You may. If a registered broker-dealer or investment adviser sold you an investment that went against your risk profile and you lost money, they may have violated their legal duty to you. You may be able to get your money back via mediation or arbitration through the...
Securities Law Blog
5 questions to help you evaluate an investment opportunity
When you have a promising new investment opportunity, it’s tempting to jump on board right away. At the same time, you’re naturally wary of committing to something that might not work out – or worse, something that is a fraud. How can you tell the difference? Here are...
Major federal case on combination trade secrets, part 2
In part 1, we introduced Caudill Seed & Warehouse Co., Inc., v. Jarrow Formulas, Inc., a Nov. 2022 case from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit where the court discussed the concept of the “combination trade secret.” Broadly, a combination trade...
Intellectual property protection, part 1: What is a combination trade secret?
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently issued an important, informative opinion about “combination trade secrets.” The appellate court agreed with the jury in a federal trial court in Kentucky that Jarrow Formulas, Inc., a customer of dietary supplement company...
What happens to my investment accounts if my identity is stolen?
Unfortunately, identity theft is rampant. We can all take steps to limit the exposure of our personal information, but we may be targeted anyway. If your identity is stolen, the thieves will do everything they can to get into all of your financial accounts. That...
SEC charges 8 social media influencers with $100-million securities fraud
You should never make investment decisions based on social media information. It may be tempting to think you have unusual insight and that you are putting pieces together in a way that others are not. Unfortunately, it’s more likely that you’re being scammed. As...
Can you infringe on a trademark by making a parody of it?
Parody can be powerful. It can clarify a subtle point. It can highlight something about our society. It can speak truth to power. As a result, parody has special protections under American law. For example, Americans have a First Amendment right to make fun of...
Steps to take when closing your Kentucky business
Many businesses throughout Kentucky and across the country have fallen on challenging times for a perfect storm of reasons including: The COVID-19 pandemic Interruptions in supply chains Inflation Labor shortages Street violence and property destruction Burnout and...
What is a private placement and should I use it for my business?
When your company would like to raise money, selling corporate stock is one of the standard ways of going about it. If your company hasn’t sold stock before, you should be aware that the sale of corporate stock is regulated by both the Securities and Exchange...
Can investment advisers lie in their advertisements?
Not legally, they can’t. Investment advisers are allowed to advertise in an effort to draw attention to their services. However, their advertisements are regulated. By law, they can’t be materially misleading and must be fair and balanced. Here are six things these...