In an arbitration proceeding against UBS Financial Services, Inc. and UBS Financial Services, Inc. of Puerto Rico, the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. won $4.25 million in compensatory damages plus interest at 6.25% from February 28, 2014 and costs of $170,000 for one of the firm’s clients last month.
This arbitration arose out of a series of unsuitable recommendations by a UBS-PR and UBS financial advisor that our clients purchase and then hold an excessive concentration of Puerto Rico Bonds and UBS-PR Closed-End Funds. As a result, our clients’ investment portfolios were not diversified from not only an asset allocation standpoint but also overly concentrated in securities from a single geographic area – Puerto Rico. The excessive concentration in Puerto Rico securities and leverage strategy implemented made the accounts highly speculative, which was inconsistent with not only our clients’ investment objectives but also the UBS-PR and UBS financial advisor’s representations. UBS and UBS-PR, through their representatives, disseminated false and misleading information to our clients about the nature, mechanics and risks of owning leveraged and concentrated positions in Puerto Rico Bonds and UBS-PR Closed-End Funds and the investment strategy employed in their accounts.
UBS, UBS-PR, and their representatives not only violated the Puerto Rico Uniform Securities Act (“PRUSA”), but also committed fraud, breached their fiduciary duties to our clients, breached their contracts and the FINRA Code of Conduct, and were negligent in advising our clients on how to safeguard their investment capital. UBS-PR and UBS negligently failed to supervise its employees in connection with the management of our clients’ accounts. As a result, our clients suffered substantial damages.
This is the third arbitration award Mr. Pearce has won in favor of our clients against UBS-PR. The first arbitration award, in favor of Said Mudafort, can be found here. The most recent award, in favor of Christel Bengoa, can be found here. Attorney Pearce has also successfully negotiated over 50 settlements for other clients of ours who have retained our firm in hopes of recovering their investment losses against UBS-PR and Santander Securities.
Have you suffered losses in your UBS Financial Services, UBS Puerto Rico or other brokerage firm investment account due to the unsuitable recommendations and/or misrepresentations of your broker? Do you believe your investment portfolio is overconcentrated in closed-end bond funds? If so, call Robert Pearce at the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. for a free consultation. Mr. Pearce is accepting clients with valid claims against UBS and UBS Puerto Rico stockbrokers, as well as Santander Securities stockbrokers, who may have engaged in misconduct and caused investors losses.
The most important of investors’ rights is the right to be informed! This Investors’ Rights blog post is by the Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida. For over 40 years, Attorney Pearce has tried, arbitrated, and mediated hundreds of disputes involving complex securities, commodities and investment law issues. The lawyers at our law firm are devoted to protecting investors’ rights throughout the United States and internationally! Please visit our website, www.secatty.com, post a comment, call (800) 732-2889, or email Mr. Pearce at pearce@rwpearce.com for answers to any of your questions about this blog post and/or any related matter.
Robert Wayne Pearce
Robert Wayne Pearce of The Law Offices of Robert Wayne Pearce, P.A. has been a trial attorney for more than 40 years and has helped recover over $125 million dollars for his clients. During that time, he developed a well-respected and highly accomplished legal career representing investors and brokers in disputes with one another and the government and industry regulators. To speak with Attorney Pearce, call (800) 732-2889 or Contact Us online for a FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION with Attorney Pearce about your case.
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