Saturday, October 23, 2010

Idaho AG Settles Charges w/ R/E Agent Accused Of Filling In Blanks In Contracts After Obtaining Clients' Signatures, Then Using Phantom Notarizations

In Boise, Idaho, LegalNewsline reports:
  • Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced on Wednesday that he has settled with a real estate agent who allegedly violated the Idaho Consumer Protection Act. Daniel Myers and his now dissolved company, Paradigm Solutions LLC, allegedly allowed a client to sign an option contract with missing information that was added in later.(1)

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  • Myers allegedly filled in the missing information once the client signed the documents, which made it possible to figure important terms of the contract without the consumer's knowledge or consent. Although the contract was supposed to be signed by a notary, Myers allegedly had his client's signature notarized outside of his client's presence.

  • Similar practices were allegedly carried out by Myers with other property owners who also signed contracts that contained blank spaces that were later filled in.

For more, see Wasden settles with real estate agent.

See also: Idaho AG press release: Boise Real Estate Agent Penalized for Alleged Real Estate Contract Violations.

(1) The alleged information included the beginning and ending date of the option, the address and legal description of the property and the purchase price, the story states. Under terms of the settlement, Myers will modify his business practices to comply with state law, respond quickly to any new complaints that arise, pay $1,500 to cover costs associated with the litigation, and agrees to pay a $10,000 civil penalty in the event of further violations, the story states. Myers was also issued a formal reprimand by the Idaho Real Estate Commission and ordered to pay them $6,300 in fines and costs.