Aiguier v. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., et al. (Lawyers Weekly No. 12-029-17)
1 COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS SUFFOLK, ss. SUPERIOR COURT CIVIL ACTION NO. 16-02491 BLS I DUSTIN AIGUIER v. FINANCIAL INDUSTRY REGULATORY AUTHORITY, INC., CUSTOMER 1-W, CUSTOMER 1-H, CUSTOMER 2, CUSTOMER 3, CUSTOMER 4-W, and CUSTOMER 4-H and THE SECURITIES DIVISION OF THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, intervener MEMORANDUM OF DECISION AND ORDER ON THE DEFENDANTS’ MOTIONS TO DISMISS INTRODUCTION This case, once again, raises the issue of whether, or pursuant to what standard, the Superior Court may adjudicate a claim made by a registered representative of a securities broker-dealer that he is entitled to have records of customer complaints expunged from the data bases maintained by defendant Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). Plaintiff Dustin Aiguier was formerly a registered representative of New York Life Securities LLC (NYLife). While with NYLife, four complaints were lodged against him by six of his customers (including two sets of spouses) (collectively, the Customers). The plaintiff has filed a complaint which he styles: “Amended Petition for an Order of Expungement of Customer Dispute Information from the Central Registration (CRD System)” (the Complaint). In addition to FINRA, the Complaint also names the Customers as defendants (although the plaintiff seeks no relief with respect to them). The Securities Division of the Office of the Secretary of the 2 Commonwealth has intervened in this action as a defendant on the ground that it is a primary regulator of the securities industry in Massachusetts and is responsible for protecting the public’s interest in access to information concerning customer complaints. The case is now before the court on all of the defendants’ motions to dismiss the Complaint. They move for dismissal asserting that: (a) the Superior Court lacks subject matter jurisdiction (Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1)) and (b) the Complaint fails to state a claim on which relief may be granted (Mass.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6)). For the reasons that follow, their motions are allowed. FACTUAL BACKGROUND The court will begin by summarizing the relevant factual allegations in the Complaint, assumed to be true for purposes of this motion, as well as relevant information contained in attachments to the Complaint, to the extent necessary to address the issues raised by the defendants’ motions. It will then describe the regulatory framework relevant to this dispute. The Plaintiff’s relationship to NYLife and the Customer Complaints The plaintiff was a registered representative of NYLife until June 3, 2015, when he was discharged. Four written complaints against him were submitted to NYLife by his customers, each involved the sale of annuities. NYLife settled each of the claims without an arbitration proceeding being commenced. As required by FINRA rules, it reported the claims and settlements to FINRA, and a description of each claim and the settlement, as well as […]