US Senators Herbert Kohl (Wisc) and Robert Casey (Pa) have introduced the Senior Investor Protections Enhancement Act, a bill that would add a $50,000 fine to any penalties that came with defrauding investors over 62 years of age. The legislation defines a senior as anyone 62 years of age or…
This week, U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein announced that the securities arm of Deutsche Bank AG will have to defend itself against a lawsuit alleging that it lost almost $1.6 million in auction-rate securities. Xethanol Corp., which filed the securities lawsuit, alleges that Deutsche Bank Securities let the alternative-energy…
Timothy P. Flynn, an ex-UBS broker, has filed a whistle-blower complaint. Flynn alleges that UBS Financial Services forced him to resign as part of the firm’s retaliation because he cooperated with regulators. Flynn, who sold $30 million in auction-rate securities to the Massachusetts municipalities, testified earlier this year at the…
Citigroup is offering to cover some of the losses of investors involved with certain hedge funds sold by the firm’s Smith Barney brokerage unit. Citigroup and Smith Barney brokers allegedly recommended the funds, ASTA/MAT and Falcon, to investors looking for conservative investments. Citigroup marketed the hedge funds as being ideal…
Charles Schwab & Co. has recently been barraged with FINRA arbitration claims filed by investors alleging that the firm violated industry regulations and state securities laws. In their complaints, investors are accusing Charles Schwab of misleading them about the risks associated with certain mutual funds, including the degree to which…
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Secretary William Galvin is suing UBS because it says the investment firm pushed auction-rate securities onto investors in an effort to minimize its own losses. In his complaint, the state’s head securities regulator cited fraud as grounds for the lawsuit. Galvin cites several e-mails that indicate that…
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has ordered a Connecticut man to pay $58,825 in civil penalties, prejudgment interest, and disgorgement to settle charges he engaged in a scheme to take part in unauthorized securities trades, which caused prices to rise dramatically. The Securities and…
Without admitting to our denying any wrongdoing, Citigroup has agreed to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges that it took part in improper accounting related to specific Argentine bonds. According to the SEC, Citigroup was able to avoid paying another $479 million in pre-tax charges during the 4th quarter of…
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District has dismissed a securities fraud lawsuit filed by investor Nicholas Vale against ex-Merrill Lynch Internet Group head Henry Blodget on the grounds that Vale failed to factually show how the defendant’s fraud caused his investment losses. In his lawsuit, Vale accused Blodget…
The U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has slapped Lincoln Funds International Inc with a temporary restraining order and told the advisory firm to temporarily freeze its assets. Judge Cormac J. Carney also appointed a temporary receiver over the assets, as well as the assets of three…