5 Milwaukee area sales agents on Tuesday, February 23rd filed suit against Southeast Wisconsin real estate giant Shorewest Realtors alleging that Shorewest has unlawfully withheld in excess of $41,000 in collective income earned by the 5 agents for services rendered. The agents, Dan Weber, Jennifer Wielgosh, Kathy Mitchell, Laurie Schubert and Carla Corriveau, claim that the earned income due from Shorewest is being withheld without any legal basis and that Shorewest has breached their contract with the agents. The agents are seeking 100% compensation and will seek punitive damages.
The agents originally were part of Waukesha based First Realty GMAC which was sold to Shorewest in the fall of 2009, following the bankruptcy filing of First Realty/Bethesda Real Estate owner and broker, Dick Kollmansberger. The independent contractual agreements with First Realty GMAC and/or Shorewest as First Realty GMAC’s Successor in Interest, indicate that agents are due commissions for “successfully closed transactions that were obtained by the Associate prior to leaving First Realty GMAC”. The real estate transactions in question are related to accepted offers to purchase that were accepted before the November 12th sale of First Realty GMAC to Shorewest Realtors, but actually closed after that sale date. In other words, the agents are demanding payment for work they did while under contract and employed by First Realty GMAC and/or Shorewest. Meanwhile, Shorewest claims that it is not legally bound to pay the agents.
The 5 agents are represented by the Waukesha law firm of Hippenmeyer, Reilly, Moodie and Blum and any further questions should be directed to Attorney Robert Moodie @ 262-549- 8181.
