David Lerner Associates Investigated By Investment Fraud Lawyers For Losses

Investing can be incredibly lucrative, but it’s coupled with a plethora of risks concerning loss and unexpected mishaps. For numerous reasons, David Lerner Associates (DL) has been thrown under the spotlight with various investigations and some serious allegations. But why have they gained such negative attention in recent times?

David Lerner is being sued by investors, claiming they were negligent concerning the sale of Spirit of America Energy Funds, Energy 11, and Energy Resource 12 LPs. Customers alleged that misstated recommendations and customer screening failure caused significant losses.

If you or someone you know invested with David Lerner Associates, please contact us for a free consultation at 1-800-856-3352.

Join us as we discuss the firm and unravel the intricate details of various cases, according to reports.

David Lerner Investments and Company Description

David Lerner Associates (DLA), a securities broker-dealer based in Syosset, has been around for around 35 years. They have gained a wide portfolio, as the brokerage firm has over $4.5 billion in client assets.

Employee reviews give DL a 3.1 rating on Glassdoor.com. Only 43% approve of the CEO. One former employee stated that Multi level marketing company that will lie to employees the same way it lies to its customers. “Pretty lousy business ripping off senior citizens and the financially illiterate to profit one seedy family.”

Unfortunately, they have made numerous investment recommendations to mismatched or ignorant customers and potential investors, leading to an array of misinterpretations and unrealized losses.

Investment Counselor Apple REIT Claims and Complaints

Before we dig into the recent claims, it may help to gain some insight into the company’s past. The firm marketed the Apple REITs, which predominantly invested in extended-stay hotels. They have gathered approximately $600 million in commissions and fees over the past few years. According to complaints, five REITs simultaneously accumulated over $6 billion in proceeds alone.

They have underwritten Apple Real Estate Investment Trusts since 1992. As a result, the broker dealer receives a commission of around 10% for the sale of all Apple REIT shares, in addition to other fees. According to the allegations, the firm claimed that the REITs were suitable or conservative investors, and they also claimed that they never lost money.

Of course, this was not the case, as investors who acquired interests in the Apple REITs suffered significant losses without being aware of it at the time. This occurrence was because their interests were worth much less than the price investors initially paid to acquire the REITs.

David Lerner Associates Reviews, FINRA Complaints and Fines

According to investors, the REITs were sold at $11, paying 7% – 8% returns, and were predominantly bought by retirees and retail investors.

However, the REIT did not disclose that they would be unable to generate sufficient income from its company operations and would be paying investors through loan proceeds and capital (which was raised from investors). Essentially, the investors were being paid back with their own money.

In 2004, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc. (FINRA) accused DL of overcharging its customers on the sale of mortgage securities and municipal bonds. FINRA’s predecessor, NASD, fined DL for sales contests, which marketed proprietary mutual funds, variable life insurance products, and variable annuities.

The broker dealer was then fined for airing exaggerated advertisements, which gave false perceptions of the company’s investment record. Shortly after this fine was charged, they were fined $400,000 in 2006 for violating disclosure rules concerning the sale of variable annuities and life insurance products.

The firm faces numerous lawsuits and customer complaints that have similar allegations and cases. They also face a handful of individual investor arbitration lawsuits filed through FINRA. FINRA also sought disciplinary action concerning how DL sold the Apple REITs.

FINRA accused the firm of intentionally targeting seniors and unknowledgeable investors, who would be none the wiser concerning their profits and return on investment. This approach implies that there was little to no regard for the investors’ well-being or financial longevity, focusing on the enticing commissions that awaited successful investments.

The shares were alledgely sold with the promise of zero losses, as they were marketed as safe and secure. Of course, anyone who knows a fair amount concerning the ins and outs of REITS or any investment method would understand that ‘zero loss’ is almost impossible, irrespective of the company, the REIT, or the amount being invested.

From 1996, the firm earned over $600 million, and the sale of Apple REITs accounted for 60% – 70% of the firm’s business during that time frame. Despite numerous fines, lawsuits, and allegations, the firm did not admit or deny any wrongdoing on its part.

David Lerner’s Response to Allegations

In response, David Lerner Associates’ counsel stated the following: “The allegations are baseless and rife with falsehoods, distortions, and misleading statements, and we look forward to the opportunity to be vindicated in a court of law.”

In a press release, the company also implied that the claims made by FINRA related to the Ponzi scheme created by Bernard Madoff, a convicted investment advisor, stating: “It is apparent to us that DLA and other small firms have become the scapegoats for FINRA’s utter failure to address Madoff’s fraudulent scheme.” However, they did not clearly respond to the claims or validate the implied connection in any way.

DL claimed that the allegations were “frivolous,” had no solid legal grounds, and were only filed by numerous lawyers or attorneys seeking some quick and easy cash. As time would tell, their defense would not sit as strongly in a court of law as they might have expected.

