About Us

Maddox Hargett & Caruso, P.C. represents investors who have lost money because of investment fraud, stockbroker misconduct or professional negligence. The firm is comprised of six experienced attorneys who are very knowledgeable in securities law. Over the last 16 years, our securities lawyers have represented more than 1000 clients in arbitration and other forums for dispute resolution.

The Firm's Prior Experience

Prudential Case Update

October 2002, Maddox Hargett & Caruso, P.C. received a $262 million jury verdict against Prudential Securities, Inc. This verdict included $250 million in punitive damages and has been reported as the largest jury verdict in the state of Ohio and the single largest securities class action jury verdict. The award was later downgraded on appeal, to $33 million. Nonetheless, the Prudential verdict was a wake-up call for Wall Street.

The plaintiffs were mostly elderly people who had turned their retirement nest eggs over to Prudential for investment management. During a brief slump in the market, Prudential clients claimed their broker sold most of their stocks without their knowledge or permission. The clients missed out when the market quickly rose, because their money had been taken out of stocks and put into bonds. Because the broker thought the market was headed for a large fall when in fact the downturn was quite short lived, this case has become known as the “Chicken Little” case.

Investors Compensated For Losses

The attorneys at Maddox Hargett & Caruso, P.C. have represented more than 1000 individual investors in their claims against financial planners, investment advisors and stockbrokers. A large percentage of these investors have received compensation for their losses as a result.

We have brought cases against many of Wall Street's largest firms, including Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Solomon Smith Barney, Wachovia Securities, Prudential Securities, UB/PaineWebber, A.G. Edwards, Edward Jones, and Bear Stearns. We are well-known by our opponents as well as our colleagues in investor representation.

A Look At Our Qualifications

Members of our firm, Maddox Hargett & Caruso, P.C., have come to know the securities environment from unique vantage points inside government and the brokerage industry. Mark E. Maddox, the firm's founder, is a former State Securities Commissioner. Thomas A. Hargett worked as a broker before attending law school. And Steven B. Caruso previously served as General Counsel to a national brokerage company.

Our attorneys have brought cases against most of Wall Street's biggest firms including, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley, Solomon Smith Barney, Wachovia Securities, Prudential Securities, UBS, A.G. Edwards, Edward Jones, and Bear Stearns.

Maddox Hargett & Caruso delivers the depth of experience necessary to represent investors who have been defrauded or unlawfully under served by brokers, brokerage firms, financial advisors and insurance companies.

Representing Investors

The law firm of Maddox Hargett & Caruso takes legal action on the investor's behalf when stockbrokers, investment advisors or financial planners may be at fault. Attorneys Mark Maddox, Tom Hargett and Steven Caruso are driven by a strong sense of purpose. They believe that individual investors have the right to meet the brokerage industry on a level playing field to air disputes. Today they serve clients who are driven by similar convictions, and eager to meet tough financial industry opponents with an equally powerful show of strength.

Our attorneys offer hope, and a balanced view, for investors who find themselves on the losing end of irresponsible or dishonest investment management.

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