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What is securities arbitration?

In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court held that brokerage firms could enforce pre­dispute arbitration clauses contained in their standard form customer agreements. Virtually all brokerage firms' customer agreement forms now contain arbitration clauses. As a result, most disputes between brokerage firms and customers are arbitrated. Arbitration is a private dispute resolution process in which three arbitrators are appointed to decide the merits of a case. One of the arbitrators is required to be associated, presently or formerly, with an NASD member. The purpose of having an "industry representative" on the panel is to assure that the panel will have the expertise and experience necessary to understand the transactions and practices involved in the case. The other two panel members are typically businesspersons, such as lawyers, accountants, investors or retired judges, who have an interest in securities or dispute resolution. In arbitration, the parties are typically represented by counsel and present evidence through testimony and documents like in a court proceeding. A significant except to mandatory arbitration exists for class action claims.

Other Stock Broker Fraud FAQs

  • Q: What Is Securities Fraud?
    A: Generally, when a financial professional encourages a client to invest in unnecessarily risky ventures that devalue the client's assets or when the … More
  • Q: How can I tell if I`ve been a victim of a stock fraud?
    A: Every case is different but when a stock has dropped, your loss may be due to fraud when Company executives misrepresented facts relating to important aspects of the … More
  • Q: What is an unsuitable recommendation?
    A: When you ask your stock broker for advice, you trust that they are giving you the best information for your specific situation.  However, sometimes a broker … More
  • Q: What Is Overconcentration?
    A: Ever heard of the phrase "don't put all of your eggs in one basket?" Your advisor should also follow this advice, but when your financial advisor … More
  • Q: What Is Churning?
    A: Some stock brokers collect fees on every trade they make on your account.  Generally, a stock broker only makes the trades they think are necessary to meet your … More
  • Q: Do I need to hire an attorney to sue my stock broker?
    A: You do not have to hire an attorney to sue a stock broker, you can file a complaint yourself.  However, an attorney will know what the laws and regulations of … More
  • Q: What Government Agencies Can I File A Complaint With?
    A: Most states have an agency that regulates stock brokers within the state.  Additionally, most stock brokers and stock purchases are governed by the SEC (the … More
  • Q: What Is A Misrepresentation or Omission?
    A: When you deal with a broker you expect them to tell you the honest truth about what you might be investing in.  When a broker misrepresents or omits a material … More
  • Q: What is a failure to execute trades?
    A: Usually a broker and a client will talk about the different types of investment strategies that are available to the client.  Based on the clients goals, a … More
  • Q: What Is A Breach Of Fiduciary Duty?
    A: A fiduciary duty is a requirement that your stock broker place your interests over their own.    This doesn't mean a stock broker should fling … More

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