If you’ve entrusted a portion of your savings with a financial advisor or financial firm who engaged in improper or fraudulent practices, you may be dealing with significant financial losses and stress about your future. Fortunately, the team at Meyer Wilson can guide you through the process of filing a complaint to pursue the recovery of your losses in California.
An investment fraud lawyer in California can help you file a complaint, represent you during the arbitration process, and work tirelessly to get your hard-earned money back. With over 75 years of combined experience and thousands of satisfied clients, you can count on us to do what’s best for your case and your financial future.
How Filing a Complaint Against a California Investment Company Works
If you have a dispute with an investment company, the odds are that an attorney won’t advise you to take them to court. Instead, your lawyer will assist you in filing a complaint with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) or another binding arbitration forum appropriate under the circumstances.
Once the complaint is filed, your attorney will represent you through a process known as arbitration, during which arbitrators will decide if you should receive a financial award. The arbitration process involves a handful of steps that can be difficult to navigate on your own, making it critical to work with an experienced lawyer.
A skilled attorney can guide you through the following stages of FINRA arbitration:
Initiating Arbitration
To initiate the arbitration process, your lawyer will file a claim with FINRA (other appropriate forum) that includes information on the complaint you are making against the California investment company and states the remedies you are requesting.
The Respondent Answers
Next, the financial advisor against whom you are filing the complaint will respond with information and facts that mount a defense against your complaint. Your lawyer will review the response and use it to begin developing counter-arguments.
Selection Process
The outcome of your case will be decided by a panel of arbitrators who have a diverse background of experience.. During the arbitrator selection process, both sides will receive a list of potential arbitrators.
Prehearing Stage
At this stage, your attorney will represent you at pre-hearing conferences held to coordinate hearing dates and sort out any preliminary disputes. Your lawyer will represent your best interests during this stage and keep you informed on matters related to scheduling.
Discovery Phase
Before your arbitration hearing, both sides will share information, documents, and other forms of evidence to prepare for the final steps of the process. Your lawyer will review the evidence provided by the respondent’s representatives to ensure your case is as strong as possible.
Hearings
During your final arbitration hearing, your attorney and the investment company’s representative will present both sides of the dispute to the arbitrators selected in the selection process. Your attorney will use evidence and sound arguments to explain why you deserve remedies.
Deliberation
Once the arbitrators have heard all arguments and considered the positions of both sides, they will deliberate and come to a decision regarding your financial award. If the arbitrators decide the case in your favor , you may receive compensation for the losses you suffered due to the investment company’s practices.
The California investment company you are filing a complaint against will likely have a skilled defense attorney to respond to your claim. Therefore, you’ll want to work with an experienced investment fraud lawyer who knows how to get meaningful results.
We Have Recovered Over
$350 Million for Our Clients Nationwide.
Types of Investment Fraud an Attorney Can Help You File a Complaint For
Most financial advisors are honest but dishonest investment firms and financial advisors are always finding new ways to cheat unsuspecting investors out of their savings. Luckily, a seasoned attorney will be familiar with the tactics your advisor has been using to defraud you.
With the right lawyer by your side, you’ll be able to file a complaint against a California investment company for any of the following fraudulent practices:
- Unauthorized trading
- Unapproved and illegal investments
- Churning
- Ponzi schemes
- Forging documents
- Unsuitable recommendations
- Misrepresenting facts
- Forging documents
- Theft
- Misconduct
- Overconcentration
Damages You Could Receive from an Award
If the arbitrators decide in your favor, you could receive a number of different financial remedies. Depending on the losses you’ve suffered and how the investment company’s conduct impacted you, a successful outcome could yield among the following remedies:
- Money you would have earned if your investment was handled correctly
- Any profits the investment company obtained illegally
- Investment losses or other compensatory damages
- Dividends and interest
- Possibly punitive damages, attorneys fees and/or interest
Our lawyers are nationwide leaders in investment fraud cases.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Skilled Investment Fraud Attorney in California
As you can see, filing a complaint against an investment company in California requires a great deal of effort and knowledge of the financial industry along with the legal issues. If you attempt to file a complaint without an attorney or use a lawyer who doesn’t have in-depth experience in this field, you could end up missing out on your chance to obtain fair remedies.
When arbitrators make a decision, the outcome is final, meaning you only have one chance to seek the compensation you’re owed. At Meyer Wilson, we’ve won impressive case results for countless clients. You can rest assured that our firm has the experience and resources to present your case. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward recovering your losses.
Recovering Losses Caused by Investment Misconduct.