B.C. realtor fined for forging dead client's signature
A Vancouver realtor who forged the signature of her mother's late partner and pretended to represent him even though he was dead is on the hook for $9,000 in fines and costs.
In a recently published Dec. 22, 2021, B.C. Financial Services Authority decision, realtor Renee Genieve Doe Wei Lam, who goes by Genie Lam, admitted to falsifying a signature on real estate paperwork.
According to the decision, Lam also said her mother's late partner was "out of town" instead of admitting the man, known only as HL in the document, was dead.
Lam also falsely represented that HL was her uncle and her mother was her aunt during the real estate transaction.
While the decision does not say what the current fine would be for such actions, the decision outlines that the infraction took place in 2016, just weeks before penalties were "substantially" increased.
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According to the decision, in 2013 Lam's mother decided to purchase a condo in Richmond B.C.
Three years later in 2016, Lam's mother's partner also decided to buy a condo in the same building.
Lam's mother became involved in the transaction because she said HL wanted her to own the property and Lam oversaw the paperwork.
However, Lam then lost the paperwork.
Several months later, just days before the sale was supposed to complete, Lam's mother's partner died.
"Ms. Lam describes HL’s death as traumatizing to both her and (her mother), and that she was emotionally distraught at the time due to the circumstances of her arriving at (her mother's) property and her close relationship with HL," the decision reads.
Lam then searched for the lost paperwork but couldn't find it.
The decision says that Lam's mother's relationship with HL was a secret because he didn't want his family to find out.
New paperwork was ordered and Lam then faked HL's signature.
Lam also then used the excuse that HL was out of town.
"Ms. Lam knew or ought to have known that she was no longer the agent for HL because of his death," the decision reads.
In October 2016 the condo was transferred into Lam's mother's name but a few days later, the estate of HL filed a civil suit against Lam's mother.
Three years later Lam's mother and HL's estate settled out of court.
HL's son then made a complaint to the Real Estate Council of B.C.
Lam signed a consent agreement form admitting that she committed professional misconduct.
The decision says Lam did not make any money out of the real estate transaction and she had a close personal relationship with HL and was distraught when he died.
"Ms. Lam has expressed remorse and contrition for her actions," the decision says.
Lam consented to a three-month suspension and was fined $7,500. She also has to pay costs of $1,500 and complete Ethics in Business Practice and Legal Issues in Real Estate courses.
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