Can a Society Member Resign to Avoid a Society’s Disciplinary processes?
Resignation to avoid discipline?
Complaints were made to the Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand Inc (“IPENZ”) against Mr Harding, an engineer involved in the design and construction of the former CTV building in Christchurch which collapsed during the 22 February 2011 earthquake, and also against Dr Reay the principal of the engineering firm that had employed Mr Harding (described as “a relatively inexperienced member of his staff” in Attorney-General v Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Inc [2018] NZHC 74 at paragraph [6]).
After disciplinary proceedings were commenced against them, Mr Harding and Dr Reay each resigned from IPENZ, in the apparent hope or expectation of avoiding the disciplinary processes. On the face of it, one might well think that, if they were no longer members, then neither of them could be disciplined by that Institute. Two High Court Judges concluded otherwise, in Harding v Institution of Professional Engineers of New Zealand Inc [2014] NZHC 2251 and Attorney-General v Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Inc [2018] NZHC 3211, as did the Court of Appeal in Reay v Attorney-General [2019] NZCA 475 (an appeal against [2018] NZHC 3211). In these cases the Judges were required to interpret the meaning of the IPENZ constitution. However, other society constitutions might be interpreted differently.
The contract of membership between a society and its members
There is clear judicial authority, that, on becoming members, a contract arises between a society and its members, with the terms of that contract being set out in the rules of the society (see, for instance, Finnigan v New Zealand Rugby Football Union Inc [1985] 2 NZLR 159 at 177 (CA)), with a member by virtue of membership agreeing to be bound by the rules (Tucker v Auckland Racing Club [1956] NZLR 1). As stated in Te Runanga o Muriwhenua Inc Society v Neho, High Court, Whangarei CP 43/98, 2 December 1998, Fisher J, at 4, “It is fundamental to the structure of an incorporated society that by the voluntary act of joining such a society every member opts into a contract to be bound by the rules of that society.” Note: It is proposed that the new Incorporated Societies act will require members to “consent” to becoming society members.
Relevant to both Mr Harding and Dr Reay, an IPENZ Rule referred to a mandatory undertaking entered into by a candidate for membership that “Each candidate for election to any class of Membership must undertake to abide by the Rules and Regulations of the Institution and future revisions thereof (the “Membership obligation”). This undertaking will be regarded as continuing until the person resigns or is removed from the roll of Members.” It should also be noted that further IPENZ constitutional Rules imposed a competence obligation on members and also a “good character” obligation. Mr Harding and Dr Reay both argued that their resignations prevented IPENZ from exercising any disciplinary functions in respect of their actions while they were members.
In both cases the issue for the Court was regarded as one of contractual interpretation, because a society’s constitution constitutes a contract between a society and its members. However, the approaches taken in the two cases were different; albeit with the same result.
The primary arguments of Mr Harding and Dr Reay – and the judgments
As already noted, both Mr Harding and Dr Reay argued that, as they were no longer members of IPENZ when the decisions on the complaints were made, its disciplinary rules and regulations no longer had any application to them. The judgments in the two cases approached the issues somewhat differently.
- The Harding judgment dealt with that argument as follows (paragraphs [25] – [30]):
In my view the reference to “member” must be considered against the objects and purpose of the complaint process and the disciplinary procedure provided by IPENZ’s Rules and Regulations. A complaint focuses on an individual’s conduct. If the individual at the time of the conduct complained of was a member of IPENZ, then jurisdiction is triggered by force of the contractual relationship that existed at the time of the conduct and at the time of the complaint. …
Mr Harding became a member of IPENZ in 1985. He did so cognisant of the obligations and responsibilities that attached to that membership. As already observed, the conduct the subject of the complaints occurred at the time of his membership, as did the complaints. …
I have concluded that the construction of the term “member” referred to in the Rules and Regulations … includes a member who may have resigned prior to the hearing of complaints made against him by a disciplinary committee. Jurisdiction over a member in respect of IPENZ’s disciplinary process triggers at the time of the member’s conduct and/or the timing of the complaint. Whether there are grounds to discipline a member will turn on his or her conduct whilst he or she was bound by the undertaking to abide by the Rules and Regulations which include obligations of competence and ethical conduct.
That construction of the IPENZ Rules and Regulations is consistent with the public interest in the availability of an effective complaints procedure to investigate and hold to account individuals who hold themselves out as a member of a recognised professional body at the time of the conduct the subject of the complaint, or at least at the time the complaint was made and received. The reference to “a member” in [the relevant rules] includes such a person, regardless of any subsequent resignation of membership.
- The High Court judgment in the Attorney-General case dealt with the argument in a slightly different way, as follows (paragraphs [104] – [105]):
Applying the principles of contractual interpretation set out [earlier in the judgment] leads to the conclusion that, when viewed objectively, the term “Member”, as used in the relevant parts of the Rules and Regulations, encompasses a person who was a member of the Institution at the time disciplinary proceedings were instituted but who resigns from the Institution before those disciplinary proceedings are completed. This is in part because the text of those provisions emphasise the requirement of membership at the time of the complaint, but are equivocal about the subsequent period. That equivocation should be resolved in favour of disciplinary proceedings continuing because the parties cannot have intended to undermine the public’s trust in the profession, contrary to the purpose of the disciplinary procedures. It follows from the contextual analysis that a reasonable person, appraised of the relevant background, would have understood that the Rules and Regulations were not intended to permit disciplinary proceedings to be brought to a premature end by a member, resigning from the Institution before those disciplinary proceedings are concluded.
Accordingly, I am satisfied the Institution erred in law when its Investigating Committee dismissed [the] complaint on the basis of its incorrect interpretation of the word “Member” in the relevant parts of the Rules and Regulations.
The Court of Appeal judgment in the Attorney-General decision upheld the High Court judgment.
Reflections
It is natural to applaud these judgments simply because most New Zealanders would wish to see any professionals involved in the design and construction of the CTV building being held accountable by their professional body for the building’s collapse and the deaths and injuries that followed. However, the Harding and Attorney-General decisions are, legally, more important than that, as they are forceful reminders that membership of a society involves potentially significant obligations which members are most unlikely to be able to avoid by resigning.
For specific advice about any of those issues, please contact Mark at mark@nfplaw.co.nz.