Judge supports decision by state real estate commission

State officials last week praised a court decision that supported the right of the Nevada Real Estate Commission to discipline brokers and agents.

The ruling arose from a Washoe County dispute in which the real estate commission sought to suspend the licenses of real estate agent Edward Lord and broker Anna Lord, the owners of Network Realty Inc.

in Reno, and fine them.

The couple appealed the commission's decision to the district court in Washoe County, but Judge Brent Adams upheld the state agency's authority and said it acted within its discretion as laid out by state law.

About a year ago, the commission ruled that the Lords had induced a client to sign an unethical contract for the management of property.

When the client signed a contract with the Lords to rent her home in Sparks, she also was asked to sign a "Memorandum of Exclusive Listing With Coupled Interest," said Gina Session, a senior deputy attorney general.

That document created an irrevocable listing of her property with Network Realty and gave the company a secured lien interest in the property.

Session said the couple didn't explain the terms of the memorandum to the client.

After six days of hearings last year, the real estate commission determined that the Lords had acted unethically and temporarily suspended Edward Lord's property and management certificate.

Commissioners ruled that he needed to complete 28 hours of educational courses and pay a fine of $17,500 plus fees to cover the costs of the proceedings, the attorney general's office said.

In 2003, meanwhile, the Network Realty client also received a harassment and stalking protective order against Edward Lord, Session said.

In a press release, the attorney general's office said the decision in the Network Realty case is important for consumers.

"It is important for all residents that our state has a place they can go to for protection from people like the Lords," Session said in a prepared statement.

Contacted by a reporter last week, the Lords chose not to discuss the case in public.