Starr struck: Celebrity financial adviser slapped with suit

Starr struck: Celebrity financial adviser slapped with suit
Kenneth Starr, the investment adviser accused in a criminal indictment of stealing at least $59 million from clients, was sued by City National Bank, according to state court records in New York.
MAY 27, 2010
Kenneth Starr, the investment adviser accused in a criminal indictment of stealing at least $59 million from clients, was sued by City National Bank, according to state court records in New York. City National's court filing yesterday refers to an agreement with Starr over a “term promissory note” dated Feb. 25 and says he is required to answer the bank's summons. A complaint with City National's allegations wasn't yet available. Starr, 66, of Manhattan, was charged in May in a federal grand jury indictment in New York with 20 counts of wire fraud and one count each of securities fraud, money laundering and fraud by an investment adviser. The alleged victims of the fraud include an actress, a former executive of a talent agency, the stepson of a deceased heir to a business fortune, a 99-year-old heiress, and a film producer. Starr's clients have included actors Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes and heiress Rachel “Bunny” Mellon. Sabrina Shroff, a public defender who represents Starr in the criminal case, and Abbe Lowell, a lawyer for Starr in a civil suit brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, didn't immediately return calls seeking comment after regular business hours yesterday. Cary Walker, a spokesman for Los Angeles-based City National, declined to comment. The case is City National Bank v. Kenneth I. Starr, Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York.

Latest News

Advisor moves: LPL recruitment momentum continues with $815M Northwestern Mutual team
Advisor moves: LPL recruitment momentum continues with $815M Northwestern Mutual team

Meanwhile, Raymond James and Tritonpoint Partners separately welcomed father-son teams, including a breakaway from UBS in Missouri.

SEC chief Atkins signals caution on prediction market ETFs amid broader rethink of novel fund structures
SEC chief Atkins signals caution on prediction market ETFs amid broader rethink of novel fund structures

Paul Atkins has asked staff to solicit public comment on novel ETFs, pausing the clock on as many as 24 filings linked to the booming event contracts market.

Private capital's $1 trillion bet on the American retirement account
Private capital's $1 trillion bet on the American retirement account

From 401(k)s to retail funds, Deloitte sees private equity and credit crossing into mainstream investing on two fronts at once.

Advisor moves: Wells Fargo Advisors pulls in $9.6b in fresh talent during first half of May
Advisor moves: Wells Fargo Advisors pulls in $9.6b in fresh talent during first half of May

Big-name defections from Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Merrill Lynch headline a busy two weeks of recruiting for the wirehouse.

Why uncertainty is making behavioral coaching more valuable than ever
Why uncertainty is making behavioral coaching more valuable than ever

Markets have always been unpredictable. What has changed is the amount of information investors are trying to process and the growing role advisors play in helping clients avoid emotional decisions

SPONSORED Are hedge funds the missing ingredient?

Wellington explores how multi strategy hedge funds may enhance diversification

SPONSORED Beyond wealth management: Why the future of advice is becoming more human

As technical expertise becomes increasingly commoditized, advisors who can integrate strategy, relationships, and specialized expertise into a cohesive client experience will define the next era of wealth management