Seems like a large number are getting busted, more then that for doctors, lawyers or any other licensed professional across the country
Part of that is the function of the mentality in this country that someone else is to blame. Our state board members are worked to death reviewing complaints, many, if not most, are frivolous complaints about value....not enough. Others, like the Chase Bank arbitarily turning people in for the heck of it, have bloated the docket for no reason.
Are appraisers held to a higher standard then other professionals?
Yes, and don't ask we why. We are an opinion based art form. Perhaps that is it. You can find any number of opinions on this forum about how to do something or why the cost approach isn't applicable, etc. etc. but the truth is that there are 15 ways to do darn near anything in this business. In court, confused judges try to sort thru the dross of so called appraisal science and pick out that which seems reasonable and discard that which may or may not be correct. After all, judges are not trained in USPAP nor appraisal science and are as ignorant of the subject as the average citizen. How many different rulings are in conflict...hundreds if not thousands in the past few years.
Are state appraisals boards on a witch hunt?
I don't think so much except like in your case where they zero in on the one who will buck them. Boards do not like to get overturned. It's a human thing. BUT OTOH, the ASC ASB etc monitor boards and demand severe punishment for all if they severely punish anyone (that comment came from a state director) and they are not cognizant of degrees of punishment. Hang 'em, hang 'em, all. Let God sort it out seems to be their motto. States oft feel pressured to butcher a set percentage, probably because the ASC or ASB or whomever will zing any board for not meeting a quota...and they tend to look at the numbers and expect it to look the same year to year.
Are appraisers to poor to defend against a system that tends to burry them?
too poor...yes. You, the appraiser can spend a year's salary defending yourself. You will not be reimburse for winning. You might face the same issue again next year. The board on the other hand generally has the full backing of the state attorney general's office. It is David against Goliath.
A fellow I know just won a court case against the board and it revolved around signing off on a commercial report that was prepared by a certified residential appraiser. It looks like ultimately he will pay a fine but will keep his license (it was revoked originally - his first offense) I truly believe he faced this harsh punishment for having a low appraisal license number. If he had a high number, they would have shown some leniency. And further, the end result will be about $25,000 in legal fees for which he will not be reimburse. And trainees wonder why they cannot get sponsors.
