GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING ETHICS COMPLAINT

							                      MEMPHIS AREA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
                              6393 Poplar Avenue ~ Memphis, TN 38119
                                901-685-2100 ~ 901-761-4003 (fax)


             GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING ETHICS COMPLAINT

1. Any person having reason to believe that a MAAR member is guilty of any conduct subject to
   disciplinary action, may file a complaint in writing with the Association. The complaint should
   state the facts on which it is based and be filed within 180 days after the facts constituting the
   matter complained of could have been known in the exercise of reasonable diligence.
2. Complaints must be typewritten.
3. Complaints must name the individual(s) you believe has acted in an unethical manner and must
   be based on an alleged violation of one or more Articles of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. An
   Article’s “Standard of Practice” may be used only in support of an allegation of violation of the
   Articles. If you think more than one Article may have been violated, please cite each Article
   separately, along with a narrative to support your allegation. Enclosed for your reference in
   completing the complaint form is a copy of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
4. The Association does not have the authority to revoke a real estate license; only the Tennessee
   Real Estate Commission has the authority to suspend or revoke a license. Additionally, the
   Association does not have jurisdiction over licensees who are not members of the Memphis Area
   Association of REALTORS®, and, therefore, cannot take disciplinary action against them.
5. The Association does not have the authority to award damages, refund earnest money, or “try” a
   member as to any alleged violation of the state real estate license law or any other alleged
   violation of law.
6. The Association does have the authority to discipline a member who has been found in violation
   of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. Violations may result in a member’s receiving a Letter of
   Warning or Reprimand; being fined up to $5,000 (payable to the Association); being required to
   complete educational courses; being placed on probation of membership; or, in severe cases,
   being suspended or expelled from membership in the Association.
7. If the member is involved in civil litigation or in any proceeding before the Tennessee Real Estate
   Commission or any other state or federal regulatory or administrative agency in a matter arising
   out of the same facts and circumstances giving rise to the complaint alleging unethical conduct,
   the Association, at its discretion, will determine whether to proceed to a hearing or hold the
   complaint in abeyance pending conclusion of the civil litigation or other proceeding. If the other
   proceeding is criminal litigation, the Association must hold the complaint in abeyance pending
   conclusion of the criminal litigation.
8. A copy of the complaint will be sent to the Respondent, who will be given 15 business days to
   provide a written response. The Grievance Committee meets monthly to review
   complaints/responses received to date and may investigate further, dismiss the complaint, or
   forward the complaint to a hearing before the Professional Standards Committee. If the matter is
   forwarded for a hearing, both Complainant and Respondent will be asked to appear at he
   hearing.
9. A minimum of three weeks should be allowed for us to determine if this controversy is one that is
   appropriate for a hearing by the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS®.
  Questions? Contact MAAR’s Director of Professional Standards, Carol Culpepper @ (901) 818-2433.
                        MEMPHIS AREA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
                                6393 Poplar Avenue ~ Memphis, TN 38119
                                  901-685-2100 ~ 901-761-4003 (fax)



                                     ETHICS COMPLAINT FORM
To the Grievance Committee of the Memphis Area Association of REALTORS®:



                 Complainant(s)                                        Respondent(s)


Name of Person(s) Filing Complaint                      Name of MAAR Member/MLS Subscriber


Address                                                 Firm Name


City/State/Zip


Phone



By filing this complaint, I (we) allege the above-named Respondent has violated the REALTOR® Code
of Ethics or other membership duty as set forth in the Bylaws of the Memphis Area Association of
REALTORS®. NOTE: Give a complete statement of the facts, specifying only one Article per narrative,
with documentation supporting your allegations. Use additional sheets if necessary.

I (we) allege violation of Article _____ of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________

I (we) allege violation of Article _____ of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
I (we) allege violation of Article _____ of the REALTOR® Code of Ethics.
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________________


Are the circumstances giving rise to this Ethics Complaint involved in civil or criminal litigation or in
any proceeding before the Tennessee Real Estate Commission or any other state or federal
regulatory or administrative agency?
          Yes            No (Check one)
If yes, please attach a copy of the official complaint filed.


You may file an ethics complaint in any jurisdiction where a REALTOR® is a member or MLS
participant. Note: The REALTOR® Code of Ethics, Standard of Practice 14-1, provides, in relevant
part, “REALTORS® shall not be subject to disciplinary proceedings in more than one Board of
REALTORS®. . . with respect to alleged violations of the Code of Ethics relating to the same
transaction or event.” Have you filled, or do you intend to file, a similar or related complaint with
another Association of REALTORS®?              Yes          No (Check one.)
If yes, name of other Association:                                         Date filed:


Under the penalties of perjury, I (we) declare that to the best of my (our) knowledge and belief my
(our) allegations in this complaint are true, and my (our) complaint is filed within one hundred eighty
(180) days after the facts constituting the matter complained of could have been known in the
exercise of reasonable due diligence. I (we) understand that should the Grievance Committee
dismiss this ethics complaint in part or in total, that I (we) have twenty (20) days from my (our)
receipt of the dismissal notice to appeal to the Board of Directors.


Signature of Complainant                                  Signature of Complainant


Date                                                      Date




                        PLEASE ATTACH COPIES OF SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
                                                                                                      WEB