Grievance Filing Service

A comprehensive web application designed to assist consumers and REALTORS® in filing complaints and grievances against real estate professionals.

Overview

The Grievance Filing Service guides users through the complex process of filing complaints with state licensing boards, NAR/local REALTOR® associations, or civil courts. The application provides:

• Jurisdiction screening to determine proper filing location
• Automated deadline tracking and reminders
• Document organization and upload system
• Complaint drafting assistance with NAR Code of Ethics reference
• Status tracking dashboard
• Educational resources about ethics violations and filing processes

Features

1. Jurisdiction Screening & Guidance

• Interactive questionnaire to determine whether complaints should be filed with:
  • State licensing boards (license law violations)
  • REALTOR® associations (ethics violations)
  • Civil court (contract disputes)
• Automatic verification of respondent status

2. Deadline Tracking & Reminders

• Automatic calculation of filing deadlines based on jurisdiction:
  • NAR Ethics: 180 days after offense
  • State boards: Varies by state (365-1095 days)
• Automated reminder system at 90, 30, 7, and 1 day before deadline
• Visual deadline status indicators

3. Document Collection & Organization

• Secure document upload portal
• Support for multiple file types (PDF, DOCX, DOC, JPG, PNG, TXT)
• Document categorization (contracts, checks, correspondence, etc.)
• Jurisdiction-specific checklists for required documents

4. Complaint Drafting Assistant

• Templates for clear, effective complaints
• NAR Code of Ethics article selection with plain-language summaries
• Guided narrative structure
• Form auto-population with user data

5. Status Tracking Dashboard

• View all complaints in one place
• Track complaint status (draft, submitted, under review, closed)
• Monitor deadlines and investigation timelines
• Add notes and updates

6. Educational Resources

• Comprehensive NAR Code of Ethics reference
• Explanation of all 17 Articles with common violations
• Filing process guidance
• Timeline expectations
• Best practices

Technology Stack

• Backend: Python 3.6+ with Flask
• Database: SQLite (easily upgradeable to PostgreSQL)
• Authentication: Flask-Login
• Frontend: Bootstrap 5, HTML/CSS/JavaScript
• File Storage: Local filesystem (expandable to cloud storage)
• Task Scheduling: APScheduler (for reminders)

Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.6 or higher
• pip (Python package manager)

Setup Instructions

1. Clone or navigate to the project directory:

   cd GrievanceFilingService

2. Create a virtual environment (recommended):

   python3 -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Set environment variables (optional): Create a .env file in the project root:

   SECRET_KEY=your-secret-key-here
   DATABASE_URL=sqlite:///database.db
   

5. Initialize the database: The database will be automatically created when you first run the application.

6. Run the application:

   python3 app.py

7. Access the application: Open your browser and navigate to: http://localhost:5000

Usage Guide

For Consumers and REALTORS®

1. Register an Account

   • Visit the registration page
   • Provide your name, email, and select user type (Consumer or REALTOR®)

2. File a New Complaint

   • Complete the jurisdiction screening questionnaire
   • Fill out the complaint form with incident details
   • Upload supporting documents
   • Submit when ready

3. Track Your Complaints

   • View all complaints on your dashboard
   • Monitor filing deadlines
   • Add notes and updates
   • Upload additional documents as needed

4. Learn About the Process

   • Visit the Education page for NAR Code of Ethics information
   • Review filing requirements for your jurisdiction
   • Understand timeline expectations

Project Structure

GrievanceFilingService/
├── app.py                          # Main Flask application
├── config.py                       # Configuration settings
├── models.py                       # Database models
├── requirements.txt                # Python dependencies
├── database.db                     # SQLite database (created on first run)
├── README.md                       # This file
├── templates/                      # HTML templates
│   ├── base.html
│   ├── index.html
│   ├── login.html
│   ├── register.html
│   ├── dashboard.html
│   ├── jurisdiction_screening.html
│   ├── complaint_form.html
│   ├── complaint_detail.html
│   ├── document_upload.html
│   └── education.html
├── static/                         # Static files
│   ├── css/
│   ├── js/
│   └── uploads/                    # User-uploaded documents
└── utils/                          # Helper modules
    ├── deadline_calculator.py      # Deadline calculation utilities
    ├── nar_code_articles.py        # NAR Code of Ethics data
    └── state_forms.py              # State-specific requirements

Database Schema

User

• User authentication and profile information
• Tracks all user complaints

Complaint

• Core complaint details (respondent, incident, narrative)
• Jurisdiction and deadline tracking
• Status management

Document

• File uploads linked to complaints
• Metadata (type, size, description)

Note

• User notes and system updates
• Timeline of complaint activity

Reminder

• Automated deadline reminders
• Email notification preparation (future feature)

Key Features by Jurisdiction

State Licensing Boards

• Florida: 2-year deadline, 10-day confidentiality period
• Kentucky: 1-year deadline, notarization required
• Colorado: 1-year deadline, 240-day investigation target
• California: 3-year deadline
• Texas: 2-year deadline

NAR Association Ethics

• 180-day deadline from offense or transaction close
• Must cite specific Code of Ethics articles
• Filed with local REALTOR® association
• Ombudsman/mediation services available

Important Disclaimers

1. Not Legal Advice: This service provides guidance for filing grievances but does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for legal matters.

2. Administrative Process: Grievance processes are administrative and cannot:

   • Award monetary damages
   • Enforce contracts
   • Provide compensation

3. Legal Matters: For contract enforcement or monetary damages, users should consult with a licensed attorney or file in civil court.

Future Enhancements

• Email notification system for deadline reminders
• License verification API integration
• PDF form generation and auto-population
• Cloud storage integration (AWS S3, Google Cloud)
• Advanced search and filtering
• Export complaint summaries to PDF
• Multi-language support
• Mobile app version
• Integration with state board submission portals

Security Considerations

• Passwords are hashed using Werkzeug's security functions
• File uploads are validated and sanitized
• SQL injection protection via SQLAlchemy ORM
• CSRF protection via Flask-WTF
• Session security with configurable timeouts

Support

For questions or issues:

• Review the Education page for general guidance
• Check state-specific requirements in the app
• Consult with an attorney for legal matters

License

This project is designed for use by Edmund Bogen and related real estate service businesses.

Credits

Developed to assist consumers and REALTORS® in navigating the complex grievance filing process across multiple jurisdictions.

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Last Updated: 2025 Version: 1.0.0