Professional Standards
Chair: Michael Perciful
Consumer Mediation
The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Real Estate Mediation Center for Consumers provides home buyers and sellers, as well as other parties to real estate transactions, with a highly qualified pool of specially trained, objective and reliable mediation professionals to assist them in resolving their real estate related disputes.
Arbitration Complaint
Tyler Law, LLP is corporate counsel to the Southwest Riverside County Association of REALTORS® (SRCAR®). They are responsible for the processing of all disciplinary and arbitration complaints.
Member of the Public
The following instructions and attachments are for your use in filing an Arbitration Complaint with SRCAR®:
- Read the Client Information Sheet (Form PA-2).
- Complete the attached Arbitration Complaint (Form PA-1) as follows:
a. On page 1, in paragraph 1 “Respondents”:
“(1)” should be the name of Respondent Broker. If you do not know the name of the Respondent Broker, please check the DRE website (www.dre.ca.gov)
b. “(2, 3 and 4)” should be the name(s) of the Agent(s), if applicable.
c. In paragraph 2, indicate the dollar amount being requested. Please note that a Panel cannot award more than is being requested.
d. On page 2, “Complainants”:
“(1)” should be you; and,
“(2, 3, and 4)” should be any other party that is making the claim.
You must include a statement stating why you believe you are owed the amount of your claim and, if applicable, clearly indicate the date escrow closed on the underlying transaction in your dispute. Label your statement as Exhibit 1 and submit all documentation supporting your claim. You have 180 days from the date of escrow closing or date of discovery of the loss (whichever is later) in which to file the Complaint.
The California Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual explains the rules SRCAR® follows for arbitration hearings.
As an alternative to arbitration, SRCAR® offers mediation. Mediation is a dispute resolution process whereby a mediator works with you and the other parties to facilitate a mutually acceptable resolution of your dispute. In comparison to arbitration, mediation is usually less adversarial and less formal, and the parties are more directly involved in the decision-making process to resolve their dispute. As a general policy, SRCAR® promotes mediation and strongly encourages you to consider using mediation.
While SRCAR® promotes mediation, you still need to file an arbitration complaint with SRCAR® to preserve your right to arbitration. Also, mediation is a voluntary process and a mediation conference can only be scheduled if all parties agree to mediation. If any party to your dispute does not agree to mediation, arbitration will be necessary.
Finally, if you are unable to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of the dispute through mediation, an arbitration hearing will have to be scheduled. If you would like to use mediation, please review the attached Mediation Guidelines and Procedures and complete the attached Request for Mediation and submit it with your Arbitration Complaint.
Once all documents have been completed, send them to the address below along with a check in the amount of $500.00 payable to SRCAR®. If you prefer to send them electronically, you can send a request for a credit card authorization payment form to the email address below.
If you have any questions, please contact Linda M. Conaway, the Professional Standards Administrator. Her contact information is below.
Linda M. Conaway, Professional Standards Administrator
SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
c/o TYLER LAW, LLP
25026 Las Brisas Road
Murrieta, California 92562
Telephone: (800) 446-3646 or (951) 600-2733 ext. 223
Email: [email protected]
REALTOR® vs. REALTOR®.
Tyler Law, LLP is corporate counsel to the Southwest Riverside County Association of REALTORS® (SRCAR®). They are responsible for the processing of all disciplinary and arbitration complaints.
The following instructions and attachments are for your use in filing an Arbitration Complaint with SRCAR®:
- Complete the attached Arbitration Complaint (Form A-1) as follows: On page 1, in paragraph 1 “Respondents”:
“(1)” should be the name of Respondent Broker. If you do not know the name of the Responsible Broker, please check the DRE website (www.dre.ca.gov)
“(2, 3 and 4)” should be the name(s) of the Agent(s), if applicable.
In paragraph 2, indicate the dollar amount being requested. Please note that a Panel cannot award more than is being requested.
On page 2, “Complainants”:
“(1)” should be the Responsible Broker of your brokerage; and,
“(2, 3, and 4)” should be any other Agent that is making the claim.- Arbitration Complaint (Form A-1)
- Request for Mediation (Form M-1)
- Request for Mediation Form
- Part II (Arbitration) 2025 C.A.R. Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual
You must include a statement stating why you believe you are owed the amount of your claim and, if applicable, clearly indicate the date escrow closed on the underlying transaction in your dispute. Label your statement as Exhibit 1 and submit all documentation supporting your claim. You have 180 days from the date of escrow closing or date of discovery of the loss (whichever is later) in which to file the Complaint.
The California Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual explains the rules SRCAR® follows for arbitration hearings.
As an alternative to arbitration, SRCAR® offers mediation. Mediation is a dispute resolution process whereby a mediator works with you and the other parties to facilitate a mutually acceptable resolution of your dispute. In comparison to arbitration, mediation is usually less adversarial and less formal, and the parties are more directly involved in the decision-making process to resolve their dispute. As a general policy, SRCAR® promotes mediation and strongly encourages you to consider using mediation.
