← Broker database 2026-04-27
James Keith Cox Suspended for Failure to Comply with FINRA Arbitration Award
According to FINRA, James Keith Cox (CRD #2365633) of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was suspended from association with any FINRA member in all capacities pursuant to FINRA Rule Series 9554 for failure to comply with an arbitration award or related settlement. The suspension became effective on April 27, 2026, under FINRA Arbitration Case #09-03564.
The arbitration case number in this matter — #09-03564 — indicates that the underlying arbitration was filed in 2009. The fact that this suspension is being reported in 2026 suggests an exceptionally long period of non-compliance or a recent resumption of non-payment activity. When arbitration awards go unsatisfied for extended periods, the harm to investors compounds over time as they are denied the relief they were entitled to receive years earlier.
FINRA Rule Series 9554 provides a direct mechanism for responding to non-compliance: the suspension of the responsible party from all FINRA-registered activities. This suspension remains in effect until full compliance is achieved. The rule does not provide a statute of limitations on enforcement; arbitration award obligations do not expire, and FINRA will act to enforce them regardless of how much time has passed since the original award.
For investors who won awards in old arbitration cases, FINRA's willingness to enforce those awards through industry suspensions — even years or decades later — is an important reminder that the obligation to pay never disappears. Brokers cannot simply outlast an unpaid award by continuing to practice in the industry without consequence.
Investors with questions about the status of an arbitration award should contact FINRA Dispute Resolution Services directly. FINRA also publishes a list of individuals with unpaid arbitration awards, providing transparency for investors evaluating whether to work with a particular financial professional. Checking this information through FINRA BrokerCheck is a key step in investor due diligence.