76-551. Disciplinary actions; grounds; unfair practices.
367 words·~2 min read·
/ne/chapter-76/76-551A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The board shall have the power
(1)to revoke a certificate of registration or certificate of authority,
(2)to suspend a certificate of registration or certificate of authority for a specific period not to exceed a year,
(3)to censure a registered abstracter or holder of a certificate of authority, and
(4)to issue a letter of reprimand to a registered abstracter or holder of a certificate of authority.
Such disciplinary actions may be invoked after a hearing as provided in section 76-552 for a violation of the Abstracters Act, including unfair practices, upon the conviction of the holder of a certificate of a felony, or if the board finds a holder to be guilty of habitual carelessness or of fraudulent practices in the conduct of the business of abstracting.
Unfair practices which are a violation of the Abstracters Act shall include:
(a)Failure to disclose an agency relationship to or interest in any title insurance business, law firm, real estate or insurance business, or any other business or enterprise to a client in the event that the holder of the certificate of registration or the holder of the certificate of authority would receive a fee directly or indirectly from such a relationship or interest during a transaction involving real estate in which the holder is retained to provide abstracting services for such client; and
(b)Paying or allowing a rebate of fees for abstracting services, which unfair practice specifically includes rendering a statement or bill to be passed on to third parties which does not reflect the true amount charged for such services or charging an amount from which a rebate is to be paid.
The board shall also have the power after a hearing as provided in section 76-552 to revoke or suspend a certificate of authority for failure to have employed a registered abstracter or for otherwise violating the Abstracters Act.
"Preparing written reports of title to real property" constitutes the "business of abstracting" for purposes of the Abstracters Act only when done in exchange for a fee or other valuable consideration. So construed, the Abstracters Act is not unconstitutionally overbroad on its face. State v. Rabourn, 269 Neb. 499, 693 N.W.2d 291 (2005).