Facts: Our client, JT, hired us to defend him against a complaint filed with the Board by a quasi-governmental entity alleging he had violated minimum professional standards for real estate appraisers. He faced damage to his professional reputation, his ability to obtain work from appraisal management companies, lenders and other clients, potential disciplinary action from the Board and harm to his livelihood because of the false complaint allegations submitted to the Board.
Outcome: The Firm gathered and assessed JT’s work file material, market data and his appraisal report so we could fend off the false allegations levied against our client. We also assessed the written report prepared by JT’s consulting expert so that we could provide the best written response to the complaint. We advocated tenaciously for JT to demonstrate this complaint had to be dismissed because of legal shortcomings and because it had no merit since JT had not violated the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (“USPAP”). We explained why JT had not violated USPAP and state law and why the complaint had to be dismissed without any disciplinary action by the Board. After the Board completed an investigation, the staff agreed the complaint had no merit and needed to be dismissed. The Board dismissed JT’s complaint with a non-disciplinary warning letter. The Board took no action against his license, leaving his professional reputation and livelihood intact.
