Posted on 12/22/2009 1:12:35 PM PST by Tom Hawks
LAS VEGAS -- A Las Vegas woman says she was the victim of a horrible mistake that left her with an empty condominium and a lot of questions.
Nilly Mauck lived in her condominium for two years and said she never had problem until a series of strange events eventually led to a company coming into her home and throwing away everything she owned.
As Mauck walks around her now empty condo, she can't help but remember how things used to look. Every room in the home is empty and Mauck says the reason is a mistake of address numbers. Her address is 1157, which is right next to 1156, a condo that is in foreclosure.
SLIDESHOW: Pictures from inside the condo before the trash out
A few weeks ago, the foreclosed home was supposed to get locks changed but Mauck says that's not what happened. "I came home to pick up something and there was a note on my door from the Brenkus Team of Keller and Williams Realty stating that they accidentally re-keyed the wrong door," she said.
It was a problem Mauck thought was fixed, until she came home to find a man going into her home. Mauck says everything inside was missing.
She says she later learned her home had been trashed out, a process done to foreclosures where everything left inside is thrown away.
Mauck says she contacted the Brenkus Team. "I said give me $100,000 to $200,000 to replace my things because it will take time and that is being generous. And they said, ‘Ok, that is too much.' She called me that day and told me they were only willing to give me $5,000," she said. "My clothes, my wedding dress, baby pictures, wedding photos, my dishes, my towels, my jewelry, anything you could possibly have in your house. I kept asking them, ‘Where did you take my things because I was ready to go and dumpster dive,' and they had no answer for me."
She is now staying with friends, because she doesn't want to go back to her condo. "I do not feel secure because I know someone has access to my door," she said.
Attorney Michael Joe is a foreclosure specialist with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. He says a mishap similar to this happened six years ago when Countrywide emptied a condo belonging to Gerald and Katrina Thitchener in a mistaken foreclosure. "A number of people were sued. Countrywide ended up paying over $1 million in damages in that case," he said.
Joe says proper legal steps and notifications must be followed when homes go into default.
Mauck admits she is behind on her payments, but that doesn't change the fact they got the wrong house. For now, she is getting an attorney as she learns to live with just the clothes on her back.
Realtor Teri Brenkus with the Brenkus Team could not elaborate on the whereabouts of Mauck's belongings, but says they are doing what they can to resolve the matter.
The company hired to remove everything from the condo is Rob and Renea's Home Preservation. They also had no idea where Mauck's belongings are.
She won’t be behind on her payments much longer. I’d say $200,000 is on the low end of what she will get.
Well she just won the lottery.
"The dog ate my homework" doesn't fix the damage they caused.
A couple million dollars ought to learn 'em to be a little more conscientious about their job.
I think she just won the lottery. Unfortunately, she has lost some non replaceable items but she will shake them down in court. In the long run, she will have some fond memories of her misfortune or at least have new found wealth to relieve her anxiety.
I used to go to storage auctions and sometimes family photos would show up in boxes. Always, always, always the people would give them back for the auctioneer to give to the family. It's called respect for another human being which was sorely lacking in that woman's case.
Fools.
They'll soon be wishing that was all they had to pay!
A good lawyer should be able to win many times that.
>> He says a mishap similar to this happened six years ago when Countrywide emptied a condo belonging to Gerald and Katrina Thitchener in a mistaken foreclosure. “A number of people were sued. Countrywide ended up paying over $1 million in damages in that case,” he said.
Sounds like she’ll end up with her stuff back and then some. If she’s smart, she could be set for life after this. Before every silver lining, there must be a dark cloud.
SnakeDoc
No need to make it political.
Human stupidity is universal and crosses all party lines.
I bet Rob and Renea made a few extra bucks selling good stuff in the house.
You would think the realtor would have a few safeguards in their system to prevent this crap from happening.
Poor woman. On the brightside she be the big winner in all of this. I’m pretty sure they all have brown spots in their underpants now...
I reckon either it gets settled out of court, or she ought to pursue Civil damages AND Criminal charges. Last time I checked “Breaking and Entering”, “Criminal Trespass” and “Burglary” were serious crimes, not to be relieved under color of right.
I bet the removal people said “Nice Stuff!” and either kept it, sold it or gave it away. So, “Conversion” to be added to the list of charges, and perhaps “Receiving” as charges to parties as yet unknown.
Meanwhile, check eBay. There will be a wedding dress posted on there, going with no reserve.
She is silly for not filing a criminal complaint against her the real estate employees and the ‘home preservation’ company for grand theft.
That's what I'm thinking, too. If she has a list (partial or full) of the items missing, check the pawn shops, consignment stores and auction barns.
Years ago I had a house fire. It was an education to me to see how much household goods add up to.
Just go through an sock and underwear drawer - the cheapest of the cheapest - and add up what it takes to replace it, if you just had to go out and buy it. The spice closet in your house is also expensive.
Then think of your whole house. It’s amazing how much it will be. My company covered at a small percentage and I still got enough to put a downpayment on a house.
Get a lawyer,,,one that needs a new Porche or two.
I'm guessing Rob and Renea are having one hell of a Christmas this year.
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