In the past few years, industry-watchers have seen a rise in lawsuits filed against pension funds: Clients have been suing pension fund providers for charging excessive fees—even higher fees than they charge other clients for similar investment products—and other wrongdoing. And now, following a unanimous decision issued by the Supreme…
In a previous post, we began to address some general ways in which a financial advisor can overcharge investment clients. But it’s worth a bit more focus on one specific type of investment: margin accounts. Some advisors contractually steer customers into margin accounts as the default investment. But margin accounts…
What should you do if you’ve encountered defense contractor fraud and you want to stop it? Practically speaking, start by getting qualified legal representation as soon as possible. You need legal protection, to understand the best ways to insulate yourself from retaliation or other negative results, and, importantly, to make…
What should you do if you’ve encountered health care fraud and you want to stop it? You have options, and there isn’t one right or wrong answer. It will depend on the type of fraud, who is perpetrating it, how much you want to remain anonymous, and more. File a…
When it comes to legal terminology, there’s one term that is frequently discussed but little understood: Arbitration. Let’s discuss what arbitration is and how it can impact your whistleblower claim. Arbitration is a sort of private mini-trial to litigate disputes between two or more parties. Rather than going to court…
The U.S. Congress has established whistleblower programs with monetary awards to incentivize individuals to report possible violations of the federal securities laws to the Securities & Exchange Commission and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. The information reported to these agencies can be past, ongoing, or future fraudulent activities. They include:…
Whistleblowers help maintain the integrity and fairness of U.S. financial markets. They are a vital watchdog and play an essential role in the securities markets. The whistleblower process can be vigorous and draining and comes with risk. Once a whistleblower decides to take a moral stand on what is right,…
Several agencies are involved in regulating the securities industry and enforcing laws governing investment fraud. Each agency has its own staff and set of rules. Our securities & investment fraud lawyers will help you determine the best place to file your whistleblower claim. The Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC). The…
Whistleblowers should proceed from the very start—as soon as they suspect something is amiss—with the strategic guidance, support, and watchful eye of experienced counsel. The whistleblower path is fraught with difficulty and decision-making that cannot be done without the right attorneys to help. For example: Whistleblowers need counsel to help…
“Whistleblowing” is a term used to describe the act of alerting the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in writing, to a securities law violation. For many, whistleblowing is easier in theory than in practice. While most people want to do what is right, and prevent illegal actors from unfair compensation,…