Home > Research Legal Advice > Business > Intentional interference with prospective economic advantage california
Asked 10 months ago - Laguna Beach, CA
FlagI live in a hoa in California. We have 4 plumbing vendors who are supposed to be used on a rotational basis. One vendor is related to the hoa president. Homeowners are forced into using him and are afraid to complain when his work is substandard. This vendor has charged the hoa for work not performed and the hoa has paid for mistakes that should have been covered by his insurance. Last month, he was working on a suspended contractors license. I reported him to the ca license board.In retaliation he tried to swerve his truck at me when I walked my dogs. I filed a police report immediately. I am being sued for the above by our hoa because the vendor doesn't want to work in our community now. The hoa claims his prices are the lowest and I am liable for the rate difference in using the others.
Every lawyer is different. I would tell them to sue you. Tell them you will then cross claim against them for breach of fiduciary duty by the HOA president in hiring a relative and will conduct discovery on all the kickbacks the president probably received. Their legal basis for damages is also flawed in my analysis. Of course, this analysis is limied by the brief facts above and is not legal advice.
You're being sued, so you need to hire a lawyer immediately defend you.
If I were your lawyer I'd check the governing CC&Rs to see what they say about conflict of interest, and see if the president violated his fiduciary duty by hiring his relative, and possible cross-claim against the president (which will trigger the HOA's D&O insurance) as well as maybe the HOA itself (same).
"Counterweight" lawsuits give you leverage and may force the HOA to settle if they have something (a lot, perhaps) to lose. I'm guessing your CC&Rs have an attorneys' fees clause too, so you need to hire a lawyer to leverage that as well. Hire one now. A strong response may nip this dumb lawsuit in the bud, as it should be nipped.
I hope you have some money to hire a local atty. The info from the answers above is good. Were there any witnesses to the contractor swerving at you and the dogs? Did he get close to you? Did you actually fear he was going to hit you? You may have been assaulted by the contractor. He could possibly be charged criminally, or sued civilly. I hope you have proof in addition to your word.
You need to see a local atty right away for advice and help.
Good luck.
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