Consuming Interests: Naughty businesses Part II -- real estate professionals - News and tips for consumers on shopping, saving money, deals and credit

Remember the other day when I told you about the Maryland Department of Ag's Weights and Measures Section? Well, many of you probably know about the state's Real Estate Commission, which was started to "protect the health, safety and welfare of the public through its examination, licensing, and regulatory activities in regard to real estate."

If you're curious about who got whacked with disciplinary action between July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006, here's a taste of who got their license revoked, suspended, reprimanded and fined.

Revocations:

2004-RE-293 - D'Nettra D. Mercer (salesperson, Weichert Realtors and Century 21/AAA Realty, Ltd.). License REVOKED and licensee FINED $5,000 for violation of § 17-322(b)(3) and (25), and COMAR 09.11.02.01C for providing false and misleading information in a lease application, for immediately defaulting on the lease, and for providing false information to the Commission investigator.

2002-RE-172 - William J. Peterson (salesperson, W.F. Chesley Real Estate, Inc. and O'Conor, Piper & Flynn). License REVOKED and licensee FINED $40,000 for violation of § 17-322(b)(3), (4), (19), (21), (25), (31), and (33), and § 17-502(a), and COMAR 09.11.02.01C, D, F, and H, and 09.11.02.02A for leading the buyer to believe that he had purchased property while failing to disclose that the property belonged to a third party who was facing foreclosure, for taking deposit money from the buyer and failing to place that money in trust, for failing to give the buyer a written contract memorializing the agreement, and for failing to make payments on the existing mortgage as promised to the owner. A Guaranty Fund award in the amount of $9,900 was made as a result of the conduct of the licensee.

Suspensions:

2001-RE-129 - Akin Adebayo (salesperson, Michaels Realty, Inc. and Golden Arrow Real Estate, Inc.). License SUSPENDED for four months and licensee FINED $3,000 for violation of § 17-322(b)(3), (4), (22), (25), (32), and (33), and COMAR 09.11.01.07, 09.11.02.01C, D, and H and 09.11.02.02A for misrepresenting to the buyer the true ownership status of the property, for allowing the buyer to sign a contract for property owned by a third party at a time when the offer to purchase had expired, for failing to properly account for the deposit, for failing to reduce the agreement of the parties to writing, and for failing to maintain adequate records of the transaction.

2003-RE-285 - Beecher Brown (salesperson, Century 21/Associates & Johnson, LLC). License SUSPENDED for 60 days and licensee FINED $3,000 for violation of § 17-322(b)(25) and (33), and COMAR 09.11.02.02A for submitting an incomplete sales contract on behalf of the buyer, for failing to maintain contact with the buyer, the listing agent, or the lender, and for failing to timely prepare a release agreement.

There's a lengthy list of those disciplined. If you're in the market, about to enter the market, or just thinking about contacting some agents, it might be a good idea to peruse the entire list on the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations Web site. Or click here.

For those of you wondering why there isn't a more current list up there yet, I called Assistant Executive Director Steve Long, who told me that the 2006-2007 disciplinary action list should be posted soon. Maybe before the end of the year.

As soon as it's up, we'll alert you to it. Tune in!

(AP Photo)