Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

I have a legal matter with the Housing Department. Our property were having a problem by the housing department for unauthorized remodeling. My mother met this employee of the housing department and the housing department employee said she can fix the problem with some paper works but it will cost money. So my mother paid the housing department employee over $10,000 but nothing got solved. Then the housing department employee said she did all she can but the law got strict and that we have to remodel the property to way it was befor the remodeling. She said that she has some people she work with and demanded that we fix the property with her worker so she can work easier. So we went ahead and hired a artichect and the contractor that worked with the housing department employee. The problem was, in the middle of the construction, the contractor ran off but we already have paid all the contstuction fees. Later we found out that the blue print wasn't permmited and the contractor didn't have the license. When we asked if the contractor is lisenced, the housing employee said "Yes". But later gave some excuses when we asked to see the license.

After all these, the property have been foreclosed.

Current status:

I have file the claims for damages and got the leter stating that the claim have been submitted to the Office of the City Attorney. I have reported the housing department employee to the police and it is being investigated by the District attorney. Since the housing department employee made the check deposit to her own account, there is no way she can back out. In the memo section of the check, i wrote Housing department - name.

My question:

What do i do next?

Do just wait?

Can somebody tell me what i should do next?


Asked on 10/27/09, 12:59 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Edward Hoffman Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman

How sure are you that this person works for the housing department? My guess is that you've been scammed by someone who merely pretended to work for the department. If I'm right, then the city will probably not be liable (unless it is somehow to blame for your belief that she was a department employee). The contractor and the "employee" would still be liable individually and may very well face prosecution, but I don't know how likely it is that you will get any of your money back.

I wish I could be more encouraging.

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Answered on 11/01/09, 1:04 am


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