VILLAGE CARD CLUB, INC.
DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEES

There are two types of Disciplinary Committees within the Village Card Club. The Conduct and Ethics Committee and the Appeals Committee. The following information is provided so that all Village Card Club members are fully informed of these existing committees.

CONDUCT AND ETHICS COMMITTEE
(refer also to Village Card Club Standing Rules, General Information, #15 and #16)

Per the By-Laws of the Village Card Club, the President appoints the Conduct and Ethics Committee as its disciplinary body. This Committee focuses on player conduct extraneous to the usual test of skill. Committee members decide whether to discipline a player for conduct ranging from simple rudeness to deliberate cheating. Bridge judgment is usually not an issue during its hearings and deliberations.

This Committee uses principles of equity so no player may gain an advantage through unethical conduct or violation of law. Committee members should hear the whole story and make a fair and reasonable adjudication. They should not accept a procedural argument that prevents either side from fully expressing its views.

PROCEDURES

  1. If a person experiences behavior which violates the Zero Tolerance Policy within our club, he or she should call the Game Director to report the unacceptable behavior.
  2. The Director hears the complaint and if warranted, makes his or her ruling.
  3. If the offended party feels the offender should be reported to the Conduct and Ethics Committee, he or she should make the complaint in writing to the Chairman of this Committee.
  4. The Committee meets and hears discussion from all parties involved, including the Director. Appearances or letters from witnesses describing the events are frequently requested by the committee.
  5. The Committee makes its rulings and communicates with the offender. The person who made the complaint will receive a letter stating that action was taken but he or she will not be informed of the details of that action.

APPEALS COMMITTEE PROCEDURES

(refer also to Village Card Club Standing Rules, General Information, #14)

The Appeals Committee deals with questions of bridge judgment and facts arising from bidding, play or defense. For example, its members might have to decide whether a particular action could be based on unauthorized information. Members may need to analyze the players' bidding system and skill level plus whatever else the committee may feel is relevant. The Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge allow contestants to appeal any ruling made at their table by the Director. In cases dealing solely with Law or Regulation, the contestant may appeal the Director's ruling. However, no committee can overrule a Director on a point of Law or Regulation. It can only recommend the Director reconsider his or her decision. The Village Card Club Game Manager, with approval of the Board of Directors, has compiled a list of 20 qualified persons who agreed to serve on an Appeals Committee. The members are all experienced players. If an Appeals Committee is requested, the Game Director shall choose five (5) members selected from the pre-named list of members, and appoint one as Chairman. No committee member should be a regular partner, close friend, spouse, significant other or known to be unfriendly to any party involved in the dispute. Immediately following the game, the Committee members shall meet with the parties involved, including the Game Director. (If necessary, the Game Director shall let the last round of scoring wait until the Committee has been informed of the alleged infraction / dispute).

PROCEDURES

The Game Director begins by explaining the alleged infraction/dispute to the Committee. He or she summarizes the relevant facts and issues along with the pertinent law. Next, he or she presents a list of available rulings and sanctions and informs the Appeals Committee of the full range of its authority. This is submitted, in writing, to the Committee and signed by the Game Director. The Chairman and Committee members then may ask any questions they may have of the Game Director. The Game Director is then excused from the meeting. The chairperson should explain to those present that the standard of proof to accept one version of the facts over another version is a preponderance of the evidence. This means that the committee accepts the version more likely to be true.

The chairperson should inform those present of the following:

  1. They will have enough time to present their side;
  2. The committee will call upon each party at the appropriate time;
  3. There should be no interactions between the parties involved;
  4. All testimony is directed to the chairperson;
  5. For team events, the committee should not hear anything about what happened at the other table. (Note: If the committee decides to award an artificial adjusted score pursuant to Law 12C1, they should then be told of the score at the other table);
  6. No interruptions will be tolerated;
  7. When a witness if finished, opposing parties and committee members will have an opportunity to ask questions;
  8. Each party will have an opportunity to present rebuttal testimony, and make whatever final argument they feel is appropriate;
  9. When everyone is finished testifying, the committee will deliberate privately;
  10. The committee recalls all parties and the Game Director to hear its decision.

No further discussion about the matter should take place. The Appeals Committee Chairman or Game Director shall immediately stop any conversations about the ruling and warn the players that this is a serious breach of conduct which is simply not allowed. All of the parties are subject to a disciplinary penalty if objections to the committee's decision are considered disrespectful of either the process or the committee.

The committee's decision should now be reported in writing, signed by all Committee members and given to the Game Director using the appropriate form.

Powers and Duties of an Appeals Committee

  1. Uphold the Director's ruling.
  2. Cancel the Director's ruling and make any adjustment the committee believes will constitute an equitable solution. This adjustment may be: