Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Weinberg

287 F. Supp. 2d 1100, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23557, 2003 WL 22384755
CourtDistrict Court, C.D. California
DecidedJune 17, 2003
DocketCV 02-02084 RSWL
StatusPublished
Cited by14 cases

This text of 287 F. Supp. 2d 1100 (Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Weinberg) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, C.D. California primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Commodity Futures Trading Commission v. Weinberg, 287 F. Supp. 2d 1100, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23557, 2003 WL 22384755 (C.D. Cal. 2003).

Opinion

Order For Entry of Default Judgment, Permanent Injunction and Ancillary Equitable Relief

LEW, District Judge.

On March 12, 2002, Plaintiff, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“Commission” or “CFTC”) filed a Complaint to enjoin Mark Weinberg (“Weinberg” or “Defendant”) from further violations of Sections 4b, 4o (1) and 6c of the Commodity Exchange Act, as amended (“Act”), 7 U.S.C. §§ 6b, 6o (1) and 13a-l (1994). The Court signed a Consent Order of Preliminary Injunction on March 25, 2002 restraining Defendant from violating the Act. On July 5, 2002, Weinberg submitted an Answer. On July 17, 2002, the Court issued a “Notice re Scheduling Conference” (“Notice”). The Notice set October 21, 2002 for a mandatory scheduling conference and reminded parties of their obligation to disclose information, confer on a discovery plan and report to the Court in a manner consistent with F.R.C.P 26. Parties were warned that failure to comply might lead to the imposition of sanctions.

On October 21, 2002, the Court held a mandatory status/scheduling conference at which Weinberg failed to appear. At the conference, Commission counsel advised the Court that Weinberg refused to meet in accordance with F.R.C.P. 26, L.R. 16 and the Notice. On October 23, 2002 Weinberg was Ordered to Show Cause why his Answer should not be stricken and a default entered. Weinberg never responded. On January 13, 2003, the Court struck Defendant’s Answer and entered a default.

The Commission has now submitted its Application for Entry of Default Judgment, Permanent Injunction and Ancillary Relief (“Application”) pursuant to F.R.C.P. 55(b)(2) and L.R. 55. The Court has carefully considered the Complaint, the allegations of which are well-pleaded and hereby taken as true, the Application and other written submissions of the Commission filed with the Court, and all oppositions thereto, and being fully advised in the premises, hereby

GRANTS the Commission’s Application For Entry of Default Judgment, Permanent Injunction, and Ancillary Relief and enters findings of fact and conclusions of law finding Defendant liable as to all violations as alleged in the Complaint. Accordingly, the Court now issues the following Order for Default Judgment, Permanent Injunction and Ancillary Equitable Relief (“Order”) against Defendant on issues of liability and the appropriate civil monetary penalties and restitution amounts.

FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

A. Jurisdiction

This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this action and Defendant pursuant to Section 6c of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 13a-l, which authorizes the Commission to seek injunctive relief against any person whenever it shall appear that such person has engaged, is engaging or is about to engage in any act or practice constituting a violation of any provision of the Act or any rule, regulation or order thereunder.

Venue properly lies with this Court pursuant to Section 6c(e) of the Act, 7 U.S.C. § 13a-l, in that Defendant inhabits and transacts business in the Central District of California, and the acts and practices in violation of the Act occurred within this district, among other places.

*1103 B. The Parties

Commodity Futures Trading Commission is an independent federal regulatory agency that is charged with responsibility for administering and enforcing the provisions of the Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq. and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

Mark Weinberg is an individual who resides in the City of Los Angeles, California. Defendant is not an infant, incompetent, serving in the military of the United States or subject to the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Civil Relief Act of 1940, 50 U.S.C. §§ 501 et seq.

C. The Prior Commission Order

On February 8, 1994, the Commission issued an Order (“CFTC Order”) upholding an Administrative Law Judge finding that Weinberg had violated Sections 4b(a), 4c(b), 4d(Z), 4o (1) and 9(a), 7 U.S.C. §§ 6b, 6c(b), 6d(l), 6o (1) and 13(a) (1988), and Sections 4.30 and 32.9 of the Commission’s Regulations, 17 C.F.R. § 4.30 and 32.9 (1989). The Order directed that: 1) Weinberg’s registration as a commodity trading advisor under the Act be revoked; 2) Weinberg cease and desist from engaging in violations of the provisions of the Act and Regulations charged; 3) Weinberg be prohibited from trading on, or subject to, the rules of any contract market for a period of 12 months; and 4) Weinberg pay a civil monetary penalty of $320,000.

D. Weinberg’s Activities Since the CFTC Order

1. Weinberg Defrauded Investors

Since in or about summer 1998, Weinberg solicited nine investors to invest $421,500 purportedly to be used in connection with commodity futures trades in an account at a Futures Commission Merchant (“FCM”) on markets regulated by the Commission. Weinberg told investors that he was involved in commodity futures trades with Edwards Metcalf (“Metcalf’). Metcalf, who passed away in April 2001, was an heir to the Henry Huntington, estate and, at one time, a wealthy ■ man. Weinberg told these investors that he was offering a “no lose” investment opportunity. He represented that he and/or Metcalf had entered into a commodity futures trade, usually related to Japanese yen or other foreign currencies, in Metcalfs trading account at Merrill Lynch Futures, Inc. (“Merrill Lynch”), an FCM, that had appreciated in value. Weinberg claimed he and/or Metcalf did not have the funds to complete the successful trade, and that he purportedly needed investor money to complete the trade and to reap the guaranteed profits. Weinberg promised that the investors would share in the profits from the trade. In fact, no futures or other trading ever occurred in Metcalfs account at Merrill Lynch since he did not have a commodity futures trading account at Merrill Lynch.

The first investor solicited by Weinberg had previously traded with Weinberg in the early 1980s, knew Metcalf from a 1995 business dealing, and thought that Metcalf was still wealthy. In 1998, Weinberg falsely represented to the investor that he needed money to complete an already profitable commodity futures trade made in Metcalfs Merrill Lynch trading account, and that the transaction was a good way of making money without the investor having to trade commodity futures himself.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
287 F. Supp. 2d 1100, 2003 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23557, 2003 WL 22384755, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/commodity-futures-trading-commission-v-weinberg-cacd-2003.