Stockbroker Arbitration Results in $2.2 Million Award in Securities Fraud Case

New York, NYA stockbroker arbitration has resulted in a huge award for investors who alleged they were victims of securities fraud. The investors filed the FINRA arbitration against UBS Financial Services for "Principal Protected Notes" issued by Lehman Brothers. Following the hearing, a three-person arbitration panel awarded the investors $2.2 million.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">According to the complaint, investors were told that "Principal Protected" Notes were a product that combined the safety of fixed income with the positives of the stock market. Investors say they were not told that Lehman Brothers was the sole guarantor of the notes. Some investors say they did not know that the product they invested in was a Lehman Brothers product. Furthermore, with Lehman Brothers in bankruptcy, many of the "Principal Protected" Notes may have very little remaining value, if they have value at all.

Named in the claim, according to The Wall Street Journal (12/23/10), were former UBS brokers Robert A. Early and Judith Sierko. The Wall Street Journal notes that UBS previously paid approximately $3 million to settle two cases involving those two brokers.

The arbitration was filed by Thomas F. Motamed, chairman of CNA Financial Corp., along with his wife. The complainants alleged breach of fiduciary duty and misrepresentation. Along with the $2.2 million, UBS is ordered to pay interest dating back to April 2008 and the full arbitration fees of approximately $13,000.

UBS said it was disappointed in the panel's decision.

Other FINRA claims against UBS are reportedly pending.