Section 43. Arbitrable Issues and Appropriate Parties
As used in Article 17 of the Code of Ethics and in Part Ten of this Manual, the terms “dispute” and “arbitrable matter” are defined as those contractual issues and questions, and specific non-contractual issues and questions defined in Standard of Practice 17-4, including entitlement to commissions and compensation in cooperative transactions, that arise out of the business relationships between REALTORS® and between REALTORS® and their clients and customers, as specified in Part Ten, Section 44, Duty and Privilege to Arbitrate. (Revised 11/96)

A Member Board should determine through advice of legal counsel:

(1)Whether state law permits an agreement to binding arbitration in advance of a dispute or only after the dispute occurs, or

(2)If binding arbitration is not recognized and is thus unenforceable by state law. The Board’s arbitration procedures must conform to applicable state law.

In 2001, Article 17 was amended by the addition of the following paragraph:

The obligation to participate in arbitration contemplated by this Article includes the obligation of REALTORS® (principals) to cause their firms to arbitrate and be bound by any award.
This expansion in the scope of Article 17 does not diminish the personal responsibility of REALTORS® to participate in arbitration. While Article 17 obligates REALTORS® to “. . . cause their firms to arbitrate and be bound by any award . . . ,” it does not confer REALTOR® membership status on real estate firms. Membership, and the duties membership imposes including adherence to the Code of Ethics, is still personal to every REALTOR®.

The change to Article 17 enhances the dispute resolution process by increasing the availability of arbitration—and the likelihood that awards will be enforceable and paid. In many instances, the disputes giving rise to arbitration under Article 17 relate to contracts between REALTORS®’ firms or between REALTORS® acting on behalf of their respective firms. Even where disputes are actually between firms, Article 17 has required that arbitration complainants and respondents be individual REALTORS® (principals), and that awards be rendered in favor of and against individual REALTORS® (principals). In some instances this requirement has resulted in unfair results or rendered the arbitration process impotent because awards were uncollectible. Examples include REALTOR® (principal) respondents leaving the association’s jurisdiction, leaving the real estate business, relinquishing their status as a principal in the firm, or being insolvent or “judgment-proof.”
 
The expansion of Article 17 does not require substantive changes to the way associations of REALTORS® conduct arbitration. It does, however, give both arbitration complainants and respondents greater latitude in determining who the parties are and how any resulting award will be made.

For example, a REALTOR® seeking to invoke arbitration could name a REALTOR® (principal) in another firm as the sole respondent; could name multiple REALTORS® (principals) in the other firm as respondents; could name a firm (comprised of REALTOR® principals) as the respondent; or could name both individual REALTORS® (principals) and their firm as respondents. In this way, the likelihood of the arbitration process being thwarted because a named respondent is no longer subject to an association’s jurisdiction before, during or after the arbitration process, or an award being uncollectible, is greatly reduced.

Similarly, individual REALTOR® respondents who want either additional REALTOR® principals or their firms (or both) to be parties to the dispute can file an arbitration request against the original complaints with additional REALTORS® (principals) or the firm (or both) named as complainants. In such cases both claims would be consolidated by the Grievance Committee and all claims would be resolved in a single hearing.

Common questions include:

(1)If only an individual REALTOR® (principal) is named as the respondent in an arbitration request, can a Hearing Panel make an award against the respondent’s firm?

No. Awards can only be made against named parties in the arbitration request and agreement.

(2)If only an individual REALTOR® (principal) is named as the complainant in an arbitration request, can a Hearing Panel make an award in favor of the complainant’s firm?

No. Awards can only be made in favor of parties named in the arbitration request and agreement.

(3)If an award is made against an individual REALTOR® (principal), is it enforceable against the respondent’s firm?

Awards are generally enforceable against parties named in the award.

(4)Can I name both a REALTOR® (principal) and his firm as respondents in an arbitration request?

Yes.

(5)What is the advantage to naming both a REALTOR®
 (principal) and his firm as respondents in an arbitration request?
 
Naming a REALTOR® (principal) as respondent lets the complainant know who will appear at the hearing, and naming the firm as respondent increases the chances of collecting any resulting award.

(6)If a REALTOR®’s firm is named as the respondent in an arbitration request and refuses to arbitrate, who can be named as respondent in a complaint alleging that Article 17 has been violated?

Any REALTOR® (principal) who holds membership locally or who enjoys MLS participatory rights through the association can be named as respondent.

(7)If only a REALTOR®’s firm is named as respondent in an arbitration request, who is served with notices?

