Christopher Cook Leith Hartman (also known as Chris Hartman and as Kit Hartman), of Santa Barbara, California, a stockbroker registered with Kovack Securities Inc., is the subject of a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested compensation based upon allegations that Hartman made unsuitable recommendations of real estate investment trusts (REITs) during the time that Hartman was associated with Kovack Securities Inc. Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitration No. 23-00452 (February 24, 2023).
FINRA Public Disclosure shows that Hartman is referenced in four other customer initiated investment related disputes concerning Hartman’s conduct while associated with securities broker dealers. On October 5, 2005, a customer initiated investment related complaint involving Hartman’s conduct was settled for $8,500.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hartman made unsuitable recommendations of unit investment trusts, mutual funds, stocks, and over the counter equities when Hartman was associated with Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
On August 4, 2009, another customer filed an investment related complaint involving Hartman’s conduct in which the customer requested $185,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hartman made unsuitable investment recommendations when Hartman was associated with Morgan Stanley. This claim was denied by Morgan Stanley.
Hartman is also referenced in a customer initiated investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim in which the customer requested compensation based upon allegations that Hartman made unsuitable recommendations and failed to perform due diligence in connection with the sale of direct investments when Hartman was associated with Kovack Securities Inc. FINRA Arbitration No. 22-02370 (October 25, 2022).
On December 21, 2022, a customer filed an investment related FINRA securities arbitration claim involving Hartman’s conduct in which the customer requested $500,000.00 in damages based upon allegations that Hartman provided unsuitable advice and failed to perform due diligence in connection with the sale of private placements during the time that Hartman was associated with Kovack Securities Inc. FINRA Arbitration No. 22-02885. The claim also alleges that Kovack Securities Inc. failed to supervise Hartman.
Hartman’s registration with Kovack Securities Inc. was terminated on April 12, 2023.
