By Dec. According to Lundquist, McGrath had been a longtime friend and business associate of Dainard. Lundquist said McGrath and Dainard had a history of business together and have been implicated in similar lawsuits regarding predatory housing transactions before. On Dec. Lundquist trusted that the people at Heaton-Dainard would do their part to protect them from the lawsuit and the repercussions it would have. After all, Lundquist and Bui had just been doing what their boss had told them to do.
Over the months following the lawsuit, it became clear to Lundquist that the partners at Heaton-Dainard, as well as any of their other companies, were not going to take responsibility, nor would they help protect him. This was one of the first red flags for Lundquist.
Calls from a reporter By January , Lundquist had been receiving calls from a reporter for Seattle Weekly who was investigating the lawsuit and those mentioned in the Larson complaint. Lundquist said he was told by Heaton and Dainard not to answer talk to the reporter. In the end, this move would only serve to hurt Lundquist and to protect Heaton-Dainard. Lundquist said he regrets his decision to ignore the Seattle Weekly reporter to this day. The article mentioned Heaton, Weaver and their shell companies as being involved because they were named in the legal complaint, but it also frames Lundquist as being one of the sole perpetrators of the predatory deal, despite the fact that he was really just a pawn in the scheme.
Lundquist was not aware of the article until it started preventing him from making sales with home sellers who read the article and no longer trusted Lundquist. The Larson suit was settled on June 17, The money that he owed was informally taken from his future commissions.
There was no contract or structured way for the agency to be paid back by Lundquist. Instead they randomly subtracted amounts from his assignment earnings. Sometimes they would take hundreds from his fees, sometimes they would take thousands. Things continued to get worse for Lundquist. He had to avoid giving people his full name because of fear they would not work for him.
He was losing sales and money, and in late August , he and Bui were fired by Heaton. The next few years were hard on Lundquist. He went from making good money as a wholesale home buyer to struggling to find a job that would hire someone implicated in an equity theft lawsuit. Lundquist claims he has since experienced a pattern of potential employers denying him a job because of his alleged involvement in the Ames Larson lawsuit. Lundquist realized how much of a problem the article was going to be for him, so he reached out to Heaton and Dainard about making an effort to speak with the editorial team at Seattle Weekly and set the record straight about what really happened.
Lundquist was told that lawyers would contact Seattle Weekly regarding the article, but that did not seem to be true.
Lundquist continued to contact them about their effort to correct their article, but he only received empty promises and dismissive replies. Eventually, Lundquist had enough.
He felt that he had been completely thrown under the bus. He had lost money, his job and his reputation. He shifted his approach from pitching ideas, to getting to know the people behind the doors. He realized that a lot of people felt stuck in their current living situations. James sat down and listened, and then proposed ways to help them find a solution. I went in with the approach to help them get into a better living situation. At 23 years old, James began setting up movers, finding new rental properties and people who could advise sellers on credit repair.
Business began to flow, and James realized the importance of looking into long-term benefits for his clients. Fast forward 10 years, and James has taken this approach to all areas of business.
At Heaton Dainard we understand that our success is only possible if we help our clients succeed. James is adament about setting a new industry standard based on integrity and doing right by our neighbors.
James brings an uncompromising work ethic and client-based view to Heaton Dainard everyday, functioning as the pillar to which our business is built upon. Our Founders View Larger Image. Will Heaton: As a 5 th generation Washingtonian, Will has a deep affection for his local community stretching the entirety of the Puget Sound Region.
Business was tough at the beginning, the Will and James saw an opportunity when the market was down in , focusing on wholesaling, they realized they could also find great deals on the MLS.
James got his real estate license, and began representing on-market His first flip was meant to be a rental opportunity. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest. About the Author: Sydney Chestnut. We have helped our clients invest in a range of properties, from single family fix and flip, buy and hold, to multi-family investments.
Our team also provides assistance in all aspects of investment from design assistance, renovation budgets, to listing and selling your investment property. View our Investor Corner. Our background in investment, design, and construction provide a multi-faceted approach to real estate allowing us to provide superior service for our clients.
Our team has a decade of experience remodeling and designing homes for every budget. We specialize in the Puget Sound Region, giving you local insights, understanding, and guidance.
Our team of local experts are more than your brokers, we are your neighbors provding the best client experience. Our founders were born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, their commitment to our community has played a tangible role in the development of Heaton Dainard.
Our team brings a multi-faceted view to real estate fueled with local ties and interests.
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