buying an apartment in NY

On December the 16th 2011 at One p.m. I was at my laywer office for the closing of the purchase of a 37 sq. m. apartment in New York .

I went there with my real estate agent N. and as soon as I arrived the lawyer asked me to talk privately with him in his main room. I immediately answered I wanted N. as my witness, and he agreed.

We went on discussing  the additional fees he had charged me for the purchase of the apartment and on this issue he gave me some papers with a reconstruction of incoms and outcoms like balance ad accounts for the purchase of the house.

There was no corrispondence between the wires I had done from Italy and the extra money he was asking me. At least a third version of the closing statement was printed out and I refused to pay the $ 2.000 he was asking.

At this point, one hour after discussion, making me feel like I was not able to understaind the fees, and never answering to my precise questions, the lawyer said that without my extra $ 2.000 he would have not continue the closing.

I precised that I was ready to pay but with a statement that explaned I was paying without prejudice, but the lawyer refused. Even the way he was talking with me was unpolite ad rude, and at my precise question of being considered a collegue, he refused.

The lawyer had done many mistakes for a simple contract of a small apartment. Expecially we had managed for using a power of attorney that was made and sent to US in September and discovered not useful one day after my jorney in NY on November the 13^th after the meeting we had had in his office on day before (at 1.p.m. on November the 12^th).

I have payed what the lawyer asked and happy for the purchase, but I remember that the damages incurred on me exactely are:

-making me coming for the closing on December paying flying ticket and accomodation;

-asking me to wire more money than requested;

-refusing to sign a statement with the precise indication of “without prejudice”.

I have taped this story to remember it and above all in order to send it to the New York Times.

The syinthesis of it is that a lawyer in America can ask you what ever if you are a foreigner.

My only regret is not having called the police in order to ask theme I wanted a recit and a statement from the lawyer.

Maria Giovanna Villari