FINRA Arbitration Panel Clears Advisor's Record of Defamatory Allegations

Posted on January 10th, 2025 at 2:14 PM
FINRA Arbitration Panel Clears Advisor's Record of Defamatory Allegations

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

A FINRA arbitration panel has ruled in favor of Mary J. Howard, a former RBC Wealth Management advisor, allowing her to expunge defamatory allegations from her Form U-5 termination record.

According to AdvisorHub, the panel determined that the allegations made by her former employer, Robert W. Baird & Co., were defamatory in nature and authorized revisions to reflect that Howard voluntarily left the firm in April 2023.

Robert W. Baird &  Co. had previously stated on Howard’s U5 that she was “permitted to resign” after failing to follow firm policy. However, the FINRA panel found these allegations defamatory and ruled that Howard’s record should be amended to show a voluntary departure. The allegations arose as Howard and a business partner prepared to leave Baird. According to Howard’s BrokerCheck comment, the firm learned of their plans after her partner sent emails containing client data to a personal account.

AdvisorHub reports that Howard filed a $5 million claim against Baird, alleging defamation, tortious interference with her business, and unjust enrichment. While the arbitration award does not detail the settlement terms, it confirms that Howard and Baird reached a confidential settlement in October 2023 regarding the damages.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

I am so blessed to have you and your dynamic team defending me. Your ethics, forward thinking and strategies are amazing.  You guys are the best group of attorneys in the country that I could hire to handle this complicated case.

Cindy C.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

January 29, 2026
OFAC Targets Individual Trustee, Sending a Clear Warning to Fiduciaries and Family Offices

In a rare move, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) penalized a former U.S. government official, underscoring that professional gatekeepers can face personal liability for sanctions violations tied to trust administration.

January 28, 2026
FINRA Advances Overhaul of Outside Business Activity Rules to the SEC

FINRA formally has advanced its proposed overhaul of outside business activity (OBA) regulations to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

January 27, 2026
FINRA Sanctions, Criminal Cases, and Industry Bars in 2025

AdvisorHub has compiled a year-end review of enforcement actions and criminal proceedings.