In early 1982, Hanauer’s executives settled several charges filed against the firm by the SEC. The federal agency sanctioned 18 of the company’s employees and officers who were barred indefinitely from working in brokerage industry. Four of these individuals were among those censured by the SEC in 1977. The SEC also fined Hanauer amount equal to the fraudulent overcharges on the large customer cash transactions. Among other penalties imposed on the firm were restrictions on future expansion and the for feature of profits for a four-month period on new customer account. Finally, the SEC required Hanauer to retain a new accounting firm and to establish internal controls that would prevent future violations of federal securities laws. In response to published reports of the SEC settlement’ Hanauer’s president stated that a key factor in the firm’s decision to settle the case was avoiding the costs of fighting the charges in court.