CALL FOR A LEGAL CONSULTATION(410) 583-8000

When A Real Estate Agent Breaches Their Fiduciary Duty

As Featured In

whitney llp seen on the sun
whitney llp seen on the washington post
whitney llp seen on cbs
whitney llp seen on abc7
whitney llp seen in super lawyers

As Featured In

whitney llp seen on wbaltv
whitney llp seen on nbc news
whitney llp seen on daily news
whitney llp seen on the sun
whitney llp seen on huffington post

FREE CASE EVALUATION

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

house for sal1 300x300 - When A Real Estate Agent Breaches Their Fiduciary Duty

When a real estate agent breaches their fiduciary duty and causes damage to their client, they can be held responsible. However, many people do not understand exactly what this term means in the context of a lawsuit against the real estate agent. Essentially, a real estate agent has very high standards and responsibilities to their clients, and must put their client’s interest ahead of their own.

Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers help home buyers bring claims and file lawsuits against dishonest and negligent home sellers, house flippers, real estate agents and termite inspection companies across Maryland. Our attorneys recover compensation for buyers to repair hidden damage and defects, and for emotional distress. We offer Legal Consultations.

If you need a real estate lawyer near me to help with hidden damage, failure to disclose defects, negligence or fraud in the purchase of a house, Call Us at 410 583 8000 or use our Online Quick Contact Form.

Click Here to read reviews from our past clients, and Click Here to read about some of our past settlements and a jury verdict where we represented home buyers.

What Does the Term “Fiduciary Duty” Mean?

In general, the term “fiduciary duty” means that someone else has a relationship with you that requires them to act for your benefit. They must put their own interests aside and act for you. When you hire someone to represent you such as a real estate agent or a stockbroker, it means that they are being paid to help you and must act for you.

Once you hire a \ real estate agent to work on your behalf, they assume fiduciary obligations to you. In terms of the transaction, this means several things:

  • Your real estate agent has a general duty to be honest with you.
  • The agent must share information with you that they learn, especially when it comes to defects in the property.
  • The agent cannot transact with themselves or someone else they represent without telling you beforehand.

You will often see breach of fiduciary duty used in any lawsuit against a real estate agent. It is much easier to show that they breached the duty than it is to show fraud or even negligence.

Examples of Breaches of Fiduciary Duty

A fiduciary duty means that the real estate agent must act with care, loyalty and integrity. Here are some examples where the agent can be found to have breached their fiduciary duty to you as their client:

  • Knowing about termite damage and not telling you about it
  • Taking payment from someone else associated with the transaction and not telling you about it
  • Not informing you of developments in the purchase process for your home
  • Sharing your personal and confidential information with someone else

In a breach of fiduciary duty case, you can sue the real estate agent for financial damages. At the minimum, this starts with a return of the commission. In some cases, it could even lead to a rescission of the home sale.

Fiduciary duty cases need the help of an experienced real estate lawyer who knows how to prove your case. These lawsuits always depend very heavily on facts, so you will need a real estate lawyer who can investigate your case and get to the bottom of what happened, and use an expert witness to establish the standard of care and prove your agent breached it.

Lawyers Suing Real Estate Agents for Breach of Fiduciary Duty

Whitney, LLP’s attorneys have represented many families against real estate agents who breached their fiduciary duty, and helped recover compensation for damage caused by these bad agents.

If you were the victim of a dishonest seller, real estate agent or WDI/termite inspection company in Maryland, contact Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers at 410 583 8000, or use our Online Quick Contact Form, for your Legal Consultation.

We represent homebuyers throughout Maryland, including Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Frederick, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Bethesda, Dundalk, Towson, Bowie, Aspen Hill and Wheaton.

 

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY

“When others did not want to take my case Whitney, LLP was willing. Dan was very very patient with me and his communication was always on point no matter how he reached out. He helped me and my family start our lives all over, I thank him so much.”

– Client

Read More Testimonials

“I would definitely recommend this firm. I contacted them just to get some insight and I was informed that I indeed had a case, and they won! Any questions or concerns I had were answered and explained clearly. They were very kind and informative throughout the whole process. I am very grateful that I stumbled across their page, it has changed my life. Thank you.”

– Client

Read More Testimonials

GET YOUR LEGAL CONSULTATION

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Recent Articles

$100k After Falsely Accused of Shoplifting in Maryland
$100k After Falsely Accused of Shoplifting in Maryland

After being falsely accused of shoplifting a $6 watermelon, Whitney, LLP’s client received a $100,000 settlement paid by the store owner.  If you were falsely accused of shoplifting, call Whitney, LLP.  Our attorneys represent victims who were wrongfully accused of shoplifting.  

New Lawsuit Filed For $895 PDI Car Dealership Fee
New Lawsuit Filed For $895 PDI Car Dealership Fee

In addition to the advertised price, Maryland dealers can only add fees for taxes, title and registration, and a properly disclosed freight and dealer processing fee. Here, a used car dealer charged an illegal $895 PDI (Pre Delivery Inspection) fee. Illegal dealer fees often include PDI, Reconditioning, Inspection, Certification and Transportation fees.

Uncovering a Hidden Camera Problem in Ocean City, MD
Uncovering a Hidden Camera Problem in Ocean City, MD

Invasion of privacy and finding a hidden camera in an Ocean City, MD rental are the last thing most vacationers think of. Imagine arriving at your Ocean City, Maryland vacation rental, ready for a relaxing getaway booked privately or through Airbnb or VRBO. As you...

CONTACT US

WHITNEY, LLP
409 Washington Ave,
Suite 750
Towson, MD 21204
P: (410) 583-8000
F: (800) 893-1239

Disclaimer

An attorney-client relationship is created only once a representation agreement is signed. Prior results are not a guarantee of future results, and all cases are different. This website does not provide legal advice.

ABOUT

Whitney, LLP fights for the injured and deceived. We offer legal consultations.

Connect

© Whitney, LLP | Sitemap | Privacy Policy
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Call Now Button