Page 22 - WAD Member Directory 2019 (April)

ARTICLE XIII – DISCIPLINE

Section 1. Any member or officer of the Association may be censured, reprimanded, suspended or expelled for conduct
unbecoming a member of the Association; for violation of the By-laws and Code of Ethics of the Association; or, for any conduct
which may endanger the welfare, interest or reputation of any individual member or of the Association. Each and every member
of the Association further agrees to fully comply to all local, national and international laws and licensing regulations where
applicable.

Section 2. Five (5) members of the Board of Directors, appointed by the Chairman of the Board, shall constitute a Lower Court
for any hearing and decision on any given grievance or ethical issue. The Chairman or Presiding Officer for the Lower Court shall
also be named by the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The remaining Board of Directors not serving on the Lower Court will
serve as the Grievance Committee of the Whole.

Section 3. The Lower Court shall receive and act upon such grievances or ethical issues as brought to their attention by the
Executive Director. The Lower Court should then submit its findings and recommendations to the Grievance Committee of the
Whole for disposition.

Section 4. It shall not be the duty of either the Grievance Committee of the Whole or the Lower Court to have to investigate or
accumulate evidence but just to receive pleadings, answers, depositions, interrogatories and documents as submitted by the
complainant and respondent and upon such pleadings and evidence reach a majority decision.

Section 5. Any member in good standing, except Honorary and Probationary Members, may prefer charges against another
member or officer. Written charges against a member or officer shall be filed with the Board of Directors in the following
manner: One copy of all grievances and substantiating documents shall be submitted to the Executive Director in every instance
and the Executive Director shall immediately distribute, when received, as follows:
1. One copy to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, he/she shall keep and distribute one each for the members of the
Lower Court.

2. One copy to the Respondent.
3. One copy to be maintained in the Office of the Executive Director.

Section 6. The complainant shall be responsible for all reasonable expenses incurred by the Association in processing his/her
grievance.

Section 7. It shall be the duty of the Presiding Officer of the Lower Court to expedite the case by setting a reasonable time limit
for all documents to be in and a reasonable time thereafter for the Lower Court’s decision.

Section 8. The Grievance Committee of the Whole, meaning all of the Board Members who otherwise did not sit as the Lower
Court, shall render their decision within a reasonable time as the mails allow. All decisions shall be made known to all interested
parties, the Officers and all Board Members for their appropriate actions and attentions.

Section 9. Final appeal, if desired, shall be made through the Grievance Committee of the Whole within thirty (30) days after
notification.

Section 10. Non-Payment of the bill for exchange work shall not be considered grounds for filing a grievance. However, when
a written contract/agreement exists between the parties, the Association may assist in mediating the dispute if requested and
agreed by both parties.

Section 11. Any member may file a grievance on the grounds of a bad investigation, exceptionally poor time service or violation
of the Code of Ethics which caused the forwarding member embarrassment or loss of prestige with his or her client. A grievance
may also be filed for failure to perform. No grievance will be considered unless written agreement/contract between the parties
exists, a copy of which must be attached to the grievance. Email exchanges between the parties which include at a minimum,

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