SEC Charges Matthew Martoma of Boca Raton in $276 Million Insider Trading Scheme

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Hedge fund advisory firm CR Intrinsic Investors LLC, based in Stamford, Conn., its former portfolio manager Matthew Martoma, and a medical consultant for an expert network firm were charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission for their roles in a $276 million insider trading scheme involving a clinical trial for an Alzheimer’s drug being jointly developed by two pharmaceutical companies. The illicit gains generated in this scheme make it the largest insider trading case ever charged by the SEC.

CR Intrinsic Investors LLC is an affiliate of SAC Capital Advisors, a firm owned by hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen.

The SEC alleges that Mathew Martoma illegally obtained confidential details about the clinical trial from Dr. Sidney Gilman, who served as chairman of the safety monitoring committee overseeing the trial. Dr. Gilman was selected by Elan Corporation and Wyeth to present the final drug trial results to the public.

In phone calls that were arranged by a New York-based expert network firm for which he moonlighted as a medical consultant, Dr. Gilman tipped Martoma with safety data and eventually details about negative results in the trial about two weeks before they were made public in July 2008. Martoma then caused several hedge funds to sell more than $960 million in Elan and Wyeth securities in just over a week.

Dr. Gilman, who lives in Ann Arbor, Mich., where he works as a medical school professor, has agreed to settle the SEC’s charges and cooperate in this action and related SEC investigations. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York today announced criminal charges against Martoma and a non-prosecution agreement with Dr. Gilman. Martoma lives in Boca Raton, Fla.

According to the SEC’s complaint filed in federal court in Manhattan, Martoma first met Dr. Gilman through paid consultations arranged by the expert network firm. Dr. Gilman provided Martoma with material nonpublic information concerning the Phase II trial of the potential Alzheimer’s drug called bapineuzumab (bapi). They coordinated their expert network consultations around scheduled safety monitoring committee meetings, and during their phone calls they discussed PowerPoint presentations made during the meetings and Dr. Gilman provided Martoma with his perspective on the results. Dr. Gilman developed a personal relationship with Martoma, eventually coming to view Martoma as a friend and pupil.

The SEC alleges that Martoma caused hedge funds managed by CR Intrinsic as well as hedge funds managed by an affiliated investment adviser to trade on the negative inside information he received from Dr. Gilman. Although Elan and Wyeth’s shares rose on June 17, 2008, on the public release of top-line results of the Phase II trial, market participants were disappointed by the detailed final results issued on July 29, 2008.

Double-digit declines in Elan and Wyeth shares ensued. After Martoma was tipped, the hedge funds not only liquidated their combined long position in Elan and Wyeth of more than $700 million, but went on to hold substantial short positions in both securities. This massive repositioning allowed CR Intrinsic and the affiliated advisory firm to reap approximately $82 million in profits and $194 million in avoided losses for a total of more than $276 million in illicit gains.

According to the SEC’s complaint, Martoma received a $9.3 million bonus at the end of 2008 – a significant portion of which was attributable to the illegal profits that the hedge funds managed by CR Intrinsic and the other investment advisory firm had generated in this scheme. Dr. Gilman, who was generally paid $1,000 per hour as a consultant for the expert network firm, received more than $100,000 for his consultations with Martoma and others at the hedge fund advisory firms. Dr. Gilman also received approximately $79,000 from Elan for his consultations concerning bapi in 2007 and 2008.

The SEC’s complaint charges each of the defendants with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5, and seeks a final judgment ordering them to disgorge their ill-gotten gains plus prejudgment interest, ordering them to pay financial penalties, and permanently enjoining them from future violations of these provisions of the federal securities laws.

Dr. Gilman has agreed to pay more than $234,000 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest. He also agreed to a permanent injunction against further violations of the federal securities laws. The proposed settlement is subject to approval by the court, which also will determine at a later date whether any additional financial penalty is appropriate.

Fort Lauderdale Securities Litigation and Arbitration Attorney

Contact Fort Lauderdale securities litigation and arbitration attorney Howard N. Kahn, Esq. if you or someone you know has a securities or broker dispute. He is an experienced securities litigation and arbitration attorney, and is available to assist individual investors, brokers, and brokerage firms involved in securities matters. You can reach him at 954-321-0176 or online.

Fort Lauderdale Thanksgiving Weekend Activities

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2012 Fort Lauderdale 5K Turkey Trot and Paddle
Thursday, November 22, 2012

The 2nd Annual Fort Lauderdale Turkey Trot & Turkey Paddle Together, sponsored by iTRACE Foundation, Inc. and Emerge Broward, a program of the Leadership Broward Foundation, Inc., will raise funds to support healthy living across the generations with an emphasis on childhood obesity.

Course Details
Location: Fort Lauderdale beach (A1A)
6:00 A.M. Registration
7:30 A.M. Race start time
8:30 A.M. Awards presentation
954-767-8866

Pre-registration is closed, but you can still sign up at designated locations. See details. Discounts are available for members of the military. Details here.

The 5K Run/Walk is a USA Track & Field sanctioned event. Enjoy the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean on the race course that travels along A1A. From beginners to elite runners, this race is for everyone!

If you prefer to be on the water, take part in the 2M Stand-Up Paddleboard course. It starts at the same mileage marker as the 5K Run/Walk, heads north for 1 mile and then turns around to finish at the starting point.

Thanksgiving themed costumes are welcomed and encouraged!

Broward County Fair
November 15 – 25, 2012
Location: City Center, 10300 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines
954-922-2224

The Broward County Fair is an annual Broward County tradition with midway, free concerts, entertainment, art/music contests, pageants, the Great American Frontier Show, Belmont Magic Show, a petting zoo and more attractions. See hundreds of animal exhibits, student exhibits, horticulture displays, fair food and so much more. Fun for all ages! Visit http://www.browardfair.org for more information.

Thanksgiving Travel at Fort Lauderdale International Airport

Expect crowds at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport if you are flying or picking up visitors this weekend. More than 500,000 travelers will arrive at or depart from the airport this Thanksgiving season. Allow extra time for traffic and security lines.

A Public Service Announcement from the Fort Lauderdale Law Firm of
Kahn & Resnik, P.L.

The Florida lawyers at Kahn & Resnik, P.L. are available to service your legal needs.

Our concierge approach to the practice of law reflects our philosophy of personalized and confidential attention. When you retain an attorney at Kahn & Resnik, P.L., we work efficiently and effectively to help you achieve your business and personal objectives.

We can assist you in legal matters relating to commercial litigation, divorce, disability law, real estate litigation, securities litigation, and corporate transactions.

We serve business owners, professionals and individual clients across Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Naples, Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and other cities throughout the state. Contact Howard N. Kahn, Esq. at 954-321-0176 or online.

J.P. Morgan and Credit Suisse Pay to Settle SEC Charges

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J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) agreed to pay more than $400 million combined to settle charges that the firms misled investors in offerings of residential mortgage-backed securities (“RMBS”).

The charges were filed recently by the Securities and Exchange Commission in coordination with the federal-state Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group. The SEC plans to distribute the money to harmed investors.

The SEC alleges that J.P. Morgan misstated information about the delinquency status of mortgage loans that provided collateral for an RMBS offering in which it was the underwriter. J.P. Morgan received fees of more than $2.7 million, and investors sustained losses of at least $37 million on undisclosed delinquent loans. J.P. Morgan also is charged for Bear Stearns’ failure to disclose its practice of obtaining and keeping cash settlements from mortgage loan originators on problem loans that Bear Stearns had sold into RMBS trusts. The proceeds from this bulk settlement practice were at least $137.8 million.

J.P. Morgan has agreed to pay $296.9 million to settle the SEC’s charges.

According to the SEC’s order against Credit Suisse, the firm similarly failed to accurately disclose its practice of retaining cash for itself from the settlement of claims against mortgage loan originators for problems with loans that Credit Suisse had sold into RMBS trusts and no longer owned. Credit Suisse also made misstatements in SEC filings about when it would repurchase mortgage loans from trusts if borrowers missed the first payment due. The firm made $55.7 million in profits and losses avoided from its bulk settlement practice, and its investors lost more than $10 million due to Credit Suisse’s practices concerning first payment defaults.

Credit Suisse has agreed to pay $120 million to settle the SEC’s charges.

According to the SEC’s complaint against J.P. Morgan filed in federal court in Washington D.C., federal regulations under the securities laws require the disclosure of delinquency information related to assets that provide collateral for an asset-backed securities offering. Information about the delinquency status of mortgage loans in an RMBS transaction is important to investors because those loans are the primary source of funds by which investors can earn interest and obtain repayment of their principal.

The SEC alleges that in the prospectus supplement for the $1.8 billion RMBS offering that occurred in December 2006, J.P. Morgan made materially false and misleading statements about the loans that provided collateral for the transaction. The firm represented that only four loans (.04 percent of the total loans collateralizing the transaction) were delinquent by 30 to 59 days, and that those four were the only loans that had had an instance of delinquency of 30 or more days in the 12 months prior to the “cut-off date” for the transaction. However, at the time J.P. Morgan made these representations, the firm actually had information showing that more than 620 loans (above 7 percent of the total loans collateralizing the transaction) were, and had been, 30 to 59 days delinquent, and the four loans represented as being 30 to 59 days delinquent were in fact 60 to 89 days delinquent.

The SEC’s complaint also alleges that Bear Stearns’ bulk settlements covered loans collateralizing 156 different RMBS transactions issued from 2005 to 2007. Loan originators were usually required by contract to buy back loans that suffered early payment defaults or had other defects. However, Bear Stearns frequently negotiated discounted cash settlements with these loan originators in lieu of a buy-back on loans that were owned by the RMBS trusts. The firm – both before and after the merger with J.P. Morgan – then kept most of the bulk settlement proceeds. The firm failed to disclose the practice to investors who owned the loans. Bear Stearns repurchased only about 13 percent of these defective bulk settlement loans from the trusts, compared to a nearly 100 percent repurchase rate when loan originators agreed to buy back the defective loans. For most loans covered by bulk settlements, the firm collected money from originators without paying anything to the trusts.

J.P. Morgan settled the SEC’s charges by consenting to pay $50.5 million in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and a $24 million penalty for the delinquency misstatements, which the SEC will seek to distribute to harmed investors in the transaction through a Fair Fund. J.P. Morgan agreed to pay $162,065,536 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and a $60.35 million penalty for the bulk settlement practice misconduct, and the SEC will seek to distribute these funds to harmed investors through a separate Fair Fund. J.P. Morgan consented, without admitting or denying the allegations, to the entry of a final judgment permanently enjoining them from violating Section 17(a)(2) and (3) of the Securities Act of 1933. The settlement is subject to court approval.

According to the SEC’s order instituting a settled administrative proceeding against Credit Suisse, the firm and its affiliated entities misled investors in 75 different RMBS transactions through the bulk settlement practice. From 2005 to 2010, Credit Suisse frequently negotiated bulk settlements with loan originators in lieu of a buy-back of loans that were owned by the RMBS trusts. Credit Suisse kept the bulk settlement proceeds for itself and failed to disclose the practice to investors who owned the loans. In nine of the 75 RMBS trusts, Credit Suisse failed to comply with offering document provisions that required it to repurchase certain early defaulting loans. Credit Suisse also applied different quality review procedures for loans that it sought to put back to originators, instituted a practice of not repurchasing such loans from trusts unless the originators had agreed to repurchase them, and failed to disclose the bulk settlement practice when answering investor questions about early payment defaults.

The SEC’s order also found that Credit Suisse made misleading statements about a key investor protection known as the First Payment Default (FPD) provision in two RMBS offerings. The FPD provision required the mortgage loan originator to repurchase or substitute loans that missed payments shortly before or after they were securitized. Credit Suisse misled investors by falsely claiming that “all First Payment Default Risk” was removed from its RMBS, and at the same time limiting the number of FPD loans that were put back to the originator.

