Verdict . News

•CFTC secured $2.8 million total settlement including $1.2 million in direct restitution to fraud victims

CFTC Secures $2.8M Settlement from Florida Firm for Commodity Pool Fraud

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission obtained a $2.8 million settlement from Florida-based Systematic Alpha Management LLC and its owner Peter Kambolin for defrauding commodity pool participants. The defendants systematically directed profitable trades to their own accounts while allocating losing trades to investor pools.

•Defendants operated fraudulent scheme from 2019-2021 involving improper allocation of cryptocurrency and forex trades

•Shinhan Securities agreed to pay $212,500 penalty and accept cease and desist order

CFTC Fines Shinhan Securities $212,500 for Wash Trading on NYMEX

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission imposed a $212,500 civil penalty on Shinhan Securities Co. Ltd. for conducting wash sales and non-competitive transactions on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The firm engaged in simultaneous buy and sell orders for the same futures contracts through accounts with identical beneficial ownership.

•Firm conducted wash sales through near-simultaneous bids and offers for identical futures contracts

•FTC Chairman Ferguson submitted deregulation recommendations to OMB responding to Trump's executive order

FTC Submits Deregulation Plan to White House Under Trump Order

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew N. Ferguson submitted comprehensive recommendations to the White House Office of Management and Budget for eliminating anticompetitive regulations across federal agencies. The report responds to President Trump's Executive Order targeting rules that exclude market entrants and protect incumbent businesses.

•Report targets Biden-era rules giving contract preferences to disadvantaged businesses

•Federal agencies took 32 merger enforcement actions in FY 2024, with the FTC bringing 18 cases including 6 that went to litigation

FTC and DOJ Report 32 Merger Enforcement Actions in Fiscal Year 2024

The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice released their annual Hart-Scott-Rodino report showing they took 32 merger enforcement actions in fiscal year 2024 to block potentially anti-competitive deals. Companies filed 2,031 transaction notifications under the HSR Act, with about 25% valued at over $1 billion.

•Companies notified agencies of 2,031 transactions under HSR Act, approximately 500 valued at more than $1 billion

State Court

Supreme Court of South Carolina

SC Supreme Court Suspends Attorney Georgia Anne Shobe for Six Months

The South Carolina Supreme Court suspended attorney Georgia Anne Shobe from practicing law for six months after she entered into a disciplinary agreement admitting misconduct. The suspension resolves seven disciplinary complaints filed between 2020 and 2022.

•Georgia Anne Shobe suspended for six months by South Carolina Supreme Court

•Disciplinary action resolves seven complaints filed between 2020 and 2022

•Federal court ordered $6.9M restitution and $11.5M civil penalties against six defendants

Sep 16, 2025•4 min read

CFTC Secures $18.4M in Penalties Against Florida Firms in Metals Fraud

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced that a federal court has ordered $6.9 million in restitution and $11.5 million in civil penalties against six defendants involved in a fraudulent precious metals scheme. The case resolves enforcement action against individuals and Florida firms that operated a deceptive Silver Lease Program from 2014 to 2019.

•Fraudulent Silver Lease Program operated from June 2014 through October 2019

Supreme Court of New Hampshire

State Court

Sep 16, 2025•4 min read

NH Supreme Court Hears Medical Practice Dispute Case

The New Hampshire Supreme Court issued an opinion in Atlantic Anesthesia, P.A. v. Lehrer, a complex multi-party dispute involving medical practice relationships. The case includes disputes between Atlantic Anesthesia and individual physicians as well as Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.

•Multi-party litigation involving Atlantic Anesthesia P.A., individual physicians, and Wentworth-Douglass Hospital

•Case reached state supreme court through interlocutory appeal procedure before final trial court judgment

Connecticut Supreme Court

State Court

Sep 16, 2025•4 min read

Connecticut Supreme Court Rules in State v. Dixon Firearm Manslaughter Case

The Connecticut Supreme Court has issued a ruling in State v. Sirus Dixon, a criminal case involving a conviction for manslaughter in the first degree with a firearm. The defendant had appealed his conviction stemming from a fatal shooting incident.

•Connecticut Supreme Court issued decision in State v. Sirus Dixon involving manslaughter conviction

•Case involved fatal shooting after defendant encountered individuals he had previously assaulted

•Three directors resigned from Sevita Health's board following FTC enforcement of Clayton Act interlocking directorate prohibitions

Sep 15, 2025•4 min read

FTC Action Prompts Three Directors to Resign from Sevita Board

Three individuals resigned from Sevita Health's Board of Directors following Federal Trade Commission enforcement of Clayton Act provisions prohibiting interlocking directorates. The action resolved competition concerns over directors simultaneously serving on boards of competing disability services providers.

•Both Sevita and Beacon Specialized Living Services provide disability services and had common board representation