Attorney for rogue realtors quits case, appeal moves forward in The Villages’

[TNGary]

Very interesting that per Aug 06 article the attorney was doing the work pro bono. I thought a few of the defendant appeared to be high $ realtors.
Attorney quoted as:
"He said his firm “has performed a significant amount of legal work for the defendants without compensation.” He added that the firm that bears his name is a “small, four-lawyer firm,” according to the motion.

“The firm is unable to continue representing Defendants in this matter at no further charge,” he said in the motion."

https://www.**************.com/2021/08/06/attorney-for-rogue-realtors-quits-case-as-their-appeal-moves-forward-in-the-villages-case/

[manaboutown]

Lol

[JerryLBell]

I still don't understand this case or why the Morse family beat the folks who opened up a competitive shop. Isn't this country based on free enterprise, capitalism and competition? Or do we live under indentured servitude where once you work for the Morses, you can never work anywhere else in your field that might possibly compete with them. I heard it claimed that the "rogue" realtors (a term I find kind of offensive) store a bunch of data and used it to contact Villages "belonging" to the Morse family. That wasn't the case for us. We really liked the realtor that helped us buy our house here 5 years ago and sought her to help us find a different house and to sell our existing house. She was still great, still worked hard for us and helped us with both the purchase and the sale. It just so happens she was no longer with The Villages realty company and was with the "rogue" company. That made not one bit of difference to me. But when the Morse family won and the "rogue" company had to give them the commission they'd earned off us, I was felt like the Morses had taken money out of my pocket that they had not earned.

[dewilson58]

I still don't understand this case not earned.

Simple. They signed an agreement and violated the agreement and stole company assets. Simple.

[PugMom]

Simple. They signed an agreement and violated the agreement and stole company assets. Simple.

dittos-there's something slimely about the 'rogues.'

[Stu from NYC]

I still don't understand this case or why the Morse family beat the folks who opened up a competitive shop. Isn't this country based on free enterprise, capitalism and competition? Or do we live under indentured servitude where once you work for the Morses, you can never work anywhere else in your field that might possibly compete with them. I heard it claimed that the "rogue" realtors (a term I find kind of offensive) store a bunch of data and used it to contact Villages "belonging" to the Morse family. That wasn't the case for us. We really liked the realtor that helped us buy our house here 5 years ago and sought her to help us find a different house and to sell our existing house. She was still great, still worked hard for us and helped us with both the purchase and the sale. It just so happens she was no longer with The Villages realty company and was with the "rogue" company. That made not one bit of difference to me. But when the Morse family won and the "rogue" company had to give them the commission they'd earned off us, I was felt like the Morses had taken money out of my pocket that they had not earned.

When you sign a non compete agreement you have to abide by its terms. They did not and now will suffer the consequences.

[Challenger]

Kind of like people who buy homes and then are upset that they must abide by Deed Restrictions. Terrible concept that "Rule of Law"

[Jayhawk]

I still don't understand this case or why the Morse family beat the folks who opened up a competitive shop. Isn't this country based on free enterprise, capitalism and competition? Or do we live under indentured servitude where once you work for the Morses, you can never work anywhere else in your field that might possibly compete with them. I heard it claimed that the "rogue" realtors (a term I find kind of offensive) store a bunch of data and used it to contact Villages "belonging" to the Morse family. That wasn't the case for us. We really liked the realtor that helped us buy our house here 5 years ago and sought her to help us find a different house and to sell our existing house. She was still great, still worked hard for us and helped us with both the purchase and the sale. It just so happens she was no longer with The Villages realty company and was with the "rogue" company. That made not one bit of difference to me. But when the Morse family won and the "rogue" company had to give them the commission they'd earned off us, I was felt like the Morses had taken money out of my pocket that they had not earned.

Your real estate agent friend was not entitled to the commission, which by the way was paid by the seller, not you. The Villages was entitled to it by virtue of the non-compete.

And they were not "indentured servants", they were business people who willingly executed that contract then decided to ignore their obligations.

Tough life lesson but they knew what they were doing when they went "rogue".

[Topspinmo]

Kind of like people who buy homes and then are upset that they must abide by Deed Restrictions. Terrible concept that "Rule of Law"


Or kinda like developers that don’t enforce deed restrictions? Shoe fits on both feet :)

[Topspinmo]

Very interesting that per Aug 06 article the attorney was doing the work pro bono. I thought a few of the defendant appeared to be high $ realtors.
Attorney quoted as:
"He said his firm “has performed a significant amount of legal work for the defendants without compensation.” He added that the firm that bears his name is a “small, four-lawyer firm,” according to the motion.

