Jun 13, 2022

Bipartisan Crypto Regulatory Overhaul Would Treat Most Digital Assets as Commodities Under CFTC Oversight

Under bipartisan legislation introduced last week, titled the Responsible Financial Innovation Act, certain digital assets would be classified as commodities and empower the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to regulate the industry.  The bill’s sponsors characterize the legislation as a critical first attempt to structure the markets for digital assets with long-awaited legal definitions. The traditional Howey […] More

Jun 6, 2022

FINRA Issues Proposed Rule Change To End Mandatory Arbitration of Sexual Harassment Claims

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has filed rule changes that would end forced arbitration of sexual assault and sexual harassment complaints as of June 1.  The FINRA rule changes were required by the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, which was signed into law in March. It gives employees the right […] More

FINRA Arbitration Panel Denies Claimants’ ARC REIT Claims as Clearly Erroneous in Matter Handled by WSSLLP’s Philadelphia Office
May 25, 2022

FINRA Arbitration Panel Denies Claimants’ ARC REIT Claims as Clearly Erroneous in Matter Handled by WSSLLP’s Philadelphia Office

The firm’s client is a registered representative of a national broker-dealer which was a Respondent in a FINRA arbitration. Claimants’ alleged causes of action included suitability, failure to disclose risks, and lack of diligence relating to the recommendation of various ARC REITs. The arbitration claims were settled and our client requested expungement of the customer […] More

WSS’s Philadelphia Office Prevails on Motion for Summary Judgment Involving Novel Legal Issue on behalf of Home Inspector in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
Apr 21, 2022

WSS’s Philadelphia Office Prevails on Motion for Summary Judgment Involving Novel Legal Issue on behalf of Home Inspector in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

On April 13, 2022, Joel Wertman and Doug Fogle of Winget, Spadafora & Schwartzberg LLP’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania office successfully secured summary judgment in favor of their client, a home inspector operating in Philadelphia County.  The matter involved multiple oral arguments, substantial briefing, and additional motion practice to include a request for reconsideration or to certify […] More

WSS Wins Coast to Coast Arbitrations in Two Separate Matters Within Weeks of Each Other
Apr 18, 2022

WSS Wins Coast to Coast Arbitrations in Two Separate Matters Within Weeks of Each Other

WSS attorneys recently secured two complete defense Awards for a national broker-dealer in two separate arbitrations, one in Boca Raton, FL and one in Portland, OR. The Boca Raton arbitration was a customer dispute in which the Claimant asserted causes of action arising out of the sale of various alternative products, including non-traded REIT’s and […] More

Apr 12, 2022

WSSLLP’s Philadelphia Office Wins Defense Award in FINRA Arbitration Seeking Expungement for Alleged Defamation

The firm’s client is a national full-service broker-dealer which was a Respondent in a FINRA arbitration where Claimant alleged causes of action for defamation, defamation per se, wrongful termination and tortious interference with business relationships. Claimant’s claims for defamation and defamation per se were based upon the disclosures on Claimant’s Form U5 when she was […] More