[ by Melanie Gretchen ] The Operations Manager at Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. agreed to settle FINRA charges that he copied and pasted a BOM's signature without authorization, knowledge or consent. Michael Doherty's Industry Experience. Doherty entered the industry in March 2006.  By July 2006, he passed the Series 7 and became registered as a General Securities Rep.  He maintained his registration with several member firms between July 2006 and December 2009.  In December 2009, he joined Ladenburg Thalmann and its RIA affiliate, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management.  On 5/27/10 and 6/1/10, he was terminated by both firms. FINRA Findings and Allegations. Michael Doherty, as branch operations manager, was responsible for assisting brokers with customer paperwork and order processing.  FINRA alleges that on or about 5/19/10, Doherty copied and pasted the signatures of the BOM and a broker to a customer's new account form. Specifically, on that day in May 2010, a Ladenburg broker entered a securities transaction for a customer account.  For the trade to go through, the account needed to have on file several required forms - including the customer's new account form.  Doherty provided the forms, and managed to get the customer's signature on the new account form.  However, neither the broker nor the branch manager signed off to evidence their approvals - and they both had left for the day. In order for the transaction to go through, Doherty resorted to copying the 2 signatures from other documents, which he affixed to the customer's new account form that he then faxed to the firm's margin clerk. FINRA Sanctions. Doherty agreed to a $5K fine and a 60-day suspension.  He has not been associated with another FINRA member firm since the day of the incident - 5/20/10 - which also was the day Ladenburg Thalmann terminated his employment. Who knew copy and paste could be so complicated? [FINRA, 12/20/11]