Respond to following:
1. Find a recent CPA case where the member was expelled (it's public information) and discuss the reasons why the member got in trouble.
Sharon Hart of Glen Allen, Va., effective Dec. 31, 2011
In this case, the member was expelled because she failed to comply with corrective actions that were either educational or remedial, which were directed by the Ethics Charging Authority. She was found guilty by the panel of violating American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) bylaw 7.4.6 and Section 7.4.2.6 of the Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA) bylaws.
not meeting the ethics educational requirements is a suspension of the license, with reinstatement after completing the training. A hassle of a process. Are you sure this member was "expelled"?
2. Jeter L. Arrington III of Winter Park, Florida, was expelled from the AICPA effective July 20, 2015. Arrington failed to cooperate with an investigation the was reviewing allegations against him in regards to the Code of Professional Conduct. Per the AICPA website he decided to enter into a settlement agreement as opposed to cooperating with the investigation. Specifics regarding the conduct were not listed in the AICPA article. The article did specify the results of his settlement that included waiving his right to a hearing, neither admitting or denying the charge, being expelled by the AICPA, and finally the ECA having the capability to list his name, charges, and settlement terms publicly (AICPA, 2015).
I wonder if the charges against Arrington were made public? He probably got a lawyer to defend him against the charges.
3. What should be of interest is how the AICPA finds out about unprofessional conduct.
1. the public files a compliant.
2. the CPA him/herself voluntarily discloses (a felony conviction, for example),
3. a government agency notifies the AICPA (the IRS, or the courts, for example).
4. Assume you are a CPA and got a DUI - does that get you in trouble with the AICPA?