{"id":6841,"date":"2025-09-19T08:46:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T12:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/?p=6841"},"modified":"2025-09-19T08:46:14","modified_gmt":"2025-09-19T12:46:14","slug":"politically-connected-broker-pushed-senior-into-reverse-mortgage-says-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/politically-connected-broker-pushed-senior-into-reverse-mortgage-says-lawsuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Politically Connected Broker Pushed Senior Into Reverse Mortgage, Says Lawsuit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-style-rounded is-style-rounded--1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"514\" src=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/politically-connected-broker-pushed-senior-into-reverse-mortgage.webp\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/politically-connected-broker-pushed-senior-into-reverse-mortgage.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/politically-connected-broker-pushed-senior-into-reverse-mortgage-300x129.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/politically-connected-broker-pushed-senior-into-reverse-mortgage-1024x439.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/politically-connected-broker-pushed-senior-into-reverse-mortgage-768x329.webp 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A current member of the Council of Calistoga, California, who is also a broker, faces a hearing this month. A lawsuit accuses Councilmember Scott Cooper, along with his company, of exploiting an elder financially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Senior \u201cPreyed Upon\u201d for Home Equity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The lawsuit describes the Calistoga city councilmember as &#8220;cajoling&#8221; an older deed holder to take out a reverse mortgage that benefited him at the senior\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Filed in Napa County Superior Court this spring by the elder\u2019s daughter-in-law, the <a href=\"https:\/\/trellis.law\/doc\/247314085\/2025-04-18-complaint-final\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lawsuit<\/a> alleges that Councilmember Scott Cooper, owner of Cal Green Lending, \u201cpreyed upon\u201d 84-year-old Cheryl West. Cooper knew, according to the lawsuit, that West lacked capacity to sign for the reverse mortgage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plaintiff Marla Faust has standing to sue, as the trustee for the Cheryl J. West trust, and the named executor of West\u2019s estate. Faust claims that Cooper committed financial elder abuse and breached his fiduciary duty as a broker \u2014 that is, the duty to act in a client\u2019s best interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-accent-5-background-color has-background has-small-font-size\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><em><strong>Many senior mortgage holders have built up high levels of home equity. A <\/strong><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/should-you-get-a-reverse-mortgage-consider-this\/\"><strong><em>reverse mortgage<\/em><\/strong><\/a><em><strong> enables a homeowner to use that equity to receive, rather than make, monthly payments. These loans are lucrative for lending companies, which collect interest.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the Elder\u2019s Power of Attorney Holder Has Alleged<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The facts alleged in power of attorney holder Marla Faust\u2019s lawsuit are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cheryl West, aged 84 in 2020, owned a home worth around half a million dollars on Cedar Street in Calistoga, California.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When Cooper approached West at home to suggest a reverse mortgage, West directed Cooper to communicate with Marla Faust, who held power of attorney.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cooper called Faust, the deed holder\u2019s daughter-in-law, during that first visit to West\u2019s home. Faust told Cooper that the 84-year-old did not need or want a reverse mortgage, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/senior-deed-transfers-is-capacity-in-question\/\">lacked mental capacity<\/a> to understand the loan agreement. \u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cooper \u201cpersisted\u201d in promoting the loan product to West, behind Faust\u2019s back.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ultimately, the senior signed the mortgage documents, accepting the idea that she needed money for a car (although she couldn\u2019t drive) and to put a new roof on the home (which was not needed).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The elder deed holder signed onto the mortgage despite Faust holding power of attorney <em>and<\/em> Faust\u2019s rejection of the loan idea. Faust found out about the transaction early last year. Soon after that, the elderly homeowner, Cheryl West, died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lawsuit in Civil Court Claims Abuse, Requests Compensation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The elder homeowner paid about $21K for insurance and closing costs. Her home equity sank. Faust claims the Cedar Street home had to be sold due to the financial impact of the reverse mortgage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Faust\u2019s lawsuit makes claims of financial elder abuse, conduct equivalent to fraud, and unfair business practices, including dealing in predatory lending. Faust now wants the court to undo the loan. The pending lawsuit also requests monetary compensation of about $128K and interest, plus court costs and attorney fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The defendant, Cooper, responded in June to the legal filing. Cooper said that the claims are \u201cunsupported by any factual basis\u201d and says West was mentally competent and pursued the reverse mortgage herself. Cooper also claimed that his conduct unfolded in the course of his business, and that he is not personally liable for any breaches of duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cooper has been a city councilmember since 2023. He is slated to remain in office through 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Could Someone Be Trying to Manipulate You or Your Home Equity?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Reverse mortgages are good financing tools for many seniors. But understand that some lenders may take advantage of seniors\u2019 home equity through such products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you believe you or a loved one is being targeted, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumerfinance.gov\/complaint\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">report suspected mortgage fraud<\/a> to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-accent-5-background-color has-background has-small-font-size is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<p><strong>Supporting References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Samantha Kennedy for the Bay City News Service, via <em>LocalNewsMatters.org<\/em>: <a href=\"https:\/\/localnewsmatters.org\/2025\/07\/13\/calistoga-councilmember-also-a-broker-accused-in-lawsuit-of-financial-elder-abuse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Calistoga Councilmember, Also a Broker, Accused in Lawsuit of Financial Elder Abuse<\/a> (published Jul. 13, 2025 by Bay City News, Inc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>KSRO Sonoma County: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ksro.com\/2025\/07\/08\/calistoga-city-councilmember-sued-for-financial-elder-abuse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Calistoga City Councilmember Sued for Financial Elder Abuse<\/a> (Jul. 8, 2025; citing reporting by <em>The Press Democrat<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Deeds.com<\/em>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/reverse-mortgage-scams-what-seniors-need-to-know\/\">Mortgage Scams? What Seniors Need to Know<\/a> (Mar. 13, 2024). &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And as linked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read more about: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/how-a-durable-power-of-attorney-works-for-a-home-deed-and-how-to-create-the-poa-in-8-steps\/\">Creating a durable power of attorney<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Photo credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/elderly-woman-signing-documents-in-office-8441792\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kampus Production<\/a>, via Pexels\/Canva. Note: Photo does not depict parties discussed in this article.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A current member of the Council of Calistoga, California, who is also a broker, faces a hearing this month. A lawsuit accuses Councilmember Scott Cooper, along with his company, of exploiting an elder financially.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6842,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[107,92],"tags":[2789,984,2790,185,690,2791,1937,1127],"class_list":["post-6841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-elder","category-fraud","tag-calistoga-city-council","tag-elder-law","tag-financial-elder-abuse","tag-home-equity","tag-mortgage-fraud","tag-napa-county-lawsuit","tag-predatory-lending","tag-reverse-mortgage"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Politically Connected Broker Pushed Senior Into Reverse Mortgage, Says Lawsuit - Deeds.com<\/title>\n<meta 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