Calif. Appeals Court Vacates Fee Award for Home Seller Defendants

LOS ANGELES - A California appellate panel has reversed an award of $70,000 in attorneys' fees for defendant home sellers accused of not disclosing defects and mold to buyers. Shaffer, et al. v. Sassoon, et al., No. B207219 (Calif. Ct. App., 2nd Dist.).

The California Court of Appeal, Second District, said in its unpublished, Dec. 30 opinion that in making the award the trial court failed to account for the buyers' own fees in mistakenly declaring the sellers to be the prevailing parties.

Ronald and Debbie Shaffer sued Steven A. and Julie Sassoon in 2004, alleging that the Sassoons were …