Biography

Alexander A. Truitt is a seasoned litigator whose practice focuses on securities litigation, professional liability defense, business disputes, insurance litigation, and government investigations. He represents financial institutions, broker-dealers, registered representatives, insurance carriers, and professionals (including lawyers, accountants, insurance agents and realtors) in high-stakes matters before federal and state courts, as well as before arbitration panels. Mr. Truitt advises firms and individuals facing investigations by the SEC, DOJ, FINRA, state attorneys’ generals, and other professional licensing authorities.

Mr. Truitt earned his J.D., cum laude, from New York Law School, where he participated in the school’s securities arbitration clinic and several moot court competitions. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star” in Business Litigation from 2021 to 2025. Mr. Truitt is an active member of the New York City Bar Association’s Securities Litigation Committee, and he also serves as a FINRA arbitrator. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Truitt litigated ERISA matters and handled both investor and industry-side securities disputes.

Representative matters include:

Securities Litigation/Arbitration

• Successful motion to dismiss all claims against a securities broker-dealer client in a $1.6 billion putative securities fraud class-action arising from an alleged Ponzi Scheme
• Successful motion to dismiss all claims arising from a $25million investment in the sponsor of a special purpose acquisition company a.k.a a “SPAC”
• Successful motion to dismiss a $7million claim arising from an alleged ultra vires securities issuance of a SPAC’s Class A shares
• Quashing an arbitration arising from a purported $12 million private equity investment
• Successful first chair representation of broker-dealers through several FINRA arbitration hearings, including successful prehearing dismissal under FINRA Rules 12206 and 12504
• Successful motion to dismiss all claims against a Transfer Agent arising from a dispute concerning the ownership of stock in the Transfer Agent’s custody
• Obtaining summary judgment dismissing all claims against a financial advisor involved in a beneficiary change dispute concerning an elderly investor

Commercial Litigation

• Summary judgment dismissal of a $4.5 million Civil RICO claim arising from failed real estate venture
• Successful motion to dismiss allegations of gross mismanagement by the former executive director of a non-for-profit corporation
• Obtaining summary judgment on all claims arising from the sale of several franchises
• Reversing the trial court’s denial of a motion to dismiss a $3.4 million legal malpractice claim through a successful appeal
• Defending individuals accused of misappropriating trade secrets and “raiding” their former employer

Insurance Litigation

• Successful appeal reversing the denial of a motion to dismiss in a $10 million life insurance dispute
• A successful motion by an insurer that dismissed all claims by a putative class of judgment debtors seeking indemnification for a $5.2m judgment against a bankrupt insured
• Defending insurance brokerages in multi-million-dollar claims arising from the sale of life insurance and/or use of premium financing
• Defending third-party administrators against bad faith and related causes of action arising from alleged mishandling of claims purportedly resulting in excess and uncovered liability

Government Investigations

• Defending a Chief Compliance Officer in connection with joint SEC and US DOJ investigation arising from alleged Ponzi scheme resulting in no action from the government
• Defending a broker-dealer in a FINRA Enforcement investigation arising from alleged due diligence failures in connection with a private placement offering
• Defending a broker-dealer concerning FINRA Enforcement investigation into alleged micro-cap fraud
• Defending a registered representative concerning an investigation into alleged commission sharing with an unlicensed international business finder
• Responding to NYS Attorney General grand jury subpoena arising from a catastrophic, mass casualty event and negotiating a favorable resolution on behalf of insurance company

Publications and Presentations     

• Defending Claims Against Professionals and Directors & Officers Arising Out Of Ponzi Schemes (2024)
• New York Should Not Allow Non-Attorneys to Represent Parties in FINRA Arbitration for Compensation, NYSBA Journal (Jan. 2015)

Associated Posts

• Winget Spadafora & Schwartzberg LLP’s New York Office Secures Dismissal Of A $7 Million Lawsuit Arising From An Alleged Illegal Stock Issuance By A SPAC
• LAW360 Reports On WSS LLP’s Victory In $25 Million Claim Arising From Failed SPAC Investment
• WSS New York Office Wins Motion To Dismiss Allegations of Gross Mismanagement On Behalf of Not-For-Profit Corporation’s Former Executive Director
• WSS’s Philadelphia Office Prevails On Motion for Summary Judgment on behalf of Financial Advisor in Beneficiary Change Dispute
• Winget, Spadafora & Schwartzberg, LLP Promotes Four New Partners
• WSS New York Office Prevails on a Motion to Dismiss Claims Under FINRA’s Eligibility Rule
• WSS Attorneys Recognized in Super Lawyers 2023
• Law360 Covers WSS New York Office’s Dismissal Of Putative Class-Action Against Insurer
• WSSLLP Attorneys Chosen as 2021 New York Metro Super Lawyers® And Rising Stars
• WSS Obtains Complete Dismissal of Class Action Arising From Alleged $1.6 Billion GPB Ponzi Scheme