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_________________________________ Association of REALTORS®
State of ___________________________________________
(Ask the Secretary to make sure that the names of all parties present for the hearing have been added to this Guide and that all the appropriate blanks have been completed. Also note that ethics appeals are not to be recorded.)
(Ask all parties to come into the hearing room.)
Display: Association banner and the American Flag
Seating arrangements: See Part Six, Form #E-16 of this Manual for recommended seating arrangements.
Start promptly: Rap gavel to open meeting.
Chairperson’s opening statement: Panel members and hearing participants, I now call this appeal hearing to order. The professional standards procedures of the ___________ Association of REALTORS® provide for the right to appeal the decisions rendered by ethics Hearing Panels. The complainant in the original ethics hearing may appeal based only on alleged procedural deficiencies that may have deprived the complainant of the opportunity for a full and fair hearing or other lack of procedural due process. The respondent in the original ethics hearing may appeal the decision and/or recommendation for discipline on the basis of (1) misapplication or misinterpretation of an Article(s) of the Code of Ethics of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, (2) alleged procedural deficiency or any lack of procedural due process, or (3) the discipline recommended by the Hearing Panel. This particular appeal will be heard by (the Board of Directors) (or) (a panel of Directors appointed by the President) (or) (the Association’s Executive Committee), hereinafter referred to as the Appeal Hearing Tribunal.
Basis of this hearing: The particular matter to be considered by this Appeal Hearing Tribunal is an appeal of the decision of the ethics Hearing Panel composed of:
_____________________________, ________________________________________,
____________________________, ____________________________________________,
and chaired by _________________________________________________________, at
an ethics hearing conducted on _____________________, 20_____. The basis of the
original ethics hearing was a complaint brought by _______________________________,
__________________________________, and ___________________________________,
the complainant(s), against ___________________, _______________________________,
and _________________________, the respondent(s), alleging violation of Article(s) __________ of the Code of Ethics of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. The decision was as follows.
(Read the decision of the ethics Hearing Panel of the Professional Standards Committee [Part Six, Form #E-11 of this Manual].)
Prior to the original ethics hearing, the complaint was reviewed by (the Association's Grievance Committee) (or) (a panel of the Association's Grievance Committee members) and referred to the Association's Professional Standards Committee for a hearing.
Authority: The Appeal Hearing Tribunal present here today is a body duly constituted under the authority of the bylaws of the ___________________________ Association of REALTORS®.
Introduction of the Appeal Hearing Tribunal: At this time, I would like to introduce the members of this Appeal Hearing Tribunal. My name is ___________________________, and I will serve as Chairperson. The other members of this Appeal Hearing Tribunal are ____________________________________, ____________________________________,
____________________________________,____________________________________,
____________________________________,____________________________________,
____________________________________,____________________________________,
____________________________________,____________________________________,
____________________________________, ___________________________________,
and ________________________________________.
Disqualification: Anyone who was a party to the original ethics hearing, a member of the Grievance Committee present during the meeting when the complaint was reviewed, a member of the original ethics Hearing Panel, or who was otherwise involved in this matter prior to the appeal is disqualified from serving on this Appeal Hearing Tribunal. Furthermore, anyone who is related by blood or marriage to any party to the hearing or anyone related by blood or marriage to a REALTOR® acting as counsel for either the complainant or respondent, or anyone who is an employer, partner, employee, or is associated in business with any of the parties or a REALTOR® acting as counsel is also disqualified. I will now ask the members of the Appeal Hearing Tribunal if they know of any reason why they should be disqualified.
(If none) The members of the Appeal Hearing Tribunal have not indicated any reason why they are not qualified to serve. Although the parties have been previously notified of their right to challenge members of this Appeal Hearing Tribunal, I will now ask the parties if they are aware of any reason why any member of this Appeal Hearing Tribunal is not qualified to serve.
(If none) The parties have not indicated any reason why any member of this Appeal Hearing Tribunal is not qualified to serve.
Additional introductions: Also present at this appeal hearing is _____________________, _______________________, and _______________________, the complainant(s) in the original ethics hearing; __________________, ___________________, and _________________________, the respondent(s) in the original ethics hearing; _____________________, the original ethics Hearing Panel Chairperson; and __________________, the Secretary for the _________________ Association of REALTORS®.
(If any attorneys are present, they should be introduced at this time.)
_________________________, ________________________,
______________________, and _______________________.
Appeal limitations: In this appeal hearing we will consider the arguments of ____________________, hereinafter referred to as the appellant, who filed the Request for Appeal. The appeal is further limited to the basis (bases) set forth in writing in the Request for Appeal, which is as follows.
(Read the Request for Appeal, [Part Six, Form #E-13 of this Manual].)
Outline of procedure: At this time I would like to explain the procedure for this appeal hearing. First, the original ethics Hearing Panel Chairperson (or a representative from the original panel) will summarize the case (or provide copies of transcripts). Then, the appellant will have an opportunity to offer any corrections or modifications to the summary (or transcripts), to introduce supporting evidence and/or the statements of any other parties to the original ethics hearing, and to explain the basis (bases) for the appeal. Next, the original Hearing Panel Chairperson and/or other parties to the original ethics hearing will have an opportunity to explain why the original ethics Hearing Panel’s decision should be upheld. At any time during this proceeding, members of the Appeal Hearing Tribunal may ask questions; however, parties have no right of cross-examination. Finally, following the appeal hearing, the Appeal Hearing Tribunal will go into executive session to render a decision. Do any of the parties have any questions regarding the outline of procedure?
(If none) None of the parties has any questions regarding the outline of procedure.
Guidelines: This Appeal Hearing Tribunal is not dealing with questions of law and is not governed by the technical rules of evidence which may apply in courts. This Appeal Hearing Tribunal will seek to determine all ascertainable and relevant facts pertaining to the matter under consideration to arrive at a peer judgment and decision by the Appeal Hearing Tribunal that is fair to all of the parties. After the Appeal Hearing Tribunal has heard all of the evidence and testimony, we will go into executive session to render our decision. The decision will be based solely upon the arguments, evidence, and testimony offered during this appeal hearing. All parties or their representatives to these proceedings will be allowed a full opportunity to be heard on matters relevant to the issue. This Appeal Hearing Tribunal may rule at any time during this Appeal Hearing on the relevance of testimony being given. All parties giving testimony will be asked to affirm that testimony given is the truth to the best of their knowledge. A party may be represented by counsel. This Appeal Hearing Tribunal need not accept the statements of counsel as being the statements of their clients if it desires direct testimony. Counsel is present to advise and consult with their clients, and to speak for them subject to appropriate rulings or determinations by this Appeal Hearing Tribunal. This Appeal Hearing Tribunal will countenance no effort by any party or by counsel to any party to harass, intimidate, coerce, or confuse the Appeal Hearing Tribunal or any party to the proceedings.
At this time I will request that all persons present in the room who expect to testify at this appeal hearing stand and make appropriate affirmation.
Affirmation: Please stand, raise your right hand and, following the question I now pose, answer in the affirmative if you do so affirm. “Do you swear that the statements you are about to make at this hearing are the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
(If yes) All parties have answered in the affirmative. Please be seated.
The appeal hearing: We shall now proceed with the appeal hearing.
Presentation by the original ethics Hearing Panel Chairperson: At this time the original ethics Hearing Panel Chairperson will summarize the case (or provide copies of transcripts), unless the sole basis for appeal is a deprivation of due process (in which case the Chairperson will address that basis of appeal only).
Presentation by the appellant: At this time, the appellant may offer any corrections or modifications to the original ethics Hearing Panel Chairperson’s summary (or) (the transcript), introduce supporting evidence and/or the statements of any other parties to the original ethics hearing, and explain the basis (bases) for the appeal.
Rebuttal by the original ethics Hearing Panel Chairperson: At this time the original ethics Hearing Panel Chairperson will have an opportunity to explain why the original ethics Hearing Panel’s decision should be upheld by this Appeal Hearing Tribunal.
Testimony of other parties to the original ethics hearing: At this time, any other parties to the original ethics hearing will have an opportunity to explain why the decision of the ethics Hearing Panel should be upheld by the Appeal Hearing Tribunal. Any party testifying must restrict his/her discussion to the issues raised in the appeal.
Questions from panel members: The members of this panel are authorized to ask questions at any time during this appeal.
Confirmation of fairness/opportunity to testify: Do each of you feel that this appeal hearing has been conducted fairly?
(If yes) All parties to this appeal hearing have indicated that they feel this appeal hearing has been conducted fairly.
Have each of you had an adequate opportunity to state why you believe that the decision of the original ethics Hearing Panel should or should not be upheld by this Appeal Hearing Tribunal?
(If yes) The parties have indicated that they have had an adequate opportunity to state why they believe the decision of the original ethics Hearing Panel should or should not be upheld by this Appeal Hearing Tribunal.
Closing statements: The decision of this Appeal Hearing Tribunal is final. Before we adjourn this appeal hearing, all persons present are advised that the report and findings of this Appeal Hearing Tribunal are considered confidential. Upon final action by this Appeal Hearing Tribunal, the Professional Standards Administrator shall disseminate to the complainant and the respondent in the original ethics hearing, the Professional Standards Administrator of any other Board of REALTORS® in which the respondent holds membership, and any governmental agency, as directed by the Board of Directors, such notice of the action as the Board President deems appropriate under the circumstances to effectuate the discipline prescribed, provided, however, that the nature, form, content, and extent of the notice shall be specifically approved by Board legal counsel prior to dissemination. The Professional Standards Administrator may disseminate the notice to the original hearing panel.
Adjournment: There being no further business to be considered in this appeal hearing, this portion of the appeal hearing stands adjourned.
Executive session: The Appeal Hearing Tribunal will now go into executive session.
Procedural note: (The Appeal Hearing Tribunal goes into executive session to deliberate the issues raised on appeal. The Appeal Hearing Tribunal may adopt or modify the recommendation of the original Hearing Panel, including the discipline imposed; or, alternatively, the Appeal Hearing Tribunal may dismiss the complaint, in part or in total, if it concludes that the findings of fact do not support, in part or in total, the original Hearing Panel’s conclusion as to unethical conduct. If the Appeal Hearing Tribunal is concerned with a possible procedural deficiency, it may refer the case back to the Professional Standards Committee for a new hearing before a different ethics Hearing Panel. If the Appeal Hearing Tribunal is concerned with the appropriateness of the recommendation for discipline, it may impose an alternative discipline that does not exceed that discipline recommended by the original ethics Hearing Panel or, alternatively, the Appeal Hearing Tribunal may refer the decision back to the original ethics Hearing Panel for further consideration. If the matter is referred back to the original ethics Hearing Panel for further consideration, it should be accompanied by the Appeal Hearing Tribunal’s concerns regarding the proposed discipline. However, while the Appeal Hearing Tribunal may recommend that the discipline be increased, the original ethics Hearing Panel is not required to increase the discipline beyond that originally recommended.)
Declaratory relief: (If the Appeal Hearing Tribunal has reason to believe the decision will not be accepted and litigation may ensue, it should consider making disciplinary action effective only after a favorable decision in a suit for declaratory relief filed by the Association confirming the propriety of its action. This will minimize any legal vulnerability to the Association.)
(Revised 11/23)