NAR’s Kenny Parcell resigns after sexual harassment allegations
Two days after a New York Times exposé of alleged sexual harassment and a tradition of concern on the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors, President Kenny Parcell introduced his resignation.
Parcell was referred to as out for alleged sexual harassment by 16 of the greater than two dozen present and former NAR staff interviewed by the Instances.
“I’m deeply troubled by these seeking to tarnish my character and mischaracterize my well-intended actions,” Parcell wrote in a letter to NAR’s Government Committee and Board of Administrators, which was first revealed by RISMedia. “This resignation signifies that I’ll put the group’s wants first to maneuver ahead above my very own private wants to remain on this place.”
Parcell additionally wrote that the allegations have been false, and claimed he was the sufferer of character assassination.
Within the Instances investigation, three ladies described a sample of inappropriate conduct by Parcell, who runs the Kenny Parcell Group at Fairness Realty in Spanish Forks, Utah.
One lady reported that Parcell positioned his arms down his pants in entrance of her, whereas one other lady obtained unsolicited lewd photographs and texts from him, together with an image of his crotch. Parcell denied that he had performed something inappropriate, saying the image in query was of a promotional belt buckle and he was asking for enter on the design.
A 3rd lady, Janelle Brevard, who filed a lawsuit in the summertime, disclosed a consensual relationship with Parcell that lasted months and ended with the NAR president allegedly retaliating in opposition to her.
Brevard settled a lawsuit with NAR that included a $107,000 severance fee and a nondisclosure settlement, the Instances reported. Based on Bruce Fox, a lawyer who started representing Brevard in August, his consumer determined to settle the case after “feeling intimidated by such a strong adversary.”
One other lady, Amy Swida, a director of enterprise conferences and occasions on the group, filed an inner criticism of sexual harassment or gender discrimination by Parcell. Swida alleged that he was merciless and condescending to her after she turned pregnant. She fearful about being reduce off from future alternatives.
“I’m scared day by day coming to work,” she informed the Instances. NAR mentioned Swida’s criticism was documented and she or he was promoted a number of months later. Parcell additionally denied any wrongdoing.
“There’s the sexual harassment, after which woven into it, this tradition of concern,” Stephanie Quinn, the group’s former director of enterprise conferences and occasions informed the Instances. “His conduct is predatory.”
An NAR spokesperson, in a press release, informed HousingWire that it doesn’t tolerate discrimination, harassment or retaliation.
“We acknowledge the individuals who have shared their tales and we’re dedicated to persevering with our efforts to foster a welcoming and constructive atmosphere. We observe clear reporting procedures to research any problem of concern dropped at our consideration,” the spokesperson mentioned.
NAR has over 1.5 million dues-paying members and roughly two-thirds of its membership is feminine. Most of its leaders and executives are male.
NAR can also be going through two class-action lawsuits which accuse the commerce group and a number of other giant brokerages of utilizing MLS guidelines to cost extreme charges and unfairly prop up agent commissions. These matters are additionally being addressed in an investigation by the Division of Justice into NAR’s Clear Cooperation and Participation insurance policies.
