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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Listmates,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Client lived in a home for 7 years. They purchased it with a real estate agent, Agent1 that lives a couple doors down from the home they purchased. There is no social relationship between client and Agent1 other than there professional relationship.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>2 years ago they move away and hire the Agent1 to do the sale. While the home is listed with Agent1, agent tries to get client to rent the home to 3 other people including agents friend to which agent requested free rent. While listed, Agent1 did little to find a buyer. Client believes agent was being highly selective on potential buyers because they would be Agent1’s neighbor. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Client terminates Agent1 and lists with Agent2. Agent1 continues to contact client, try to get client to rent the home, and continues to interfere with the client-Agent2 relationship to the point that Agent2 notified Agent1’s broker to get the behavior to stop. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Fast forward, because it’s a small world, client learns of potential buyer from many months ago. Potential buyer decided they did not want the home after they learned that the home had water damage, mildew, and mold problems. The home does not have these problems. As it turns out, Agent1 has been telling other agents in the area that the home has these problems. Agent1 has also physically stopped other agents during showings of the home to tell them about these problems. Needless to say, client thinks Agent1’s statements have blackballed the home in that market. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Any thoughts on causes of actions for this one? Any avenues to a CPA claim or other statutes that have more teeth? I have no doubt that Agent1’s actions can probably establish liability, but proving damages will be rather squishy. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Matthew R. Johnson | Attorney at Law</span></b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Gravis Law, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:#1F497D'>P.O. Box 182 | 350 E. Main St. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:#1F497D'>Dayton, WA 99328</span><span style='color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:#1F497D'>509-382-2030 (office)<br></span><u><span style='color:#0563C1'><a href="https://www.gravislaw.com/" target="_blank"><span style='color:blue'>Website </span></a></span></u><span style='color:#1F497D'>- <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-r-johnson/2b/997/87a" target="_blank"><span style='color:#0563C1'>LinkedIn</span></a></span><span style='color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:#1F497D'> </span><span style='color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='background:white'><span style='color:#1F497D'>NOTICE: This email (including any attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (EPCA), 18 U.S.C., Sec. 2510 - 2522, is confidential and privileged. This email is solely for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. Receipt by anyone other than the individual recipient(s) is NOT a waiver of attorney-client privilege. Any violation of the ECPA is subject to the penalties stated therein. If you have received this message in error, please notify me immediately by reply e-mail to </span><u><span style='color:#222222;background:#FFFFCC'><a href="mailto:matt@gravislaw.com"><span style='color:blue'>matt@gravislaw.com</span></a></span></u><span style='color:#1F497D'> and immediately delete the original message.</span><span style='color:#222222'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>