FINRA Arbitrators Rule Expelled Brokerage Must Pay $3.2 Million for Excessive Trading

Posted on October 2nd, 2023 at 1:09 PM
FINRA Arbitrators Rule Expelled Brokerage Must Pay $3.2 Million for Excessive Trading

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law 

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrators issued an award holding Salomon Whitney Financial (SW Financial) accountable for excessive, unsuitable, and unauthorized stock trading on margin in a customer account.

The FINRA panel ordered the firm to pay a total of $3.2 million, which includes $1.4 million in compensatory damages, $500,000 in punitive damages, $975,171 in returned commissions and fees, $297,208 in attorneys' fees, $7602 in costs, and $400 in arbitration fees.

According to InvestmentNews, the customer accused Peter Girgis, the financial advisor at SW Financial, of engaging in churning with high-risk stocks. The customer further alleged that Girgis did not conduct reasonable due diligence on these unsuitable investments and failed to disclose the associated risks and the strategy.

 

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

Thank you for your professional assistance with this matter. You are very good at what you do.

John T.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

October 16, 2025
FINRA Suspends Former Citigroup Advisor Over Undisclosed Business Activities

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended former Citigroup representative Maximiliano Ramirez and fined him $5,000 for engaging in undisclosed outside business activities and investments.

October 15, 2025
SEC Accuses Florida Insurance Agent of $52 Million Unregistered Securities Scheme

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a complaint against Florida insurance agent Charles D. Oliver, alleging he illegally sold about $52 million in unregistered oil and gas securities to roughly 50 retail investors, including retired seniors.

October 14, 2025
Morgan Stanley's Termination of Financial Advisor Highlights Scrutiny Over U-5 Filings

Morgan Stanley recently terminated a 25-year industry veteran in Miami, underscoring the heightened scrutiny surrounding U-5 filings and the challenges that accompany them.