Bankruptcy – Home improvement – Fraud

A homeowner has showed that a Chapter 7 home improvement contractor’s lies about a building permit led to a loss that might reasonably have been expected to result from the homeowner’s reliance.

In Re: Goguen, Peter J. (Lawyers Weekly No. 01-213-12) (22 pages) (Thompson, J.) (1st Circuit) Appealed from the Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the 1st Circuit. Ashley S. Whyman, with whom Stephen F. Gordon, Todd B. Gordon and The Gordon Law Firm were on brief, for appellant David M. Sharfarz; Paul R. Chomko, with whom Alford & Bertrand was on brief, for the debtor-appellee (Docket No. 11-9004) (Aug. 15, 2012).