Aries Legal

08/26/2021

I wanted to share an outstanding result that Aries Legal received in a FINRA case that went to a final hearing in May - Case #19-00571. We represented an elderly couple who was defrauded out of most of their life savings. The three-person arbitration panel issued an award for $525,000 against the broker, the investment firm, and that firm's former president, jointly and severally. Included in that total award was $150,000 in punitive damages.

This award is remarkable in two respects: (i) Holding the firm's former president personally liable for the entire award, including punitive damages, is very unusual, but completely justified in this case. (ii) In addition to the $525,000 total award, the Panel also awarded my clients $414,000 in "sanctions" against the investment firm for violating several orders that were entered during the two+ years that this case was proceeding.

If you know of other victims of elder financial abuse, or victims of investment fraud at any age, I'd be happy to consult with them free of charge. Of course, I can't guarantee the outcome I received in this case - every case is unique.

01/25/2019

Minnesota should get on board with this important legislation/rulemaking. Any person who advises others on how to invest money, and receives compensation for that advice, owes a fiduciary duty to his/her customers. It should not matter whether the person uses the label "stockbroker," "investment advisor," "financial planner," etc. Customers do not understand the differences between those titles. Customers only know they are entrusting their money to an investment professional. Commissioner Kelley, please make this a priority for the Department of Commerce!

SEC's best interest rule still pending and now delayed by government shutdown.

11/19/2018

This is a great primer on Social Security from AARP.

Understanding how Social Security retirement benefits work and how they help secure your future

11/02/2018

It seems like every week I could post another story focused on elder financial abuse. If you even suspect that you or a loved one has been the victim of a financial scam, please contact me at Aries Legal. Initial consultations are always free. Stay safe out there!

The broker used investors' money to pay for Super Bowl tickets and luxury vacations the SEC said.

10/26/2018

Yet another form of Elder Financial Abuse.

Kevin Galbraith tells ThinkAdvisor about online dating fraud broker bonus disputes Form U5 woes and other matters he brings before the FINRA panel.

08/17/2018

ARBITRATION vs. LITIGATION

If you are an investor, you probably signed a binding arbitration agreement when opening your investment account. That agreement forces you to arbitrate disputes with the investment firm, and prevents you from suing the firm in court. If you work in the investment industry and hold a securities license, whether you realize it or not, you have an obligation to arbitrate any dispute that might develop with your employer, rather than go to court. Even if you don’t hold a securities license, you might still be obligated to arbitrate disputes with your employer if your employment agreement contains an arbitration provision – which is becoming more and more common.

What are the practical differences between arbitration and courtroom litigation? In the following video blog, I discuss that topic on a very basic level. It is intended for the investor/consumer/employee who lacks familiarity with arbitration.

https://arieslegal.com/2018/08/13/arbitration-vs-litigation/

08/01/2018

Many of you already know that three months ago, I changed the name of my law firm from Taylor Law Office to Aries Legal. Some people have asked why I chose the name "Aries." In this short video, I explain.

This is "Why did you change your firm name from Taylor Law Office to Aries Legal?" by ReelLawyers on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people…

07/24/2018

Here's a new video I recently shot for my Aries Legal website:

This is "Meet F. Chet Taylor" by ReelLawyers on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

06/26/2018

In the after-glow of a festive Pride weekend, it is important to remember that many in the LGBTQ community are intimidated on a routine basis.

• Employees say jokes, stereotypes, negative comments persist • A third of LGBT people remain unhappy or depressed at work A little more than half of LGBT workers […]

06/22/2018

In honor of the Twin Cities Pride Festival, I wrote the attached blog on discrimination claims based on sexual orientation. Today, I am also launching my new Aries Legal website. Let me know what you think. Happy Pride!

The battle lines are drawn between Union states and former Confederate states as to whether sexual orientation is a protected class for discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act...