March 26, 2013
 Louisiana Auctioneers Licensing Board (LALB) Meeting Highlights
Ken Buhler and Estate Auction Services (his dad, Mac's, firm which employed Ken)
Hearing for a on a complaint filed by a consignor

Brief Background:

Because of the problems associated with Ken Buhler as outlined at the top of his index page, the LALB imposed restrictions upon his license when it was reinstated in 2010.  Essentially, the LALB specified that Ken Buhler could serve as a contract auctioneer ONLY, and his father, Mac, who founded Estate Auction Services simultaneously with Ken Buhler applying for reinstatement, would be responsible for negotiating all transactions with the public, executing all documents, and handling of all funds.

In late 2012, one of Estate Auction Services' consignors filed a complaint with the LALB, and the following video provides insight into the content of the complaint and whether Ken Buhler adhered to the restrictions just referenced on his license.

March 26, 2013

LALB Meeting:  March 26, 2013

4:02 - 4:28   LALB Investigator Jim Steele covers restrictions on Ken Buhler's license (not negotiate or handle contracts).

5:54 - 7:58 Complainant reads her complaint into the record (including stating Ken Buhler was "loud, scary at the time and
 I asked him not to let my neighbors hear him."  She further relayed Mr. Buhler said to her,
"I hope I never see your face again!"  Complainant says Ken Buhler's son indicated that she could place
reserves on her merchandise, but she then relayed that Ken indicated he chided his son for having told the complainant that.

18:55 - 19:11 Board Member Darlene Jacobs-Levy questions complainant on whom she dealt with, to which complainant
responds, "only with Ken.  I never met Mac before in my life."

20:00 - 21:40 Board Attorney Anna Dow testifies to restrictions on Ken Buhler's license:  "no dealings with public.....
could call auctions ONLY."

23:10 - 24:02 Board Attorney Anna Dow testifies to the fact she alleged two (2) violations of auction
statutes:  incompetence or gross negligence and efforts to deceive or defraud the public.
Dow states:  "Some indication this is an ongoing problem because I've seen this from BOTH Buhlers."

24:26 - 25:20 Board Attorney Anna Dow testifies to
 the reasons the LALB entertained the idea of not renewing Ken Buhler's license for 2012.  She states "sloppiness" and
"failing to have contracts" as the rationale for the LALB having entertained not renewing Buhler's 2012 license.

 25:20 - 26:25 Board Attorney Anna Dow testifies to Ken Buhler's 2005 problems, which she relayed included
the fact that he had "pledged THIRD-PARTY goods as collateral for a loan on which he defaulted." [The bank seized ALL goods, causing
the LALB to have to become involved to, as Ms. Linda Williams testified to in December of 2010,
attempt to recover those third-party consigned goods and return them to their owners.  Those efforts were largely unsuccessful because
the merchandise had already been sold, and many consignors thus forfeited their merchandise without being paid.]

55:35 - 56:45 LALB votes to find Estate Auction Services guilty of two (2) counts (bookkeeping and late payment) and
fines Estate Auction Services $1,000.  Board Member Darlene Jacobs-Levy dissents to the Board's finding in stating
that, in addition to the $1,000 fine for Estate Auction Services, Ken Buhler should also be fined $500 for violating
the terms of his auction license imposed in September of 2010 when his license was reinstated.