans between registered persons and customers who were not close family members. Johnson and the customer are not family members.

Contact Our Firm if You’ve Invested with Phillip Johnson or your Financial Advisor Improperly Borrowed Money

If you invested with Phillip Johnson and believe you have lost money due to his misconduct, you may be able to file a claim to recover your losses through FINRA arbitration. For a free evaluation of your potential case by as securities attorney, please contact Silver Law Group. Stockbrokers are in a unique position of trust and are rarely allowed to borrow money from clients.

Scott Silver Speaks at Class Action Mastery and Mass Tort Med School Conference

May 30, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Scott Silver was happy to address a packed room of accomplished class action and mass tort lawyers to discuss securities and investment fraud cases and handling FINRA arbitration claims. HB Litigation Conferences is a leading conference coordinator and coordinated a unique conference in the NASDAQ building in Times Square. Scott’s talk focused on elder financial fraud cases, representing investors in securities or FINRA arbitration claims and potential future stockbroker misconduct cases. As a recognized leader in securities arbitration, Scott is a passionate investor advocate, a proponent of improving the FINRA arbitration process and primarily represents investors in securities arbitration claims.

Silver Law Group is one of New York City’s top law firms for representing investors in securities and FINRA arbitration claims. Our attorneys have years of experience and are admitted to practice in Florida and New York representing investors nationwide. If you need a speaker on securities and investment fraud matters, please contact Scott Silver at ssilver@silverlaw.com and visit us at www.silverlaw.com.

Credit Unions Aim to Stop Elder Financial Fraud

May 30, 2018 | Silver Law Group

A new program has launched with the goal of educating everyone about this problem

According to a 2017 survey conducted by the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA), two-thirds of caregivers reported that they had an elderly family member who at one time or another was a target of some sort of fraud or scam. In addition, 28 percent of older people were victims of a scam.

The survey also revealed that only 4 percent of seniors had ever taken a financial literacy class. Overall, almost 40 percent of respondents believed their older relatives were “somewhat” or “not at all” financially literate.

FINRA Bars Broker Kenneth Stewart Tyrell For Failure To Disclose Outside Business Dealings

May 25, 2018 | Silver Law Group

On 12/8/2017, FINRA permanently barred former registered broker Kenneth Stewart Tyrell (CRD #2457452) from acting as a broker or having any affiliation with a broker-dealer firm. Tyrell was both a previously registered broker and a previously registered investment advisor. His last employer was Cary Street Partners, (CRD #128089) of Richmond, VA, from 08/25/2016 until 10/06/2017 (officially.) He is not currently registered with any financial service-related firm.

Tyrell’s previous employment history includes:

UBS Financial Services (CRD #8174) of Vienna, VA, from 11/14/2008 to 09/07/2016. Tyrell was discharged from this firm; see below for details.

FINRA Suspends Ryan Michael Murnane

May 25, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Broker Ryan Michael Murnane (CRD #4784140) has been suspended by FINRA for failure to provide requested information. The suspension was enacted on 02/12/2018. Since no action has been taken in the three-month period, the suspension has become a bar as of April 20, 2018. Murnane’s last employer of record was Alexander Capital LP (CRD #40077) of New York, NY, from 01/12/2017 through 04/03/2017. He is not currently registered with any broker-related firm.

Murnane’s previous employment history includes:

Woodstock Financial Group (CRD #38095), of Staten Island, NY, from 07/15/2015 through 02/07/2017. Murnane was discharged from this position; see details below.

FINRA Bars Broker Charles Henry Frieda After Multiple Allegations of Unsuitable Investments

May 25, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Former Broker Charles Henry Frieda (CRD #5502319) has been barred after FINRA investigated more than 50 client allegations of improper investments. Frieda’s last employer of record was Wells Fargo Clearing Services (aka Wells Fargo Advisors, CRD #19616) of Irvine, CA, where he was employed from 10/05/2012 through 09/20/2017. Although he was previously registered as a broker and as an investment advisor, he is not currently registered with any broker, and no information is available on any current employer.

His previous employment record includes:

Morgan Stanley (CRD #19616) of Brea, CA, from 06/01/2009 through 10/24/2012

FINRA Bars Broker Charles Bernard Lynch, Jr. After 50+ Customer Disputes

May 25, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Former broker and investment advisor Charles Bernard Lynch, Jr. (CRD #3004877) has been barred by FINRA after 57 customer disputes have been filed against him. His last employer of record was Wells Fargo Clearing Services (aka Wells Fargo Advisors, CRD #19616), where he was employed from 10/05/2012 through 05/02/2016. He was a general securities representative, and was discharged from the firm on April 12, 2016. Since his termination, he has not been associated with any other financial services firm.

Lynch’s previous employment record includes:

Morgan Stanley (CRD #149777) of Brea, CA, from 06/01/2009 through 10/24/2012

Silver Law Group is Investigating Joseph Alan Lavigne of Spencer Edwards, Inc.

May 17, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Silver Law Group is currently investigating Centennial, Colorado based broker Joseph Alan Lavigne regarding complaints pertaining to failure to provide due diligence to investor clients and misrepresentation.

Based on FINRA’s BrokerCheck report on Lavigne, a complaint was filed on December 4, 2017 alleging that Lavigne provided misleading information to investor clients during his employment at Spencer Edwards, Inc. The total in damages was $47,034.75.

Lavigne was previously employed at Bathgate Capital Partners LLC from 2002 to 2013. He has been employed at Spencer Edwards, Inc. from 2013 to the present.

Silver Law Group is Investigating John Greg Schmidt of Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Inc. and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC

May 17, 2018 | Silver Law Group

New-York-Broker-Gregory-Flemming-Suspended-by-FINRA-300x200 Silver Law Group is currently investigating Dayton, Ohio based broker John Greg Schmidt regarding complaints pertaining to theft of client funds and elder financial abuse.

Based on FINRA’s BrokerCheck report on Schmidt, a complaint was filed on October 9, 2007 alleging that Schmidt caused an investor client upwards of $500,000 worth of damages due to failing to provide due diligence and theft during his employment at Stifel Nicolaus & Company, Inc. and Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC. The claim was settled for damages of $80,000 in which Schmidt was required to pay $32,500, Wells Fargo was required to pay $32,500, and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. was required to pay $15,000. Additionally, a second claim was filed on 12/04/2017 that is still pending regarding an allegation of theft of client funds. As a result of the second claim, Schmidt was given a permanent suspension from the securities industry.

Schmidt was previously employed at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc. from 2002 to 2006 and Wachovia Securities Financial Network LLC. from 2006 to 2009 until they merged with Wells Fargo. He was employed at Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network LLC from 2009 to 2017. According to BrokerCheck, several recently filed arbitration claims allege Schmidt misappropriated or absconded with customer money.

How to Report Elder Financial Fraud

May 16, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Learn about the steps involved for victims, loved ones, and financial professionals

Elder financial fraud is an epidemic in this country that not a lot of people know about and even fewer talk about. And “epidemic” isn’t an exaggeration; every year, billions of dollars are scammed and stolen from seniors by trusted individuals, including financial advisors, caregivers, and even their own family members. And what’s worse is that a large percentage of these cases aren’t reported.

Why are older people more susceptible to financial abuse?