Aggressive Representation for Employees of the Securities Industry Including:
Civil Rights Actions - Discrimination - Whistleblower - Promissory Note
Reduction - U5 Defamation Claims - Compensation Disputes
Hedge Fund or Broker Bonus and Departure Issues

The Meissner firm represents employees of brokerage houses, securities firms and hedge funds. Quite often the cases involve discrimination against employees of the brokerage firm. If a brokerage house fires an employee, after he or she complains about sexual, age or racial discrimination the employee may have a wrongful discharge or retaliation claim. Other times an employee may uncover violations of industry rules or violations of public policy and threatens to complain to regulators or management or actually complains about such violations leading to dismissal and a possible whistle blower claim.

Sometimes a firm may fail to pay a promised bonus or strategically dismiss an employee immediately prior to an expected bonus which may lead to liability. Other times brokerage industry employees may receive NASD, NYSE, SEC or local subpoenas such as Martin Act subpoenas and are unsure how to respond or deal with such investigations. If you are an employee of a securities firm and something like this has happened to you, contact an attorney knowledgeable about the securities industry and about employment law.

Promissory Notes and Incorrect U5 Filings

Often brokerage employees are required to sign promissory notes to their firm in exchange for an advance of funds to attract them to the firm. However, sometimes, firms then take away resources or compensation which forces them to leave or create conditions which in effect force the employee to leave prematurely from their employment. Often times the brokerage firm will pursue the employee to reimburse the firm for the upfront funds paid to the employee.

Sometimes the brokerage firm may file a false U-5 which impacts the future employment of the employee. Such situations require strategic planning which may require the brokerage employee to take the initiative in filing an arbitration if appropriate against the firm or to initiate negotiations with the firm so as to reduce the debt owed and/or negotiate a payment plan.

Civil Rights & Discrimination Claims

Often times the securities industry is the subject of Discrimination issues ranging from sex, age, race and national origin discrimination. The Meissner firm represents industry employees in taking on the major wire houses in seeking justice for their clients. It is unlawful to discriminate based on such protected classes and if you believe that you have been discriminated against based on such factors and you have either been dismissed from your position, laid off for false unsupported "economic" reasons or re-assigned to a dead end position and/or not provided with the resources promised, contact the Meissner firm so that we may review your claim. At times firms may compensate others more for doing the same work and discriminate against minorities. Other times firms may create an environment which is not appropriate for the employee. For example the firm may condone the use of adult establishments and the use and/or distribution of inappropriate material over their computer networks resulting in uncomfortable situations for female employees and others. If you would like the Meissner firm to review your situation in a free consultation please contact us.

Unlike other civil rights/employment discrimination firms we focus on the unique aspects of the securities industry and as with all cases Mr. Meissner utilizes his vast experience and knowledge of the industry, the press and regulatory agencies to obtain maximum compensation for your injustice and provides personal service and regular consultations throughout the stressful process of litigation.

Other Issues

The Meissner firm utilizes its diverse experience and contacts in all appropriate venues to pursue and/or defend its client; including utilizing his contacts with regulators as well as its press contacts to achieve results. The firm coordinates all pressure points, so as to obtain the best results for its clients in seeking compensation for their legitimate claims and defenses. As in the case of a Whistleblower claim which led to a New York State Attorney General investigation as reported in the Wall Street Journal. Other issues which arise include brokerage / hedge fund bonus issues such as when a firm dismisses an employee immediately prior to when they would expect to receive a bonus, so as to avoid having to payout a large bonus to the employee.

Contact the New York office of Stuart D. Meissner LLC.

Just as the Meissner firm aggressively represents investors it on occasion selectively defends individual brokers who are wrongfully named in arbitrations. An example of such representation was highlighted in the Agarwal award where the firm was retained to defend a wrongfully named individual broker against a claim seeking over $600,000. Although the owners of the firm were the subject of criminal prosecution for securities violations, the Meissner firm was successful in distinguishing between its young client and the owners of the firm. As a result of a carefully planned and executed defense by the Meissner firm representing a New York broker in Omaha Nebraska against a local Claimant and an Omaha Nebraska Panel, the firm utilized the resources of a handwriting expert in its unique defense in successfully defending and completely vindicating its Client.

As a result, the Panel of three distinguished Omaha attorneys dismissed the case on the spot at the hearing, which is unheard of in NASD arbitration, and in its written award also held the Claimant liable for $2,500 of attorney’s fees and $2,500 in discovery sanctions payable to the firm's client, in effect turning the tables on the Claimant. The Panel further recommended expungement of the Claim against the broker and ordered the Claimant to pay all the hearing session fees of $6,000.

See The Above Award Where the Meissner firm Represented a Broker!