Credit Suisse settled the SEC’s charges by consenting to pay $68,747,769 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and a $33 million penalty, which the SEC will seek to distribute through a Fair Fund to harmed investors in the 75 RMBS transactions affected by the bulk settlement practice. Credit Suisse agreed to pay $12,256,561 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and a $6 million penalty, which the SEC will seek to distribute through a separate Fair Fund to harmed investors in the two transactions affected by the FPD misstatements. Credit Suisse agreed to an order, without admitting or denying the allegations, requiring them to cease and desist from violations of Section 17(a)(2) and (3) of the Securities Act and Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Fort Lauderdale Securities Litigation and Arbitration Attorney

Contact Fort Lauderdale securities litigation and arbitration attorney Howard N. Kahn, Esq. if you or someone you know has a securities or broker dispute. He is an experienced securities litigation and arbitration attorney, and is available to assist individual investors, brokers, and brokerage firms involved in securities matters. You can reach him at 954-321-0176 or online.

Mortgage Foreclosures in Florida Highest in U.S.

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Foreclosure rates in Florida were the highest in the nation for the second month in a row, according to a report by RealtyTrac.

The good news is that the October 2012 total was 13 percent below the October 2011 total, which means that the Florida mortgage foreclosure rate is slowly moving in the right direction. That may be small consolation, however, to the 28,783 Florida homeowners who received a foreclosure notice in October.

Florida is at twice the national average for housing units going into foreclosure, with the Florida rate standing at one foreclosure filing for every 312 housing units in October 2012.

Other states ranking in the top 10 for foreclosures include California, Arizona, Georgia, Ohio, Colorado, South Carolina and Michigan.

As reported by the Sun Sentinel, “Broward foreclosures have increased in recent months, but the number of new cases, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions fell 41 percent in October from a year ago.”

Fort Lauderdale Foreclosure Defense Attorney

Choosing the best approach to protecting yourself and your family from a mortgage foreclosure involves many legal considerations. Contact Fort Lauderdale mortgage foreclosure attorney Marcy Resnik to discuss how you can defend your legal rights in a foreclosure. You can contact Ms. Resnik online or call her at 954-321-0176.

Wasson Capital Advisors of Miami Charged with Fraud

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Anand Sekaran and his firm Wasson Capital Advisors Ltd. defrauded clients by concealing trading losses and diverting investor funds for personal use, according to recent SEC charges.

The Miami-based investment adviser allegedly fabricated documents showing illusory profits after a trading strategy became unprofitable in 2008 and produced substantial losses for clients. Sekaran also misused client funds to pay various personal and business expenses, and he collected fees in excess of what he was due under the arrangements he had with clients, according to the SEC.

Sekaran and Wasson agreed to resolve the SEC’s charges as well as a parallel criminal action announced today by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

“An investment adviser’s fiduciary duty applies equally in good times and bad,” said Bruce Karpati, Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division’s Asset Management Unit. “Sekaran breached that duty when he concealed trading losses and misled clients rather than simply admitting that his investment strategy was unsuccessful.”

According to the SEC’s complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Sekaran provided investors with a spreadsheet inaccurately showing that Wasson was profitable. He inflated account balances on some clients’ account statements, using the letterhead of a defunct British Virgin Islands trust company for one client and the letterhead of a New Zealand firm for another client. He misappropriated investor money for personal mortgage and maintenance payments, restaurant and travel expenses, entertainment and event tickets, employee salaries and health insurance, and rent and office expenses.

In settling the SEC’s charges, Sekaran and Wasson consented to a final judgment imposing permanent injunctions from future violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws. Sekaran separately consented to an SEC order barring him from the securities industry and penny stock industry. Sekaran is required to pay $2.3 million to satisfy restitution and forfeiture orders in the criminal matter.

Fort Lauderdale Securities Litigation and Arbitration Attorney

Contact Fort Lauderdale securities litigation and arbitration attorney Howard N. Kahn, Esq. if you or someone you know has a securities or broker dispute. He is an experienced securities litigation and arbitration attorney, and is available to assist individual investors, brokers, and brokerage firms involved in securities matters. You can reach him at 954-321-0176 or online.

Thanks to Florida Veterans

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We join the nation today in recognizing the great contributions and sacrifice made by members of the U.S. military and their families.

