Natural Hazard Disclosure Statement Real Estate Fee Kickback Class Action
Introduction
In mid-2005, homeowners represented by Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP, and co-counsel filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Property
I.D. Corp. ("Property I.D."), affiliates of Property I.D. and
several major real estate brokerage companies including Coldwell Banker
Residential Brokerage Company, Century 21 Real Estate Corporation, Re/Max
of California & Hawaii,
Inc.
The lawsuit alleges that Defendants violated the federal Real Estate Settlement
Procedures Act ("RESPA") and California state law on the grounds
that Plaintiffs purchased Natural Hazard Disclosure reports from Property
I.D. affiliates in connection with the sale of their homes and, without
their knowledge, paid fees that included an unlawful kickback or referral
fee to the brokerage defendants.
Alleged Kickback Scheme Explained
The complaint charges that the Defendant real estate brokerage companies
entered into joint ventures or similar arrangements with Property I.D. to
refer business to Property I.D. in return for kickbacks or referral fees.
Proposed Class
The Class that Plaintiffs seek to represent includes all persons and/or
entities who were represented by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Company,
Century 21 Real Estate Corporation, Re/Max of California & Hawaii, Inc.,
in a sale of residential real estate in the State of California between
August 2001 and the present and who paid for a Property I.D. NHD Statement
in connection with that sale.
Relief Sought
Plaintiffs, on behalf of themselves and the proposed Class, seek damages
equal to three times the amount paid for the NHD Statements, restitution,
punitive damages and an order from the Court enjoining Defendants from continuing
to engage in their alleged unlawful conduct.
Contact Lieff Cabraser
Lieff Cabraser is investigating claims that all major real estate brokerages
in California, including Coldwell Banker, Century 21, ERA, Prudential California
Realty, Re/Max, Lyon and Intero allegedly received unlawful kickbacks in
connection with disclosure reports paid for by sellers.
If you sold a home in California within the last year, and were represented
by one of these brokers, please click
here to contact a Lieff Cabraser attorney
to learn more about this litigation.
About Lieff Cabraser
Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP is a fifty-plus attorney law firm that has represented plaintiffs nationwide since 1972. We have offices in San Francisco, New York and Nashville. We represent plaintiffs in class and group actions and in individual lawsuits in cases involving substantial losses. For the last six years, the National Law Journal has selected Lieff Cabraser as one of the top plaintiffs' law firms in the nation.
Notice
This website is sponsored by Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, a national plaintiffs' law firm.
Notice: Lieff Cabraser attorneys provide legal advice and practice law for clients in
federal district courts throughout the United States and in state courts where we are
licensed to practice. Please read our disclaimer.
Copyright © 2008 Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein,
LLP.
No persons pictured on this website are clients of Lieff Cabraser.