Brown & Charbonneau, LLP Obtains Six Figure Settlement in Real Estate Fraud Case

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP Obtains Six Figure Settlement in Real Estate Fraud Case

August 2016

Irvine, CA

B&C Prevails in Real Estate Fraud Case

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP prevailed in another real estate fraud and breach of contract case. Just 30 days before the Orange County fraud trial, the Irvine business trial lawyer, Gregory G. Brown, obtained a six figure settlement for his client and recouped all of the client’s attorney fees and costs.

Newport Beach Real Estate Fraud Committed

Brown & Charbonneau, LLP’s client had purchased a bay-front property in Newport Beach, California. The seller was a well-known Newport Beach developer. Prior to the close of escrow, the seller provided signed written disclosures declaring it was unaware of any room additions or structural modifications made to the property without the necessary permits or without compliance with building codes. The listing agent/dual broker in the transaction further represented to the client that the property had been inspected numerous times by the City of Newport Beach during the seller’s complete renovation of the property.

Illegal Garage Conversion to Living Space

After the sale, the client was informed by the City of Newport Beach that the property’s garage had been illegally converted to a bedroom without a building permit, and that the client was required to remove the bedroom and restore the entire area to a garage. The client sued the seller for fraud and breach of contract, and the listing agent/dual broker for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, seeking recovery of compensatory and punitive damages.

Evidence Obtained of Seller’s Prior Knowledge and Fraud

During discovery, the seller and agent gave testimony continuing to deny any prior knowledge of the illegal garage conversion. Brown & Charbonneau, LLP presented proof of both the seller’s and the agent’s prior knowledge, as well as evidence that the seller had submitted false building permit requests to the City of Newport Beach in order to hide the illegal garage conversion from the City during its renovation of the property.

Shortly thereafter, and just 30 days before trial, the attorneys of Brown & Charbonneau, LLP obtained a multi-six figure settlement for the client and recouped all of the client’s attorney fees and costs.

Call us today if you are involved in a fraudulent real estate transaction at 714.505.3000 or toll free at 800.237.8129.