With more than 1.6 million veterans, Florida is the most veteran-friendly state in the nation, according to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Here are some interesting facts about Florida veterans:

  • Florida has the third largest population of veterans in the nation after California and Texas with more than 1.6 million veterans – 12 percent of the Sunshine State’s population 18 and over.
  • Wartime veterans make up about 75 percent of Florida’s total veteran population (1.2 million).
  • There are more Vietnam-era veterans than any other wartime category in Florida with more than 449,000.
  • There are more than 231,000 veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq who claim Florida as their home of record.
  • Florida has more than 140,000 women veterans.

Florida Veterans’ Benefits Guide

Veterans in Florida are entitled to a wide range of benefits, from insurance to education. Click on the link for a full list of benefits available to Florida veterans.

Florida Medal of Honor Recipients

Throughout our nation’s history, 25 Medal of Honor recipients have been accredited to Florida. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the U.S. government.  It is bestowed by the President in the name of Congress. See the names of Florida Medal of Honor recipients.

Learn more at the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

A Public Service Announcement from the Fort Lauderdale Law Firm of
Kahn & Resnik, P.L.

The Florida lawyers at Kahn & Resnik, P.L. are available to service your legal needs.

Our concierge approach to the practice of law reflects our philosophy of personalized and confidential attention. When you retain an attorney at Kahn & Resnik, P.L., we work efficiently and effectively to help you achieve your business and personal objectives.

We can assist you in legal matters relating to commercial litigation, divorce, disability law, real estate litigation, securities litigation, and corporate transactions.

We serve business owners, professionals and individual clients across Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Naples, Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and other cities throughout the state. Contact Howard N. Kahn, Esq. at 954-321-0176 or online.

Florida Alimony Law Under Review

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Limits on alimony amounts and the length of time alimony is paid are some of the many changes proposed by Florida legislator Ritch Workman (R-Brevard County).

House Bill 549 would allow previous divorce agreements to be reopened and renegotiated, among other provisions.

Florida Alimony laws were updated in the past few years to provide the courts with more uniform guidelines on alimony payments. Current alimony law provides the following:

  • Permanent alimony may only be available to spouses who were married 17 years or more.
  • Durational alimony, a temporary form of alimony, is available to spouses who were married for 7-17 years.
  • Rehabilitative alimony provides a spouse with re-training, such as a four year college program.
  • Bridge-the-gap alimony is available for a spouse who needs time to re-enter the workforce.

Florida divorce attorney Marcy Resnik closely monitors proposed changes in divorce law, and will keep you informed on future news.

Schedule an Initial Consultation

Contact us online or by phone at 954-321-0176 to discuss your legal needs. We will answer your legal questions in complete confidentiality, and explain how our concierge philosophy puts us at your service.

We serve business owners, professionals and individual clients across Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Naples, Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and other cities throughout the state.

Florida Election Results

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Click on the link for Florida Election Results, as they are reported by the Supervisors of Elections to the Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections.

You will be able to view results for federal, district, and judicial contests. Election results for Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County campaigns will be of particular interest to South Florida residents. Final votes for the Florida constitutional amendments are also available.

A Public Service Announcement from the Fort Lauderdale Law Firm of
Kahn & Resnik, P.L.

The Florida lawyers at Kahn & Resnik, P.L. are available to service your legal needs.

Our concierge approach to the practice of law reflects our philosophy of personalized and confidential attention. When you retain an attorney at Kahn & Resnik, P.L., we work efficiently and effectively to help you achieve your business and personal objectives.

We can assist you in legal matters relating to commercial litigation, divorce, disability law, real estate litigation, securities litigation, and corporate transactions.

We serve business owners, professionals and individual clients across Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Naples, Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and other cities throughout the state. Contact Howard N. Kahn, Esq. at 954-321-0176 or online.

Two Pompano Beach Women Sentenced to Jail for Foreclosure Fraud

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Lisa Wright, 46, and Cathy Saffer, 52, of Pompano Beach, Fla., were sentenced recently to serve 66 and 60 months respectively for defrauding homeowners and mortgage lenders as part of a foreclosure rescue scheme, the Justice Department announced. The two women were sentenced in the Southern District of Florida.

Wright pleaded guilty on March 27, 2012, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, one count of mail fraud and one count of wire fraud.  Saffer was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud and two counts of wire fraud, following a two week jury trial in July.

