In either case, the complainant is notified of the action taken. When the Securities Section takes civil or administrative action, the process enters the legal phase, which can involve administrative hearings or court. If a criminal referral is made, the case will be handled by a law enforcement agency in the criminal courts. Once litigation occurs, the complainant and other persons may be required to appear and testify at a hearing, in front of a grand jury, or at trial. Litigation may result in the issuance of a Cease and Desist Order, a final order, conviction, settlement, or some other remedy as may be determined by a hearings officer or the courts.
Every effort is made to notify the complainant of the outcome of litigation.
At the conclusion of litigation the case file is usually closed.