Securities Attorney

Advisor Kurt Jackson Subject to Complaints Over REIT Investments

May 23, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Kurt Jackson (Jackson), currently employed by Commonwealth Financial Network (Commonwealth Financial) has been subject to at least three customer complaints. According to a BrokerCheck report some of the customer complaints concern alternative investments and direct participation products (DPPs) such as non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and equipment leasing programs. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have extensive experience handling investor losses caused by these types of products.

In March 2019 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Jackson violated the securities laws by alleging breach of fiduciary duty, negligence and other causes of action related to the sale of several alternative investments. The claim alleges $500,000 in damages and is currently pending.

Our firm often handles cases involving direct participation products, Non-Traded REITs, oil and gas offerings, equipment leasing products, and other alternative investments. These products are almost always unsuitable for investors. In addition, the brokers who sell them are paid additional commission in order to hype inferior quality investments which provides a perverse incentives by brokers to create an artificial market for products that no honest advisor would sell.

Advisor Paul Mante Alleged to Have Recommended Unsuitable Puerto Rico Municipal Bonds

May 23, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Paul Mante (Mante), employed by The GMS Group, LLC (The GMS Group), has been subject to eight customer complaints. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Mante has been accused by a customers of unsuitable investment advice concerning recommendations to invest in Puerto Rico bonds. Puerto Rico has been devastated by a $70 billion debt it cannot pay in addition to extensive hurricane damage. However, according to news reports, the process to resolve Puerto Rico’s debts could take years.

In January 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Mante violated the securities laws by, among other things, making misrepresentations of Puerto Rico bonds for the period of May 2014 through to December 2017. The complaint alleged $1 million in damages and was settled for $450,000.

In January 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Mante violated the securities laws by, among other things, that the broker negligently recommended and misrepresented the safety of the Puerto Rico bonds from the time period of May 2013 through to September 2014. The complaint alleged $40,000 in damages and was settled for $13,500.

Securities America Broker Andrew Burdsall Has Investment Complaints

May 7, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Andrew Burdsall (Burdsall), currently employed by Securities America, Inc. (Securities America) has been subject to at least five customer complaints. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of Burdsall’s customer complaints allege that Burdsall invested them in a fraudulent private placement security or made unsuitable investments.

In January 2019 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Burdsall violated the securities laws including that after briefly discussing the possibility of generating a monthly income plan, Burdsall placed unauthorized trades within the client’s account which resulted in a loss to his portfolio. The customer alleges $106,202.16 in damages. The claim is currently pending.

There are also four claims against Burdsall concerning the sale of fraudulent private placements including Provident Shale and Medical Capital.

Broker Ronald Rothchild Has Multiple Customer Investment Complaints

April 23, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Ronald Rothchild (Rothchild), currently employed by National Securities Corporation (National Securities) has been subject to at least four customer complaint, two financial disclosures, and an employment termination for cause. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of Rothchild’s customer complaints allege that Rothchild made was negligent, breached his fiduciary duty, made unsuitable investments, and made misrepresentations.

In July 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Rothchild violated the securities laws including negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and unsuitable investments causing $100,000 in damages. The claim is currently pending.

In March 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Rothchild violated the securities laws including that investments were misrepresented to her and were unsuitable based on her investment objectives and risk tolerance which were also incorrectly stated on new account paperwork. The claim is currently settled.

In December 2016 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Rothchild violated the securities laws including negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and misrepresentations causing $170,000 in damages. The claim is settled for $48,000.

Advisor Raymond Menna Has Multiple Public Disclosures Including Regulatory Action

April 14, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Raymond Menna (Menna), currently employed by Planmember Securities Corporation (Planmember Securities) has been subject to at least two customer complaints and one regulatory complaint. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of Menna’s customer complaints allege that Carver made unsuitable recommendations.

In August 2018 FINRA brought a complaint against Menna who consented to sanctions and to findings that he improperly shared in the losses of a customer. FINRA found that the value of the account of one of Menna’s customers declined to zero as a result of customer withdrawals and trading losses and Menna agreed to give the customer money on a monthly basis. Thereafter, FINRA found that Menna made monthly cash payments to the customer totalling approximately $15,000. FINRA found that Menna did not obtain prior written authorization from his member firm or the customer to make such payments.

