Frequently Asked Questions 
www.securitieslitigators.com 
brought to you by 
Attorney advertising. For information purposes only. Visit 
www.securitieslitigators.com and the last page of this presentation for 
important information and disclaimers.
 FINRA stands for “Financial Industry Regulatory 
Authority.” It is a nationwide organization that regulates 
securities broker-dealer firms and their stockbrokers. It 
has enacted a substantial body of rules and regulations 
that govern the conduct of broker-dealer firms and 
stockbrokers in the course of their securities 
business. When stockbrokers and their employers sell 
securities or make investment recommendations to the 
public, they must abide by those conduct rules. 
 FINRA functions under the auspices of the United States 
Securities and Exchange Commission. Securities broker-dealer 
firms and their stockbrokers are required to 
arbitrate disputes with their customers in the arbitral 
tribunals organized by FINRA, rather than in a court of law. 
Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
 FINRA arbitration is an arbitration process that takes place 
before panels of three arbitrators, organized by FINRA and 
in accordance with the FINRA Code of 
Arbitration. Arbitration in general is an alternative dispute 
resolution process. It is an alternative to state or federal 
court litigation. 
 FINRA arbitrations are private (not open to the public) and 
are generally faster and less expensive than a lawsuit in 
state or federal court. The FINRA arbitration process has 
some similarities to a typical lawsuit in state or federal 
court: it starts with a “Statement of Claim” filed by the 
parties seeking relief (compensation) and an “Answer” filed 
by the party that was “sued.” 
Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
 The parties then participate to the arbitrator selection 
process, subsequently schedule the hearing and other 
important deadlines in the case, and thereafter engage in 
the discovery process. The discovery process is much 
simplified compared to that in state or federal 
court. Among other things, it does not allow depositions. 
Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
 The evidentiary hearing typically takes place between 12- 
18 months from the date of the filing of the Statement of 
Claim, though such terms may vary. At the hearing, a 
panel comprised of three professionals is presented with 
the evidence and hears the parties’ arguments. Typically 
within 30 days after the hearing, the panel issues an 
“Award” (decision). The FINRA arbitration awards are, 
with some exceptions, non-appealable. 
Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
 In certain types of matters, such as Ponzi schemes or 
investment fraud, where investors are victimized by 
the same stockbroker or broker-dealer firm, we often 
include multiple investors in the same FINRA 
arbitration proceeding. We do that when we 
determine that they are similarly situated in the 
material respects, meaning that their relevant 
investment circumstances and their claims are similar. 
Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
 Investors may call (888-998-0520) or email us 
for a free evaluation of their case. 
 You can learn more about FINRA arbitration 
by visiting our website 
www.securitieslitigators.com 
Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
Alan L. Rosca 
Leader Building, Ste. 1255 
526 Superior Avenue 
Cleveland, OH 44114 
Phone: 888-998-0520 
arosca@prwlegal.com 
www.securitieslitigators.c 
om/alan-l-rosca 
Joseph C. Peiffer 
201 St. Charles Avenue 
Suite 4610 
New Orleans, LA 70170 
Phone: 504-586-5259 
jpeiffer@prwlegal.com 
www.securitieslitigators.c 
om/joseph-c-peiffer 
Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
Important Disclosures 
This disclaimer contains important information about this presentation. Please read it carefully. 
This presentation has general information about FINRA arbitration process and our firm, but 
it is not legal advice. We are not offering to provide you with legal representation through this 
presentation. Neither your use of this presentation, nor any e-mail you send to us, will create an 
attorney-client relationship with us. Such a relationship can be formed only through a personal 
conversation between you and one of our lawyers, after a thorough screening for potential conflicts 
that we might have. You should not take any action or decline to take any action concerning a legal 
matter based upon the information in this presentation without first obtaining the advice of a lawyer. 
Do not send us any information or materials you consider to be confidential without first 
obtaining a statement from us in writing that we represent you, and the authorization by one of our 
lawyers to send us the information. We will not treat any information you send us without that written 
statement and authorization as confidential. 
Attorney Joe Peiffer’s office is in New Orleans. He is licensed to practice law in Louisiana. 
Alan Rosca's office is in Cleveland. He is licensed to practice law in Ohio. We handle financial fraud 
cases in most states. However, our firm's lawyers are not admitted to practice law in every state. In 
those jurisdictions in which we are not admitted to practice, we will associate with local co-counsel to 
assist with the matter, at no additional cost to our clients, whenever permitted or required by the 
respective jurisdiction. We are not certified or recognized as specialists or experts in any area of law. 
The descriptions of our lawyers` and our firm's areas of practice do not state or imply that 
our lawyers hold certifications or are specialists or experts in any particular areas of law. 
In cases in which we associate with local co-counsel, we will typically act as primary counsel. 
Occasionally, it is possible that our co-counsel will take the leading role. Whenever that is the case, we 
will obtain the client's advance, written permission. 