Any REALTOR® (principal) in the firm may be served with notices.
(Revised 5/01)

Section 44. Duty and Privilege to Arbitrate
(a) By becoming and remaining a member and by signing or having signed the agreement to abide by the bylaws of the Board, every member, where consistent with applicable law, binds himself or herself and agrees to submit to arbitration by the Board’s facilities all disputes as defined by Article 17 of the Code of Ethics and, as set forth in the provisions of this Manual, all disputes with any other member, as defined, under the following conditions. In addition, REALTOR® principals who participate in a Board’s MLS where they do not hold Board membership, or nonmember brokers and nonmember licensed or certified appraisers who participate in the Board’s MLS, having signed the agreement to abide by the Board’s Multiple Listing Service rules and regulations binds himself or herself and agrees to submit to arbitration by the Board’s facilities. The duty to submit to arbitration continues in effect even after membership lapses or is terminated, provided that the dispute arose while the respondent was a REALTOR® or an MLS Participant. (Amended 5/99)

(1)Every REALTOR® of the Board who is a REALTOR® principal, every REALTOR® principal who participates in a Board’s MLS where they do not hold Board membership and every nonmember broker or licensed or certified appraiser who is a Participant in the Board’s MLS shall have the right to invoke the Board’s arbitration facilities in any dispute arising out of the real estate business with a REALTOR® principal in another real estate firm or with that firm (or both), or nonmember broker/appraiser or their firm (or both) who is a Participant in the Board’s MLS. (Amended 05/01)

(2)A REALTOR® other than a principal or a REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® shall have the right to invoke the arbitration facilities of the Board in a business dispute with a REALTOR® or REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® in another firm or with their firm (or both), whether in the same or a different Board, provided the REALTOR® principal with whom he is associated joins in the arbitration request, and requests the arbitration with the REALTOR® principal of the other firm or with their firm (or both). Arbitration in such cases shall be between the REALTOR® principals or their firms (or both). REALTOR® nonprincipals and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE®s who invoke arbitration in this manner, or who are affiliated with a respondent and have a vested financial interest in the outcome, have the right to be present throughout the proceedings and to participate but are not considered to be parties. (Amended 05/01)

(3)A client of a REALTOR® principal may invoke the arbitration facilities of the Board in a business dispute with a REALTOR® principal or the REALTOR®’s firm (or both) arising out of an agency relationship, provided the client agrees to be bound by the arbitration. In the event of such request and agreement the Board will arbitrate the dispute subject to the provisions of Part Ten, Section 45. A REALTOR® principal may also invoke arbitration against his client but no arbitration may be held without the client’s voluntary agreement to arbitrate and to be bound by the decision. (Amended 05/01)

(4)REALTORS® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE®s who are or were affiliated with the same firm shall have the same right to invoke the arbitration facilities of the Board, provided each party voluntarily agrees to the arbitration in writing and the Board finds the matter properly subject to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Part Ten, Section 45 of this Manual. This privilege as stated applies to disputes arising when the parties are or were affiliated with the same firm, irrespective of the time request is made for such arbitration. (Amended 11/95)

(5)A REALTOR® principal may invoke the arbitration facilities of his Board with a nonmember broker, provided each party agrees in writing to the arbitration and provided the Board finds the matter properly subject to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of Part Ten, Section 45 of this Manual. However, it shall be optional with the member as to whether he will submit to a claim to arbitration with a nonmember broker who is not an MLS Participant. A nonmember broker who is not an MLS Participant or nonmember salesperson shall not be entitled to invoke the arbitration facilities of the Board of REALTORS®. (Amended 11/95)

(6)Business disputes between a REALTOR® principal and a customer of the REALTOR® principal may be arbitrated by the Board if a written contractual relationship has been created by a REALTOR® principal between a customer and a client and provided all parties to the dispute (i.e., the customer and the REALTOR®) agree in writing to arbitrate the dispute. (Amended 11/95)

(b) Where mandatory arbitration is consistent with applicable state law, the Code of Ethics, Article 17, requires only that disputes arising out of the real estate business between REALTORS® “. . . associated with different firms . . .” be arbitrated. The various provisions of this Section represent the interpretations of the Professional Standards Committee with approval of the Board of Directors of the National Association as to appropriate policy of a Member Board in the matter of providing arbitration facilities by the Board. Thus, Member Boards must provide arbitration facilities for Board Members in the types of arbitration- described in the preceding paragraphs (1), (2), and (3). Member Boards may provide arbitration facilities for the additional types of arbitration described in the preceding paragraphs (4), (5), and (6). However, Member Boards shall not establish any mandatory requirement of its Board Members to arbitrate in the circumstances described in paragraphs (4), (5), and (6). No arbitration shall be initiated by the Board and no arbitration shall be undertaken by the Board unless it determines the dispute is properly arbitrable in accordance with the provisions of Part Ten, Section 45 of this Manual. (Revised 11/96)

