Investor Lawyers Blog

In response to the low interest rate environment that has prevailed for a decade, many brokerage firms — including well-known wirehouses such as Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, and UBS — have reportedly recommended various options strategies to their customers as supposedly safe and efficient mechanisms to enhance income. However, when stock markets turn volatile, these…

Hard Rock Exploration, Inc. (“Hard Rock”) of Charleston, West Virginia and certain of its affiliate entities, including Blue Jacket Gathering LLC, Blue Jacket Partnership, Caraline Energy Company, and Brothers Realty, LLC (“Hard Rock Affiliates”), are independent oil and gas development companies. On September 5, 2017, Hard Rock and Hard Rock Affiliates filed for bankruptcy protection…

Investors in various oil drilling programs offered by Vista Resources, Inc. (“Vista”), may be able to recover losses sustained on their investment through arbitration before FINRA, in the event that the investment was recommended by a financial advisor who lacked a reasonable basis for the recommendation, or if the nature of the investment — including…

Investors in NorthStar Healthcare Income, Inc. (“NHI REIT”) are likely facing substantial principal losses based on recently reported transactions. Although liquidity is limited, NHI REIT investors may be able to sell shares through a limited and fragmented secondary market. Recently, NHI REIT shares were listed for sale on a secondary platform at $6.70 per share.…

Former financial advisor Scott William Palmer (CRD# 817586), who was most recently affiliated with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”) (BD# 463), has voluntarily consented to a bar from the securities industry pursuant to a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver & Consent (“AWC”) accepted by FINRA Enforcement on April 10, 2018. Without admitting or denying any wrongdoing,…

On April 2, 2018, EV Energy Partners, L.P. (“EVEP”) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the District of Delaware (Case No. 18-10814 (CIS)). While EVEP continues to operate its business, it now seeks to implement a prepackaged plan of reorganization, under which equity investors who purchased EVEP Units will likely sustain significant losses. Investors who…

Investors in Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust, Inc. (“Benefit Street” or the “Company”) may have arbitration claims to be pursued before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), if their investment was recommended by a financial advisor who lacked a reasonable basis for the recommendation, or if the nature of the investment was misrepresented by the…

Investors in the Triloma EIG Energy Income Fund (the “Triloma Perpetual Fund”) and the Triloma EIG Energy Income Fund – Term I (the “Triloma Term Fund”) (collectively, the “Triloma Funds”) may be able to recover their investment losses through FINRA arbitration, in the event that the investment was recommended by a financial advisor who lacked…

On March 27, 2018, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced formal charges against Wedbush Securities Inc. (“Wedbush”, CRD# 877) with respect to allegations that the broker-dealer failed to supervise its employee, Ms. Timary Delorme (f/k/a Timary Koller) (“Delorme”). Based on its investigation, the SEC alleged Wedbush ignored numerous red flags indicating that Ms. Delorme…

Investors who suffered losses due to misconduct by financial advisor Ralph Savoie (CRD# 411660) may be able to recover their losses in arbitration before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). On March 26, 2018, Mr. Savoie plead guilty in Louisiana federal court to stealing up to $1.5 million from clients, using their monies for personal…