Leone v. Williams, et al.
Result: Motion for Summary Judgment/Adjudication granted
Facts: The plaintiff in this Nevada case, who was a Las Vegas blackjack dealer, bought two houses hoping to “flip” them. The housing market crashed soon after his purchases, and he subsequently sued the persons and entities involved in the transactions, including real estate agents and brokers, mortgage brokers, and the client appraiser, for fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of fiduciary duty.
We filed a motion for summary judgment on behalf of our client, who was an appraiser hired by the lender for both houses. The court agreed with us that because our client was an appraiser hired by the lender and not by the plaintiff, he owed no duty to the plaintiff. The court granted our summary judgment motion and dismissed our client.