Approve the USCA Judges Committee’s recommendation for charges against USCA Judge Zoltan Nagy

EB Ballot# 33-19

EB Ballot #33-19 – Approve the USCA Judges Committee’s recommendation for charges against USCA Judge Zoltan Nagy

Motion by Nathaniel Roque, DOJ, on behalf of the USCA Judges Committee and seconded by Michele Clubb, Secretary, to approve the USCA Judges Committee’s recommendation for charges against USCA Judge Zoltan Nagy to impose a one-year suspension of judge’s license followed by one year of probationary license, effective immediately.

This recommendation is based on his conduct and actions that violated the USCA Judges Program Code of Conduct, Sections “B” #1 through “B” #6, in multiple incidents during the course of the 2019 USCA Working Dog Championship from Thursday May 2 to Monday May 6.

Background:  If passed, this motion will supersede motion #24-19 that was already voted on and passed by the USCA Executive Board after Judge Nagy claimed USCA’s procedures were not followed so that he could defend his actions and address the Executive Board.  Notarized charges based on the incidents were submitted to the Judges Committee on June 25.  The reason for the resubmission of the charges to the Judges Committee is based on Judge Nagy’s claim that there were procedural errors in the processing of the first charges Also, due to Judge Nagy’s accusations that there was bias on the part of certain members of the Judges Committee in passing and recommending this motion to the Executive Board, Judges Committee Members Nathaniel Roque, DOJ, and Vadim Plotsker, USCA President, recused themselves from the Judges Committee vote.

While not admitting any wrong doing or bias in the matter but to address USCA Judge Nagy’s claims and render them moot, the remaining Judges Committee members have reconsidered all of the evidence, including verbal and written commentary from Judge Nagy and a long and detailed letter of appeal from Judge Nagy’s attorney.  After consideration, the remaining members of the Judges Committee have voted unanimously to support this new motion to the Executive Board.

This decision for recommendation of suspension followed by probation was taken very seriously by the Judges Committee.  All information was thoroughly reviewed and discussed over multiple emails and two conference calls.

All statements regarding the incidents, including the original complaint filed by Jim Alloway on behalf of the Helper Selection Committee for the 2019 WDC as well as Judge Nagy’s extensive and repeated responses to the complaint, were analyzed, reviewed and discussed.  Due to Judge Nagy’s contention that there is a history of bias regarding Jim Alloway based on current and past encounters, the Judges Committee did not base its findings on any of Jim Alloway’s statements of his interactions with Judge Nagy (this is not a finding or admission that there is any evidence of Jim Alloway holding any bias towards Judge Nagy but was only done to make Judge Nagy accusations “moot”).  The Judges Committee decided this matter only on the facts of the complaint as supported by two members of the Helper Committee as well as additional information gained through follow-up investigation by phone and email interviews of witnesses present at the event.

In the course of this investigation, additional violations in the conduct of the judge were revealed and substantiated by independent witnesses.  These additional charges are: (1) Minor conduct offenses outside the Judges Conduct Description; (2) Poor or unreasonable conduct; and (3) Unsportsmanlike conduct.  These separate offenses compound into a Level E violation resulting in a “D” consequence.

In order to protect the witnesses and those involved and to avoid increased conflict, the offences are described here in only general terms.

The offenses established are:

  1. A statement made during practice regarding a competitor
  2. Conduct at the Helper Selection
  3. Conduct in public not befitting a Judge after the selection
  4. Conduct in a meeting with the trial helpers showing no support for the USCA Helper program and for the skills of one of the selected helpers for the event
  5. A statement made at the judges table on draw night
  6. A statement made to a volunteer during the event
  7. Multiple violations of a judge’s required conduct by way of statements made to a competitor at the event
  8. An email sent to the Judges Committee and to a competitor which admitted errors and bias in Judge Nagy’s scoring of the event and thereby cast doubt on the final results of the trial and the selection of the USCA Qualification Team
  9. Breach of confidentiality of the email which now has been viewed by many members/competitors

VOTE RESULTS:

MOTION CARRIED AUGUST 31, 2019