David Lerner Held Accountable for Apple REIT Losses

After plenty of debate and struggle, DL entered a consent order with the New Jersey Department of Securities. They agreed to pay $650,000 to finally resolve the conflict encountered by selling the Apple REIT shares. The New Jersey Attorney General’s office made the announcement and was further publicized by a post in the New York Times.

The risks involved were not made clear to investors, particularly concerning the illiquid nature of Non-Traded REITs, which have no public market and may involve higher fees. Broker-dealers have a solid duty to ensure that their customers or potential investors are strategically and thoroughly screened to ensure that the recommendations coincide with the individual’s investment objectives.

Of course, the company failed to fulfill their duty in this regard, which left them at least partially accountable for the investors’ losses. According to the Attorney General’s Investigation, they sold Apple REIT Seven, Apple REIT Eight, and Apple REIT Nine from 2006 – 2010, raising $4 billion. They sold the REITs to at least 282 individual investors who didn’t meet the suitability requirements.

Spirit of America Energy (SOAEX) Lawsuits

Only a few years have passed since the REIT debacle. David Lerner Associates is now being investigated for recommendations and sales of Spirit of America Energy (SOAEX) Funds, Energy 11, and Energy Resources 12 limited partnerships (LPs). The firm distributed the mutual SOAEX fund and these limited partnerships, which were already volatile before the turbulence encountered in 2020.

The energy sector is incredibly risky, especially when investing disproportionate sums of money into assets like gas, oil, and energy investments. Investors claim that DL financial advisors recommended the investments to unsophisticated investors. This brings plenty of questions concerning negligence and accountability for losses incurred by investors.

All three of the recommendations invest in oil, gas, and energy arenas. Following the massive turmoil encountered by the outbreak in 2020, the industry is succumbing to major turbulence. This has caused investors to lose money, but the primary issue is that the investors who were advised by brokers were predominantly unaware of the related risks.

Why Have the Energy Sector Investors Suffered Losses?

Oil prices have been very volatile in the last couple of years. A financial professional recommending investments must disclose all the risks of the investments to the customer.

Simultaneously, banks have begun preparing for a massive influx of bankruptcies for oil companies. It is alledged that David Lerner brokers are responsible for investors being completely ignorant concerning the risks of such investments and being entirely mismatched with their investment objectives.

The primary concern is that David Lerner investment counselors recommended and sold Spirit of America Energy, Energy 11, and Energy Resource 12 investments to individuals that they should not have marketed to. It is possible that the firm even over-concentrated investors’ portfolios, primarily investing in gas, oil, and energy investments.

News sources have reported that FINRA is looking into Daniel Lerner, David Lerner’s son, sales of internal funds and investment portfolios.

The firm, nor Daniel Lerner, can’t be responsible for devaluation, investors are now dealing with significant losses that they should not have to face. These investment options were never suitable, safe, profitable, or stable for them and never met their investment objectives or intended purposes for investing in the first place.

The recommendations did not consider the degree of risk these individuals were willing to handle or their unique investment goals. Since every broker-dealer is responsible for ensuring that each customer is appropriately matched to investment opportunities according to these specifics, David Lerner is accountable for failure to perform these duties.

Since the sudden drop in the energy sector’s value has been more prevalent in recent times, numerous investigations are still underway concerning the incurred losses for investors due to David Lerner Associates’ negligent financial and investment advice.

Only time will tell whether David Lerner will be held accountable, as they were for the previous debacle concerning their negligent selling of REITs.

Those who have suffered losses from investing in Energy 11, Energy Resources 12, or the Spirit of America Energy mutual fund with David Lerner Associates may be entitled to recover losses or benefit from financial compensation. This can be arranged through a FINRA arbitration claim, which professional attorneys and law firms will greatly aid.

David Lerner Associates Timeline

Who is to Blame for Losses?

Most professionals have stated that the recommended investments got David Lerner in trouble. But, there is an undeniable number of questions and suspicions regarding the intentions of the firm. While there has been plenty of debate surrounding the accountability of David Lerner Associates, it can be agreed that they were negligent at the very least.

Even throughout economic struggle and turmoil, the firm failed to question why the Apple REIT value was so high, lacking expected fluctuations. Even without backing from successful operations and timely payouts to investors, they still recommended the REIT to vulnerable individuals. Similarly, they recommended SOAEX, a high-risk investment, to vulnerable individuals who were not prepared to deal with such risks.

Whether they were unaware of the potential damage or were not concerned faced with lucrative commissions is uncertain. Although, time has unveiled some repetitive and concerning behaviors. Depending on the outcome of numerous hearings and cases, David Lerner Associates may be legally obligated to pay back investors or face the risk of being suspended or barred from the securities industry as a whole.