He sued the seller’s agent and the brokerage firm, Coldwell Banker. On Monday, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously for Horiike, saying the seller’s agent had a duty to disclose relevant information about the house because both the buyer’s and seller’s agents worked for the same firm. The court said agents who work for the same company also have dual obligations, even if they are representing different clients. Horiike appealed, and a court of appeal decided unanimously that Cortazzo had been obligated to ensure Horiike’s interests were protected. If a seller has an unpermitted kitchen, for instance, the seller’s agent would be required to disclose that to the buyer.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 21, 2016 19:44 UTC