The panel dismissed three cases entirely and referred several others to the Academy for disciplinary action.

But the panel dismissed the suit against the officials, saying they were protected by qualified immunity.

Last month, the panel decided that the regulators had taken too long to build their case against Dean Witter and dismissed it.

After that, the panel can dismiss the complaint, decide to investigate or consider it for an additional 45 days.

In a report last year, a panel convened by the institute dismissed the Geiers' work as having such serious flaws that their studies were "uninterpretable."

The panels could make awards or dismiss the cases, bypassing the court system.

The panel may dismiss the complaint if the complaint is not substantiated.

The panel dismissed an appeal by New York City to stop contempt proceedings.

That panel dismissed the case last August.

The panel would then affirm or dismiss the charges.