Securities Fraud

If you are a victim of securities fraud, you have a few options available to you—lawsuits (if there is no arbitration clause, which there usually us), mediation, or arbitration. The benefits of these options differ by case, and at the Evans Law Firm, Inc., our Alameda County securities fraud lawyers recommend talking over your case with an experienced attorney to get a feel for what you will be expected to do, and what option may be the best course for you to take to regain your financial stability, and bring fraudulent investment companies to justice.

Most of the securities disputes between consumers and fraudulent stockbrokers are handled by binding arbitration before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). The types of securities fraud that our attorneys most regularly hear about include the following fraudulent practices:

• Suitability/unsuitability;
• Misrepresentation and Omissions
• Churning – Frequent Replacement of Insurance Policies – Excessive 1035 Exchanges
• Elder Financial Abuse;
• Failure to Execute Trades
• Failure to Supervise
• Breach of Promise/Contract – Contracts that have miscalculated Benefits
• Breach of Fiduciary Duty
• Negligence
• Sales of Variable Deferred Annuities to persons over the age of 60 years old;
• Margin and Sub-Account Abuse
• Registration and Licensing Violations
• Unauthorized Trading.

If an Alameda County securities fraud lawyer thinks your case is best resolved through arbitration, you need to consider the amount you can expect to recover, weighed against the cost of court and other legal fees. Research shows that an expected recovery for an arbitration case against a larger brokerage firm is can be much less than the stolen or defrauded amount.   With the help of an experienced Alameda and San Francisco County Securities and Stockbroker Fraud lawyer, your chances of success may increase.

Class action lawsuits are filed on behalf of several investors who have been defrauded by one company, or suffered losses as a result of a particular stock or security. Typically, one or two of the plaintiffs will serve as the representative for the rest of the group, and these cases can take three or more years from the time of filing to be resolved. The settlements must be approved by a court judge, and must be split between every involved plaintiff. It is best to discuss the pros and cons of your case before involving yourself in a class action lawsuit, Alameda County securities fraud lawyers recommend.

Mediation is the only non-binding process available to securities fraud victims. In mediation, the main focus is to reach a settlement without going to court, usually with the help of a professional mediator. Mediation is often pursued alongside an arbitration case, and if the mediation is successful, the arbitration may be dropped.

At the Evans Law Firm, Inc., our Alameda County securities fraud lawyers represent clients who have been victims of fraudulent advisors or investment companies, and bad stock or securities. Your life and your financial future is often tied up in stocks that you trust to be legitimate, and if you are a victim of fraud, more than your bank account may be at stake. To discuss the options available, and discover which one is right for your particular case, contact the Evans Law Firm, Inc., at 415.441.8669 or www.evanslaw.com today.