As regular readers know, on occasion I report on regulatory actions taken (or some would say imposed) by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. Here are some of the more notable actions from 2019:
Two different appraisers, one in Shakopee and one in Baudette, were sanctioned based on the Department's opinion that their work files did not include adequate information to support the appraisal findings. The Consent Orders don't state what was missing from the work files.
In the coin dealers line of business, all the actions in 2019 thus far related to unregistered dealers making sales to Minnesota residents.
A $7,500 civil penalty was assessed against an individual from Plymouth, MN-based on allegations he created realtor credits, with those credits being paid outside the transactions and not through his licensed broker.
A real estate agent in Bemidji paid a $5,000 civil penalty when he advertised a property as commercial while knowing it was zoned residential.
A property management firm in Duluth agreed to a $10,000 civil penalty based upon allegations it was unlicensed and didn't have required statutory language in its contracts,
A real estate agent in Forest Lake paid a $5,000 civil penalty plus costs of investigation for failing to include a prior seller's disclosure statement with the current seller's disclosure statement.
Regulatory defense is a significant part of my practice. Do not get caught making a mistake without proper legal counsel -- the error could make a dramatic impact on your livelihood.
