Illinois- Report slumlord attorney to bar?

[hopsngrains]

I purchased a rental property from a real estate attorney, she was represented by her partner of her firm. Inspection found a gas leak, she agreed to fix. After purchasing the property I discovered that she did not fix the gas leak, also the tenant has been asking her to fix the leak for months before the sale. She had knowingly put her tenants in danger by neglecting the issue. This is about principal and ethics not the money, I fixed the leak easy. Is this something I could report her to state bar?

 

[Zigner]

I purchased a rental property from a real estate attorney, she was represented by her partner of her firm. Inspection found a gas leak, she agreed to fix. After purchasing the property I discovered that she did not fix the gas leak, also the tenant has been asking her to fix the leak for months before the sale. She had knowingly put her tenants in danger by neglecting the issue. This is about principal and ethics not the money, I fixed the leak easy. Is this something I could report her to state bar?

Your matter has precisely zero to do with her occupation as an attorney.

 

[hopsngrains]

She made agreement as part of the sale to repair the gas leak and did not, also I thought attorneys are held to high standard of business ethics even conducting other business.

 

[Zigner]

She made agreement as part of the sale to repair the gas leak and did not, also I thought attorneys are held to high standard of business ethics even conducting other business.

Maybe she thought she did. Maybe it was a simple oversight that could have been easily been remedied if she had been given the chance. In any case, why did you close on the house without verifying that the work was done?

Don't mess with the lady's livelihood just because you want to stick it to her for failing to perform a repair that even you acknowledge was an "easy" fix.

 

[quincy]

She made agreement as part of the sale to repair the gas leak and did not, also I thought attorneys are held to high standard of business ethics even conducting other business.

This is a contract issue.

If you had to spend money to fix the leak (and please have the gas company check your repair to make sure the leak was sealed properly), you could ask the seller for reimbursement.

I agree with Zigner. This has nothing to do with the seller’s profession.

 

[hopsngrains]

Through other things discovered and her responses she is an attorney who thinks she can get out of following the law. I can guarantee it was not an oversight, shame on me for not double checking everything but she would cancel the deal I didn't want to lose it. Again the tenants had previously requested the repair amongst others, it's clear she doesn't care about their health and safety, she owns other rentals. What about livelihood of her tenants?

 

[quincy]

Through other things discovered and her responses she is an attorney who thinks she can get out of following the law. I can guarantee it was not an oversight, shame on me for not double checking everything but she would cancel the deal I didn't want to lose it. Again the tenants had previously requested the repair amongst others, it's clear she doesn't care about their health and safety, she owns other rentals. What about livelihood of her tenants?

A gas leak is serious. It is good that the tenants now have you as their landlord.

Good luck.

 

[adjusterjack]

shame on me for not double checking everything

That's right, shame on you.

You should have checked to make sure the work was done, and done properly, before closed escrow.

You made a bonehead amateur mistake. Learn from it.

It's not the lawyer's problem anymore.

 

[Taxing Matters]

Through other things discovered and her responses she is an attorney who thinks she can get out of following the law. I can guarantee it was not an oversight, shame on me for not double checking everything but she would cancel the deal I didn't want to lose it. Again the tenants had previously requested the repair amongst others, it's clear she doesn't care about their health and safety, she owns other rentals. What about livelihood of her tenants?

And the tenants had remedies available to them to address it, if they chose to use them.

The state disciplines lawyers for their actions in the practice of law or that would reflect on their ability to practice law competently. Lawyers do have ethical standards that exceed the standards of some other professions, but no profession would disbar or penalize their licensees for a simple civil dispute like this. Had the lawyer committed criminal fraud in the deal, that would be something the state lawyer disciplinary body would indeed review. Contract disputes, though, aren't going to be something they are interested in pursuing.

 

[zddoodah]

Is this something I could report her to state bar?

You can report anything you like to anyone you like, but I doubt the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (not the "state bar") would care about since it has nothing to do with the practice of law.

This is about principal and ethics not the money

What about livelihood of her tenants?

As far as you're concerned, this was a business transaction and nothing else, which means it is about nothing other than money. And what about her former tenants? Was any former tenant deprived of his/her ability to earn a living? Since you didn't say so, I assume the answer is no.

 

[FarmerJ]

If there is a next time where you buy another property and you are aware of a gas leak or other repair that is more serious electrical -gas- water or home heating related repair and you want it repaired write into your offer a condition where you say what it is and that it must be repaired by a licensed contractor before closing.

 

[quincy]

I actually have never heard of someone trying to fix a gas leak on their own. When you smell gas, you call the gas company.

In Illinois, here is who you call:

https://www.icc.illinois.gov/consumers/report-a-gas-leak

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

I actually have never heard of someone trying to fix a gas leak on their own. When you smell gas, you call the gas company.

I've had a couple of gas leaks. I was lucky in both cases I had a shut-off on the line on my side of the meter. I shut it off, the smell cleared and I called a plumber. If you call the gas company they will cut off at the meter THEN you have to have a plumber out to fix it THEN the gas company has to come back to turn it on.

 

[Zigner]

The OP's usage of "gas leak" is very vague. It could have been something as simple as replace the gas supply line to the dryer or the water heater. Both are (generally) easy DIY-type fixes.

 

[FarmerJ]

What gas utilities do varies from company to company, Ive had it happen where gas company re tagged a appliance and just the appliance was shut off at its service valve ,, not the whole house. and have had ancient appliance shut off valves leak and have to be replaced BUT never the less it appears the issue for the OP should be done now.