Paulson Investment Company

Michael Nixon and Paulson Investment Company LLC

January 31, 2019 | Silver Law Group

Michael Patrick Nixon (CRD #216931) is a registered broker and investment advisor currently employed with Paulson Investment Company LLC (CRD #5670) of Tampa, Florida. His previous employers include Newport Coast Securities, Inc. (CRD #16944) and Meyers Associates, L.P. (CRD #34171), both of Leesburg, VA. Six of his previous employers have been expelled by FINRA, including Newport and Meyers. He has been in the industry since 1991.

Chestnut-Exploration-and-Mark-Plummer-Facing-Allegations-of-Securities-Fraud-With-Oil-Gas-Securities-300x225 Nixon has a total of four disclosures in his record, the most recent a customer dispute filed on 7/9/2018. The claimants allege that from 2013 to 2018, Nixon violated both the Florida Securities Act and the Virginia Securities Act. They also allege that he committed common law and securities fraud and breached his fiduciary duty, and completely misrepresented multiple unsuitable securities and investments. Additional allegations include failure to supervise on the part of the firm (Paulson Investment.) Claimants are requesting damages in the amount of $3,000,000. The case is currently pending.

His previous customer dispute was filed on 10/9/1998, which included allegations of “misrepresentation and deceit” in relation to a stock liquidation to meet a margin call. The client requested damages of $9,000, and was granted damages of $2,006.95. Nixon denied the allegations.

Silver Law Group is Investigating Kevin Graetz of Paulson Investment Company

May 1, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Kevin Graetz (CRD# 1935982) has been with Paulson Investment Company since 2013. In a regulatory action from 2016, FINRA found that Graetz willfully failed to timely disclose tax liens against him. Graetz owes over $1,000,000 in unpaid taxes to both the IRS and the State of Connecticut. As a result of this violation, FINRA fined Graetz $10,000 and suspended him for six months. In a separate regulatory action from 2017, FINRA found that Graetz failed to respond to a FINRA request for information. Graetz also failed to request termination of his earlier suspension within the allotted time. FINRA permanently barred Graetz from being associated with any FINRA member firm due to this violation.

Graetz has also been the subject of several customer disputes. In one pending dispute from 2017, the customer alleges fraud and unjust enrichment in connection with the sale of promissory notes; the customer alleges damages of $1,000,000. Graetz was ultimately terminated from Paulson Investment Company as a result of this customer complaint. In a settled complaint from 2005, the customer alleged that Graetz purchased an unsuitably large amount of stock in his account. In another settled complaint from 2003, a customer alleged that Graetz generally mishandled the customer’s account; the case settled for $75,000.

FINRA requires its members to “have a reasonable basis to believe that a recommended transaction or investment strategy” is suitable for a customer given their individual needs. FINRA also requires its members to “observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade.”

Silver Law Group is Investigating Minish Joe Hede of Paulson Investment Company

May 1, 2018 | Silver Law Group

Minish Joe Hede (CRD# 2389098) has been with Paulson Investment Company since 2013. In a regulatory action from 2017, FINRA found that Hede failed to respond to a FINRA request for information. Hede also failed to request termination of his earlier suspension within the allotted time. As a result, FINRA permanently barred Hede from being associated with any FINRA member firm. Hede was also discharged from Paulson Investment Company in 2017. The firm terminated Hede after a customer filed a complaint alleging negligence, fraud, and unjust enrichment. The firm also stated that Hede failed to comply with its internal investigation into the matter.

Hede has also been the subject of several customer disputes. In one dispute pending from 2017, the Claimant alleges fraud and unjust enrichment in connection with the sale of promissory notes; the Claimant alleges damages of $1,000,000. In another complaint from 1999, the Claimant alleged unauthorized use of margin trading by Hede. The case settled for over $6,000.

FINRA requires its members to “have a reasonable basis to believe that a recommended transaction or investment strategy” is suitable for a customer given their individual needs. FINRA also requires that its members refrain from engaging in fraudulent or deceptive practices with their customers.