According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, Wright and Saffer operated Foreclosure Solution Specialists (FSS) from 2006 to 2009.  Through FSS, Wright and Saffer targeted homeowners facing foreclosure, advertising that FSS could assist those homeowners in remaining in their homes.  When contacted by distressed homeowners seeking assistance, Wright and Saffer misrepresented to those homeowners that their homes would be sold to investors.  They also claimed that customers could remain in their homes after the sales and promised them an opportunity to repurchase the homes at a later date.   Rather than selling the homes to legitimate investors, Wright and Saffer designed sham sales to straw purchasers whom they paid to participate in the scheme.

According to the indictment and evidence presented at trial, Wright and Saffer paid Florida Certified Public Accountant Barrington Coombs to write a fraudulent letter which falsely vouched for the fraudulent information on various loan applications. Coombs, who was also convicted by the jury, is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 7, 2012.

Mortgage transactions completed by FSS drew equity out of the homes, which Wright and Saffer pocketed for their own purposes. After doing so, Wright and Saffer allowed the loans to go into foreclosure. Homeowners ultimately lost all of the equity in their homes, and most of the victims were forced to move out of their homes.

Fort Lauderdale Foreclosure Defense Attorney

If you or someone you know is facing a mortgage foreclosure, there are many legal considerations involved in choosing the best approach to protect yourself and your family. Contact Fort Lauderdale mortgage foreclosure attorney Marcy Resnik to discuss how you can defend your legal rights in a foreclosure. You can contact Ms. Resnik online or call her at 954-321-0176.

Florida Election Day Voter Rights

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Here are answers to common questions about voting procedures in Florida.

What times are the polls open on election day?

Polls are open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. on election day. Any voter who is standing in line at 7 p.m. is still eligible to cast a vote.

What kind of identification do I need to bring to the polls?

When you go to the polling place to vote, you will be asked to provide a current and valid picture identification with a signature. Approved forms of picture identification are: Florida driver’s license; Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; U.S. passport; debit or credit card; military identification; student identification; retirement center identification; neighborhood association identification; and public assistance identification. (Section 101.043, F.S.) If the picture identification does not contain a signature, you will be asked to provide an additional identification with your signature.

Can I still vote if I do not bring identification?

Yes. You should not be turned away from the polls because you do not bring identification. If you do not have the proper identification, you will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot.

What happens if someone challenges my eligibility to vote at the polls?

If you are challenged on the basis that your legal residential address is not within the precinct, you will still have an opportunity to vote.

If you are challenged on any other grounds or your eligibility is questioned, you will be allowed to vote a provisional ballot.

What else do I have to do if I vote a provisional ballot?

You will be provided a written notice of your rights as a provisional ballot voter. (Section 101.048, F.S.) You have the right to present further evidence of your eligibility if you want up to 2 days after the election. Depending on the reason why you voted a provisional ballot, there may no further need in order for your provisional ballot to count.

I have requested an absentee ballot and now I have changed my mind and want to vote at the polls. May I?

Yes. If you received your absentee ballot, you should return it, whether voted or not, to the poll workers on Election Day. Your absentee ballot will be voided and you will be allowed to vote a regular ballot at the polls.

Can I vote if I am a lawful permanent resident?

No. Only U.S. citizens can register or vote in Florida.

Can I vote if I have dual citizenship?

Yes as long as you have U.S. citizenship and are otherwise properly registered, you can vote.

Read more at the Florida Division of Elections.

Click on the link to identify your Election Supervisor by Florida County.

A Public Service Announcement from the Fort Lauderdale Law Firm of
Kahn & Resnik, P.L.

The Florida lawyers at Kahn & Resnik, P.L. are available to service your legal needs.

Our concierge approach to the practice of law reflects our philosophy of personalized and confidential attention. When you retain an attorney at Kahn & Resnik, P.L., we work efficiently and effectively to help you achieve your business and personal objectives.

We can assist you in legal matters relating to commercial litigation, divorce, disability law, real estate litigation, securities litigation, and corporate transactions.

We serve business owners, professionals and individual clients across Florida, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, Naples, Orlando, Tampa, Daytona Beach, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and other cities throughout the state. Contact Howard N. Kahn, Esq. at 954-321-0176 or online.