Centaurus Financial Broker Atul Makharia Has Several Suitability Complaints

February 6, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Atul Makharia (Makharia), currently employed by Centaurus Financial, Inc. (Centaurus Financial) has been subject to at least three customer complaints. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of Makharia’s customer complaints allege that Makharia made unsuitable recommendations in a variety of investments including debt securities.

In November 2018 a customer brought a complaint against Makharia alleging the broker violated the securities laws by recommending unsuitable investments and several other allegations associated therewith causing $200,000 in damages. The claim is currently pending.

In October 2018 a customer brought a complaint against Makharia alleging the broker violated the securities laws by recommending unsuitable investments causing $333,000 in damages. The claim is currently pending.

Ghazaleh Ebrahimi Subject to Investment Complaints

February 6, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

Advisor Ghazaleh Ebrahimi (Ebrahimi), currently employed by Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (Stifel, Nicolaus) has been subject to at least four customer complaints. According to a BrokerCheck report some of the customer complaints concern alternative investments and direct participation products (DPPs) such as non-traded real estate investment trusts (REITs), oil & gas programs, annuities, and equipment leasing programs. The attorneys at Gana Weinstein LLP have extensive experience handling investor losses caused by these types of products.

In November 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Ebrahimi violated the securities laws by violation of standards of reasonable basis suitability, just and equitable principles of trade, fraud, misleading statements, misleading omissions of material information; breach of fiduciary duty; negligent misrepresentation; negligence; breach of contract and warranty; third party beneficiary breach of contract; breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing; elder abuse; and aiding and abetting financial elder abuse. The customer alleged $1.3 million in damages and the claim is currently pending.

In June 2018 a customer filed a complaint alleging that Ebrahimi violated the securities laws by violation of breach of fiduciary duty; negligence; breach of contract; common law fraud and deceit; and violations of FINRA rules The customer alleged $1.3 million in damages and the claim is currently pending.

Capitol Securities Broker Ian Greenblatt Sanctioned By Regulator Over Customer Disputes

February 4, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Ian Greenblatt (Greenblatt), currently employed by Capitol Securities Management, Inc. (Capitol Securities) has been subject to at least four customer complaints and one regulatory action. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of Greenblatt’s customer complaints allege that Aziz made unsuitable recommendations in a variety of investments.

In September 2018 FINRA brought a regulatory action against Greenblatt where he consented to sanctions and findings that he settled a customer complaint away from his member firm. FINRA found that customers became dissatisfied with the performance of their brokerage account since their account had declined in value by over $170,000. FINRA found that after one of these customers complained verbally to Greenblatt about the losses they incurred Greenblatt did not report customer’s complaint to the firm and instead met with customers at their home to discuss their complaint. At that meeting, FINRA determined that Greenblatt wrote a personal check for $46,000 to the customers’ son in settlement of customers’ complaint.

Advisor Gregory Williams Subject to Multiple Suitability Complaints

January 22, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Gregory Williams (Williams), currently employed by Presidential Brokerage, Inc. (Presidential Brokerage) has been subject to four customer complaints. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), most of Williams’ customer complaints allege that Williams made unsuitable recommendations in a variety of investments.

In June 2018 a customer complained that Williams violated the securities laws by engaging in unsuitable investments and making misrepresentations. The customer alleges $151,337 in damages. The claim is currently pending.

In June 2018 a customer complained that Williams violated the securities laws by engaging in unsuitable investments, making misrepresentations, making unauthorized transfers, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty from May 2012 through March 2018. The customer alleges $1,200,000 in damages. The claim is currently pending.

Kovack Securities Advisor Barbara Ralston Subject to Investor Complaints

January 4, 2019 | by Staff Attorney

According to BrokerCheck records financial advisor Barbara Ralston (Ralston), currently employed by Kovack Securities Inc. (Kovack Securities) has been subject to at least eight customer complaints and one bankruptcy discharge during her career. According to records kept by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), the complaints against Ralston concern allegations of unsuitable investments.

In October 2018 a customer complained that Ralston recommended investments that violated the securities laws from 2008 through 2016 by making unsuitable investments and failed to supervise the sale of securities in their accounts. The complaint is currently pending.

In April 2010 Ralston declared bankruptcy.