New owners say prior seller misled them; magistrate reduces and resets fines in presale dispute

Counsel for new owners Rainier Castaneda and Analieache Vasquez described a transaction in which the prior owner had failed to complete required permits. Julie Karen, representing the current owners, said the buyers had paid roughly $27,000 out-of-pocket to remedy pool and driveway violations discovered after closing. City staff confirmed compliance dates and the work completed. Magistrate Rosenberg reviewed timelines and agreed to recalculate the accruals using the date the new owners engaged contractors to remedy the issues.

Because the current owners demonstrated prompt action once they uncovered continuing noncompliance, Rosenberg adjusted the accrual calculation and applied a 95% reduction to the fines derived from that timeline, producing a reduced total of $1,441.50 due within 30 days in that matter. Rosenberg told the new owners that documentation of contractor invoices and permit submissions would be useful to retain should they later seek additional enforcement remedies against the prior owner.