While SRCAR® promotes mediation, you still need to file an arbitration complaint with SRCAR® to preserve your right to arbitration. Also, mediation is a voluntary process and a mediation conference can only be scheduled if all parties agree to mediation. If any party to your dispute does not agree to mediation, arbitration will be necessary. Finally, if you are unable to reach a mutually acceptable resolution of the dispute through mediation, an arbitration hearing will have to be scheduled. If you would like to use mediation, please review the attached Mediation Guidelines and Procedures and complete the attached Request for Mediation and submit it with your Arbitration Complaint.
Once all documents have been completed, send them to the address below along with a check in the amount of $500.00 payable to SRCAR®. If you prefer to send them electronically, you can send a request for a credit card authorization payment form to the email address below.
If you have any questions, please contact Linda M. Conaway, the Professional Standards Administrator. Her contact information is below.Linda M. Conaway, Professional Standards Administrator
SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
c/o TYLER LAW, LLP
25026 Las Brisas Road Murrieta, California 92562
Telephone: (800) 446-3646 or (951) 600-2733 ext. 223
Email: [email protected]
Disciplinary (Ethics) Complaint
C.A.R. offers an Ombudsmen Program that is a free service for its members. Ombudsmen are REALTORS® who volunteer their time to answer non-legal questions and resolve non-legal disputes. To get more information, click here: Ombudsman Hotline
If you feel the Ombudsman Program is not the right option for you, or your dispute is not resolved after participating in the Ombudsmen Program, you may file a Disciplinary Complaint. Please use the following documents to assist you in filing a Disciplinary Complaint with SRCAR®:
- Read Filing an Ethics Complaint
- Disciplinary Complaint Form (D-1)
- How to Obtain the Assistance from an Ethics Advocate
- Request for Ethics Advocate (Form D-23)
- Ethics Advocate Acceptance (Form D-23A)
- Ethics Advocate Communication Preference (Form D-23B)
- 2025 National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics
- 2025 CRMLS Rules & Policies
A portion of the California Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual relating to disciplinary proceedings 2025 C.A.R. Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual.
If you desire assistance with completion of the Disciplinary Complaint (Form D-1), you will find the names of several Ethics Advocates (“EA”) on Form D-23A. The EA will help you complete the Disciplinary Complaint and other required forms. There is no cost for the use of an EA. If you wish the assistance of an EA, prepare a short narrative relative to the nature of your complaint, complete the three forms listed below, and return:
- Request for Ethics Advocate (Form D-23)
- Ethics Advocate Acceptance (Form D-23A)
- Ethics Communication Preference (Form D-23B)
PLEASE NOTE: IN ORDER TO USE THE SERVICES OF AN EA, YOU MUST AGREE TO HOLD SRCAR® HARMLESS AND WAIVE ANY CLAIM FOR LIABILITY AGAINST SRCAR® OR THE EA FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE EA IN ASSISTING YOU.
If you do not wish the assistance of an EA, there is no need to return Forms D-23, D-23A and D-23B.
To file a Disciplinary Complaint without the assistance of an EA, please complete the Complaint form (D-1), including those Articles of the Code of Ethics or MLS Rules you feel have been violated. You may also choose not to select any of the Articles or MLS Rules and instead allow the Grievance Committee to decide the proper Articles and/or MLS Rules. Whichever option you select, you must still attach a supporting statement (Exhibit 1) and any additional documents you feel may substantiate your complaint and return everything to TYLER LAW, LLP, c/o Linda Conaway at 25026 Las Brisas Road, Murrieta, California 92562, or [email protected].
Please be advised that for a complaint to be considered timely filed with SRCAR®, the complaint must be filed within one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days after the facts constituting the alleged wrongful conduct occurred. You must file within the time limit, even if you are assisted by an EA.
SRCAR® cannot cancel or enforce contracts and does not have the authority to take action regarding the licensing status of its members.
Disciplinary complaints are aimed at disciplinary action. No money is awarded. If a member is found in violation of any Articles of the Code of Ethics, MLS Rules and Policies, and/or Membership Duties, they will be disciplined in accordance with the provisions of the California Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual, the relevant portion of which is available above.
Your complaint will be reviewed by members of our Grievance Committee who meet monthly. That group does not determine guilt or innocence but does determine whether a disciplinary complaint is appropriate for a formal hearing. If your complaint is forwarded to Professional Standards for a formal hearing, you will be required to testify and prove your case. You will be advised in writing of the action taken by the Grievance Committee.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Linda M. Conaway, Professional Standards Administrator
SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
c/o TYLER LAW, LLP
25026 Las Brisas Road
Murrieta, California 92562
Telephone: (800) 446-3646
Email: [email protected]
