Arbitration

The Pinellas REALTOR® Organization and Central Pasco REALTOR® Organization offers arbitration as a service to REALTOR® principles against REALTOR® principles of another firm.

The following documents are available to download:

• Checklist
• How to file inter-board arbitration

How to File or Respond to an Arbitration:

1. All Arbitration requests will first be mediated. Requests must be entered and submitted by clicking here. If mediation is not reached the board will proceed with Arbitration. Arbitration is an additional $300 filing fee. Seven (7) copies of your original arbitration are to be submitted for members of the Grievance Committee.
2. Arbitration requests will be referred to the Board Secretary (or Executive Officer), and by the Secretary to the Chairperson of the Grievance Committee. If the Grievance Committee finds the matter to constitute a proper cause of action, it will be referred to the Board Secretary to arrange a hearing; if not found to constitute a proper cause of action, it will be returned to the complainant with the decision of the Grievance Committee, together with information advising the complainant of the procedures by which the Grievance Committee’s decision may be appealed to the Board of Directors.
3. If there is to be a hearing, the date for hearing will be set and all parties will be notified of the date and place of hearing at least twenty-one (21) days in advance.
4. All parties may be represented by legal counsel, provided that notice of intention to be represented is transmitted to all other parties and to the Hearing Panel at least fifteen (15) days prior to the hearing. Failure to provide timely notice may result in a continuance of the hearing.
5. It is the responsibility of each party to arrange for his witnesses to be present at the hearing.
6. Either party may file with the Secretary, within ten (10) days from the date the names of the members of the Professional Standards Committee are mailed to the parties, a written request for disqualification of any potential member of the Hearing Panel for any of the following reasons:
   1. Is related by blood or marriage to the complainant, respondent or a REALTOR® acting as counsel for either the complainant or respondent.
   2. Is an employer, partner or employee, or in any way associated in business with the complainant, respondent or a REALTOR® acting as counsel for either the complainant or respondent.
   3. Is a party to the hearing, or a party or a witness in another pending case involving complainant or respondent
   4. Knows any reasons acceptable to the Hearing Panel or tribunal which may prevent him from rendering an impartial decision
7. The parties shall not discuss the case with any member of the Hearing Panel or the Board of Directors at any time prior to the announcement of a decision in the case.
8. No hearing will be held in absence of a complainant. An arbitration hearing may (depending on state law and the option selected by the Board) proceed in the absence of a respondent.