Thursday, July 12, 2007

California Man Ordered To Pay $100K In Illegal Deal With Homeowner Facing Foreclosure

(original post 7-12-07; revised 7-14-07)
The Monterey Herald reports that Robert Janssen, of Abbey Management, Inc., has settled a civil lawsuit filed against him by the consumer protection unit of the Monterey County, California District Attorney's office. Without admitting to wrongdoing, Janssen agreed to a judgment of $47,588 in civil penalties and $52,412 in restitution — his profits from a transaction involving the home of a woman facing foreclosure in which he apparently attempted to execute an "equity sharing", foreclosure rescue agreement with her. Janssen's lawyer, criminal defense attorney Richard Rosen, said his client settled to avoid protracted litigation and the threat of criminal prosecution. For more, see Man settles real estate charge (Sold house without Realtor's license).