Financial advisors awarded $1.5 million after receiving negligent compliance advice

SARASOTA — Circuit Court Judge Judge Hunter Carroll recently awarded nearly $1.5 million to four south Sarasota County financial advisors following a three-week trial. 

The court found that Scott Aabel, Antonio Gomes, Gary Didonna and James Protigal, of Nokomis in Sarasota County, were given negligent compliance advice, which led to a regulatory investigation and subsequent bad press. The four financial advisors were represented by securities attorneys Drew Clayton and Worth Graham of Icard, Merrill, Cullis, Timm, Furen & Ginsburg.