“The firm is unable to continue representing Defendants in this matter at no further charge,” he said in the motion."

https://www.**************.com/2021/08/06/attorney-for-rogue-realtors-quits-case-as-their-appeal-moves-forward-in-the-villages-case/

IMO Probably thought it was open and closed case. Until?


IMO Kinda reminds me of the famous Tarmac meeting in Phoenix. IMO done deal.

[Topspinmo]

Simple. They signed an agreement and violated the agreement and stole company assets. Simple.


There and old saying? Let’s see what was it? “ O” , money talks and B-s walks. IMO This never been so true in the Justice system.

[Topspinmo]

Your real estate agent friend was not entitled to the commission, which by the way was paid by the seller, not you. The Villages was entitled to it by virtue of the non-compete.

And they were not "indentured servants", they were business people who willingly executed that contract then decided to ignore their obligations.

Tough life lesson but they knew what they were doing when they went "rogue".


I guess missed the part where said they sold house and looked for another. That would make them seller.:ho:

[Rango]

Simple. They signed an agreement and violated the agreement and stole company assets. Simple.

They also stole information from The Villages.

[shut the front door]

In most cases, non compete clauses aren't worth the paper they are written on. In THIS case, you have to understand that the "family" owns every judge and representative within 100 miles. They WILL get their way.
Just look at the church that wouldn't sell to the villages. If you don't do what we want, we will screw you one way or the other. That's just the way it goes.
That is also why TV will never suffer the consequences for treating "contract labor" as employees. They will get away with it, but those of us who know the law, know that they are breaking it in a BIG way.
You buy the lifestyle, you deal with the strong arm, mafia style tactics that they use.

[manaboutown]

They stole trade secrets (intellectual property) comprising customers lists and extensive data therefrom. Trade Secret Protection for Customer Lists: A Checklist | Fish & Richardson - JDSupra (https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/trade-secret-protection-for-customer-29052/)

[dewilson58]

In most cases, non compete clauses aren't worth the paper they are written on. In THIS case, you have to understand that the "family" owns every judge and representative within 100 miles.

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Wasn't this trial in Tallahassee?? Isn't that over 200 miles away??

:MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:

[Marathon Man]

I still don't understand this case or why the Morse family beat the folks who opened up a competitive shop. Isn't this country based on free enterprise, capitalism and competition? Or do we live under indentured servitude where once you work for the Morses, you can never work anywhere else in your field that might possibly compete with them. I heard it claimed that the "rogue" realtors (a term I find kind of offensive) store a bunch of data and used it to contact Villages "belonging" to the Morse family. That wasn't the case for us. We really liked the realtor that helped us buy our house here 5 years ago and sought her to help us find a different house and to sell our existing house. She was still great, still worked hard for us and helped us with both the purchase and the sale. It just so happens she was no longer with The Villages realty company and was with the "rogue" company. That made not one bit of difference to me. But when the Morse family won and the "rogue" company had to give them the commission they'd earned off us, I was felt like the Morses had taken money out of my pocket that they had not earned.

Rather than become angry, why not spend some time coming to an understanding of the case. Then you will see that free enterprise, capitalism and competition are all alive and well.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

FYI - not all states recognize a non compete as a valid contract, as it restricts a person from making a living, as well as reducing competition. . . but also remember that for all companies, last man standing or the monopoly is the end goal, legal or not.

old corporate guy

[Topspinmo]

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Wasn't this trial in Tallahassee?? Isn't that over 200 miles away??

:MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:


Large stacks reach far and distance places.

[Bjeanj]

I sure would hate to face their legal bills!

[Jim 9922]

FYI - not all states recognize a non compete as a valid contract, as it restricts a person from making a living, as well as reducing competition. . . but also remember that for all companies, last man standing or the monopoly is the end goal, legal or not.

old corporate guy

I know of no state that does not recognize a noncompete contract as valid. A contract may be ruled by legal action invalid, in part or in whole, based upon the unreasonableness of its various restrictions including sales territory, existing and past customers, hiring away of other employees, stolen proprietary information, procedures and equipment, manuals, special recipes, formulas, and designs, reasonableness timeframe restriction, etc., etc. Some states will restrict specific clauses within the contract while other states will rule the whole contract as invalid if even one section is ruled as too excessive.
Judging from the news reports it appears that non of the restrictions were too excessive. It seemed to me that restrictions were narrowed down to principally The Villages area and its customers and operating procedures. It did not restrict them from selling real estate outside of the larger Villages areas as demonstrated by them apparently happily selling homes in a large development in the Tampa area, and part of that development competes with The Villages for retirees.