Board dismisses multiple complaints, issues letters of instruction and caution

The Tennessee Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors reviewed a string of consumer complaints and closed most with dismissal, while issuing letters of instruction or caution in several cases.

Legal counsel presented a batch of complaints (read aloud) and recommended dismissal in cases where either the complainant withdrew, the respondent’s records documented appropriate action, or the dispute was a civil boundary matter rather than a licensing violation. The board followed those recommendations and voted to dismiss multiple matters, including complaints numbered 22025066651, 42025061701, 2025076731, 92026002981, 102026003271 and 2026006771.

Separately, the board approved a letter of instruction in a matter where a respondent described themselves in an external filing in a way that could be misleading, and another letter of instruction/warning regarding whether visible utility infrastructure within an easement should be located on survey plats. Legal counsel framed those as corrective, not disciplinary: "a letter of instruction is more instructing... a warning is more... we pretty much did have grounds to issue a civil penalty, but we're not going to," the presenter said.

The board also considered an incident in which a licensee self-reported discipline in Alabama (a consent order and fine) and agreed to issue a letter of caution to align with a broader policy to capture out-of-state actions that are less than revocation or suspension.

All votes on the dismissals, letters and the letter-of-caution language were by roll call and passed unanimously as recorded in the meeting minutes.

The actions show the board relying primarily on documentary evidence (recorded plats, correspondence, case histories) and using non-disciplinary letters when the conduct appeared remedial or rooted in misunderstandings rather than violations warranting civil penalties.