Ethics boards active at IREM 2008 fall meetings.(Institute of Real Estate Management)(Brief article)

THE BOARD OF ETHICAL INQUIRY reviewed two new complaints. The complainant in the first case was seeking to recover charges for mediation requested by the respondent, an AMO [R] firm that managed complainant's three properties. The complaint was subsequently withdrawn. Despite the withdrawal, the Board reviewed the complaint as required by the Statement of Policies to determine that a violation of the Code of Ethics had not occurred. After review the complaint was dismissed. In the second complaint, an outside party cited a CPM [R] for negligence when his condo was flooded and the CPM's firm did not act quickly enough to clean and dry the unit. The complaint was forwarded for hearing.

THE ETHICS HEARING AND DISCIPLINE BOARD conducted a "show-cause" hearing. A show-cause hearing can be requested by an IREM Member who has been suspended or terminated by the Ethics Inquiry Board for cause. Sufficient cause can be a violation of the bylaws, policies or Code of Ethics. In a show-cause hearing, the member appears before the hearing board and has the opportunity to show cause why membership should not be suspended or terminated. In this particular case, the CPM Member did not disclose a 1983 felony conviction on the 2001 CPM application. Part of the CPM Member's defense was that IREM staff advised not to disclose a conviction over 10 years old.

The Board found the CPM Member had misrepresented information on the CPM application and voted to suspend membership for three years. A successful completion of the Ethics 800 course within six months is required. Failure to complete the Ethics 800 course within six months will result in the member's termination.

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