Concur.

This is just sickening!!!

AGA cannot get between a Member, and their attorney. We did not do so in this instance. WE are not attorneys and do not offer legal advice. We have the ability to read though.

Most HUD Bias complaints used to ‘clear’ within six months to a year.

HUD has made numerous improper demands of Ken regarding submission of other, unrelated work. Being the law abiding, sincerely concientious appraiser that he is, Ken complied with all the HUD requests (initially) because HUDs initial letter hints or suggests that federal law obligates him to comply with document and records production.

I do not understand why any attorney would recommend that their client voluntarily provide HUD with copies of all their work performed over a six-month (or longer ) period of time.

Its clearly a fishing expedition. One that any halfway competent attorney should see through.

The specific law HUD cites in their initial complaint notification letter does NOT obligate the appraiser to provide ANY information. Not even for the case involved.

Read the law for yourself if you receive such a letter. The LAW being cited merely authorizes HUD to seek VOLUNTARY cooperation. It does not in any way mandate compliance.

HUD has the ability to subpoena records. PROVIDED that they can convince a judge that the records being sought have reasonable relevance, AND that they are entitled to receive them for some lawful purpose beyond intimidation.

I carefully reviewed the specific appraisal in question. Ken did absolutely nothing wrong that would hint at, let alone support an accusation of appraisal bias. Nothing!

In my opinion, most of his peers would concur it’s a pretty good appraisal report beyond NOT being biased.

IF HUD’s non-appraiser ‘investigator’ pretends to have found any indication of bias, then it is only found in the investigator’s imagination.

On the contrary, it is HUD’S former Secretary Marcia Fudge who has used specifically racist/biased language in her published Official HUD Strategic Plan where she brags that certain new programs and efforts will be beneficial, …”especially for People of Color.”

Perhaps that and other racially biased actions are why she has resigned.

A side NOTE to all appraisers. Keep in mind that E&O attorneys NEVER plan or prepare to fight agaisnt accusations in court. Their entire philosophy and that of their employers (E&O insurers) is to ‘settle’ cases. Like the California case in Mill Valley.

They also operate on a limited ceiling fee-meter. There is only so much money E&O insurers will spend on a case. When that point is reached, the settlement-oriented attorneys want to get paid.

Its not likely they are looking to PROVE an appraiser’s innocence or to insist the other side PROVE guilt or culpability.

Yeah. Several theories on this point. I’ll post a short essay after a while after others have had a fair chance to comment. Mr Bagotts articles are a real game changer. Top notch journalism. Thank you.