The Buffalo News
A Lockport real estate broker admitted she failed to warn a family about lead paint exposure in the home they were buying, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
One year later, their child was diagnosed with lead poisoning, according to officials at the office.
Maureen S. Walck, 72, a broker with RealtyUSA, pleaded guilty Thursday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah J. McCarthy to failure to provide lead paint hazard warning notice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Walck had listed a Lockport home built around 1900 and the owner was aware lead-based paint hazards were present, officials said. The owner showed Walck a copy of the inspection reports.
But when the contract was drawn up, it indicated the seller had no knowledge of the hazards and there were no records. The sale closed in April 2014, and the child’s diagnosis came in September 2015, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
House was built “around” 1900…unless that house was totally gutted and rebuilt, common sense would tell you that it there is the possibility of lead paint somewhere. While the broker was wrong, the onus is on the home owners to ensure a house that is over hundred years old is safe for their child.
But you can still go to the RealityUSA and see the brokers info and her listed properties? Why is she still working? Why didn’t she lose her license? I say Boycott RealityUSA until they fire the witch.
What about the sellers? They had to sign the contract. Did they not read it and say “hey, it says we have no knowledge, but in fact we do, we can’t sign this….”?
