Expert: Dick Dennis - 2/5/2007

Question
Hi.  We have an agent in our office who accidently sold someone a vacant lot and it was the wrong one.  The state is Hawaii and I was wondering as an agent what the liability is to the agent and to the office.  I just found out our office has no insurance?? How can you run an office without insurance?? The client is extremely unhappy and is talking of suing everyone.  The agent has offered to buy the lot from them and pay for their air fare spent to travel to the island when purchased lot.  

Answer
Not having insurance in an office is pretty chancey and you can see why. However, as long as the office (agent and anyone else) cures everything and the client does not lose any money in the process, then I see nothing wrong doing so. The agent is even willing to pay the client's costs in the process of flying there and everything? Gee, I don't see why the client would object. The first thing an attorney looks for is how much has the client lost. If the client has not lost anything, the attorney would pass on representing him.

I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis