Ethics boards active at IREM 2008 fall meetings.(INSIDE IREM)(Insititute of Real Estate Management)(Conference notes)

The Board of Ethical Inquiry reviewed two new complaints. While the party filing the first complaint decided to withdraw it, 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, and dismissed the complaint. 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 matter will be investigated to determine if there is cause to forward 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, David Barber, CPM, did not disclose a 1983 felony conviction on his 2001 CPM application. Part of Barber's defense was that IREM staff advised not to disclose a conviction over 10 years old.

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

Note: This is an updated version of the Ethics Board Activity news from the Jan/Feb 2009 issue.

Print Get the Mag Weekly Updates