Section 45. Board’s Right to Decline Arbitration
(a) If either the Grievance Committee or the arbitration panel selected in the manner hereinafter provided determine that because of the amount involved or the legal complexity of the dispute the dispute should not be arbitrated, the arbitration shall automatically terminate unless either of the parties to the dispute appeals the decision to terminate the proceedings to the Board of Directors in writing within twenty (20) days of the date of notice that the Grievance Committee or the arbitration panel declined to continue the proceeding using Form #A-20, Appeal of Grievance Committee Dismissal or Classification of Arbitration Request; however, no additional information may be added or attached to the form. The Hearing Panel can also dismiss the arbitration request if the Hearing Panel concludes the matter is not arbitrable. The written appeal and those materials and information which were available to the Grievance Committee or the arbitration Hearing Panel when the decision to discontinue arbitration was made will be presented to the Directors and considered with the appeal. The complainant and respondent do not have the right to appear at the hearing before the Directors. In the event of such an appeal, the Grievance Committee or the arbitration panel shall report its conclusions in writing to the Directors and, if the Directors concur, the arbitration shall terminate and the parties shall be relieved of their obligation to arbitrate. In this event, or in the case of no appeal, any deposits made by the parties shall be returned to them. However, if the Board of Directors decides that the arbitration should proceed, the matter shall be remanded to the Grievance Committee or the arbitration panel for further proceedings. (Revised 5/97)

(b)The President may appoint a panel of Directors, acting on - behalf of the Board of Directors, to hear the appeal. Any appeal panel so appointed must be composed of at least five (5) Directors or a quorum of the Board of Directors, whichever is less. (Alternatively, the appeal may be heard by the Board’s Executive Committee.) The decision of the appeal panel (or Executive Committee) is final and not subject to further review by the Board of Directors. (Revised 11/91)

(c)If an otherwise arbitrable matter is the subject of civil litigation, arbitration shall not take place unless the litigation is withdrawn or referred to the Board of Directors by the court for arbitration in accordance with Article 17. In instances where the arbitration is mandatory (as defined in Part Ten, Section 44 of this Manual), the failure to arbitrate may result in a charge alleging violation of Article 17.

(d)If either party to an arbitration request believes that the Grievance Committee has incorrectly classified the issue presented by the request (“mandatory” or “voluntary” arbitration situation), the party has twenty (20) days from the date of receipt of the Grievance Committee’s decision to file a written appeal of the Grievance Committee’s determination using Form #A-20, Appeal of Grievance Committee Dismissal or Classification of Arbitration Request; however, no additional information may be added or attached to the form. Only those materials and information which were available to the Grievance Committee when the Committee made its determination will be presented to the Directors and considered with the appeal. The complainant and respondent do not have the right to appear at the hearing before the Directors. In the event of such an appeal, the Grievance Committee must report its written conclusions to the Board of Directors. If the Directors determine that the arbitration request was incorrectly classified, they shall reclassify the request as either “mandatory” or “voluntary” arbitration and refer it to the Secretary for appropriate processing. (Revised 5/97)

Section 46. Duty to Arbitrate Before State Association
By becoming and/or remaining members of this Board, all members bind themselves and agree to submit to arbitration by the arbitration facilities of the(state) Association - of REALTORS® any dispute with a member of any other local
Board or (state) Association of REALTORS®, provided:
(1) The dispute is a dispute as defined and for which arbitration is required by Article 17 of the Code of Ethics, and - (2) The (state) Association of REALTORS® has established facilities for such arbitration.*

Disputes as defined in Article 17 of the Code of Ethics requiring arbitration between members having no commonality of Board membership or MLS participation may be submitted and conducted under the procedure established in Part Eleven of this Manual, subject to such modification as may be required by applicable state law. (Revised 11/98)

The method set forth in Part Eleven may also be utilized for the conduct of arbitration between Board Members of different Boards of different states, subject to the parties’ voluntary agreement in advance to accept the place, date, and time established by the arbitration panel thus chosen for a hearing, and to pay all costs of such arbitration as may be directed by the panel, and further subject to applicable state law of the respective states permitting such binding arbitration.