Appraiser Defense.comTed Whitmer,

MAI CCIM Attorney

Background• About Ted Whitmer• Services–Legal: Defend Appraisers–Consulting: Assist Attorneys–Review: Act as Expert

Witness

The Complaint Process

• Who Complains?–Dodd Frank–Others – TDI, home owner, attorney,

etc.–Board Initiated – Experience, other

complaint, testimony in court case, etc.

The Complaint Process

• Steps–Complaint–Answer–Dismissal or Informal Conference–Agreed Order, Dismissal or SOAH

The Complaint Process

• Common Mistakes in an Answer–Failing to Respond–Too little information–Too much information–Misunderstanding Record Keeping

Do You Need Representation?• Greater than 50% of cases are

dismissed• Many cases are lost on the answer• I will use a lawyer if there is a

complaint file on me

What I Offer • Three Levels of Service through

Informal conference–A Do-it-yourself kit to answer a complaint–Above + will look over the answer–Legal Representation: All of the above +

will represent you through either dismissal, Agreed Order, or Informal Conference.

What I Offer

• The fourth level of representation is not listed in the previous three – I will represent you in a State Office of Administrative Hearing case (SOAH) if there is no settlement.

What Do You Need to Do Now?

• First: Contact an attorney• Second: Contact your insurance

company• Third: Get an extension or timely

answer the complaint

Videos Included in Services

• Answering a complaint

• Overview of the Process

• Overview of Laws & Regulations

• Workfile: What is it?• Preparing for an

Informal Conference

• Better Practices 1: Avoiding Trouble

• Better Practices 2: Avoiding Trouble

• Agreed Order: Ramifications

• Being a Better Witness• Overview of SOAH• Discovery in SOAH• Mediation in SOAH

Contact Information

• Ted Whitmer• 2508 Merrimac Ct• College Station, TX 77845

• Phone: 979.690.9465• Email: ted@tedwhitmer.com