Copyright ©2014. All rights reserved. You may download and print out any part of this presentation for 
your own personal, non-commercial use. Any other reproduction or retransmission of this presentation 
without our prior written consent is prohibited. This presentation includes attorney advertising.

Finra Arbitration: Frequently Asked Questions - Part 1

  • 1.
    Frequently Asked Questions www.securitieslitigators.com brought to you by Attorney advertising. For information purposes only. Visit www.securitieslitigators.com and the last page of this presentation for important information and disclaimers.
  • 2.
     FINRA standsfor “Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.” It is a nationwide organization that regulates securities broker-dealer firms and their stockbrokers. It has enacted a substantial body of rules and regulations that govern the conduct of broker-dealer firms and stockbrokers in the course of their securities business. When stockbrokers and their employers sell securities or make investment recommendations to the public, they must abide by those conduct rules.  FINRA functions under the auspices of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Securities broker-dealer firms and their stockbrokers are required to arbitrate disputes with their customers in the arbitral tribunals organized by FINRA, rather than in a court of law. Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
  • 3.
     FINRA arbitrationis an arbitration process that takes place before panels of three arbitrators, organized by FINRA and in accordance with the FINRA Code of Arbitration. Arbitration in general is an alternative dispute resolution process. It is an alternative to state or federal court litigation.  FINRA arbitrations are private (not open to the public) and are generally faster and less expensive than a lawsuit in state or federal court. The FINRA arbitration process has some similarities to a typical lawsuit in state or federal court: it starts with a “Statement of Claim” filed by the parties seeking relief (compensation) and an “Answer” filed by the party that was “sued.” Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
  • 4.
     The partiesthen participate to the arbitrator selection process, subsequently schedule the hearing and other important deadlines in the case, and thereafter engage in the discovery process. The discovery process is much simplified compared to that in state or federal court. Among other things, it does not allow depositions. Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
  • 5.
     The evidentiaryhearing typically takes place between 12- 18 months from the date of the filing of the Statement of Claim, though such terms may vary. At the hearing, a panel comprised of three professionals is presented with the evidence and hears the parties’ arguments. Typically within 30 days after the hearing, the panel issues an “Award” (decision). The FINRA arbitration awards are, with some exceptions, non-appealable. Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
  • 6.
     In certaintypes of matters, such as Ponzi schemes or investment fraud, where investors are victimized by the same stockbroker or broker-dealer firm, we often include multiple investors in the same FINRA arbitration proceeding. We do that when we determine that they are similarly situated in the material respects, meaning that their relevant investment circumstances and their claims are similar. Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
  • 7.
     Investors maycall (888-998-0520) or email us for a free evaluation of their case.  You can learn more about FINRA arbitration by visiting our website www.securitieslitigators.com Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
  • 8.
    Alan L. Rosca Leader Building, Ste. 1255 526 Superior Avenue Cleveland, OH 44114 Phone: 888-998-0520 arosca@prwlegal.com www.securitieslitigators.c om/alan-l-rosca Joseph C. Peiffer 201 St. Charles Avenue Suite 4610 New Orleans, LA 70170 Phone: 504-586-5259 jpeiffer@prwlegal.com www.securitieslitigators.c om/joseph-c-peiffer Attorney advertising. See last page and www.securitieslitigators.com for important disclosures
  • 9.
    Important Disclosures Thisdisclaimer contains important information about this presentation. Please read it carefully. This presentation has general information about FINRA arbitration process and our firm, but it is not legal advice. We are not offering to provide you with legal representation through this presentation. Neither your use of this presentation, nor any e-mail you send to us, will create an attorney-client relationship with us. Such a relationship can be formed only through a personal conversation between you and one of our lawyers, after a thorough screening for potential conflicts that we might have. You should not take any action or decline to take any action concerning a legal matter based upon the information in this presentation without first obtaining the advice of a lawyer. Do not send us any information or materials you consider to be confidential without first obtaining a statement from us in writing that we represent you, and the authorization by one of our lawyers to send us the information. We will not treat any information you send us without that written statement and authorization as confidential. Attorney Joe Peiffer’s office is in New Orleans. He is licensed to practice law in Louisiana. Alan Rosca's office is in Cleveland. He is licensed to practice law in Ohio. We handle financial fraud cases in most states. However, our firm's lawyers are not admitted to practice law in every state. In those jurisdictions in which we are not admitted to practice, we will associate with local co-counsel to assist with the matter, at no additional cost to our clients, whenever permitted or required by the respective jurisdiction. We are not certified or recognized as specialists or experts in any area of law. The descriptions of our lawyers` and our firm's areas of practice do not state or imply that our lawyers hold certifications or are specialists or experts in any particular areas of law. In cases in which we associate with local co-counsel, we will typically act as primary counsel. Occasionally, it is possible that our co-counsel will take the leading role. Whenever that is the case, we will obtain the client's advance, written permission. Copyright ©2014. All rights reserved. You may download and print out any part of this presentation for your own personal, non-commercial use. Any other reproduction or retransmission of this presentation without our prior written consent is prohibited. This presentation includes attorney advertising.