Fox 5 Atlanta – Sam Leccima

UPDATE 6/05: Dale Russell comes through with a THIRD INSTALLMENT of the Sam Leccima story! 

UPDATE: Fox 5 Atlanta has a second part to the Sam Leccima Story!  Click Here!

There will be another installment of the Fox 5 Atlanta I-Team look into Flip This House and Sam Leccima tomorrow night, but the tonight’s segment is available online.  Simply click the photo or this link.

You may also be interested in reading Investigative Reporter Dale Russell’s blog, which has a number of very informative links.

Sam Leccima Gathers More Attention

This morning, Yahoo News posted an AP article titled ‘Flip This House’ star accused of fraud, which reported on Sam Leccima’s various problems.

You can learn more by reading about Samuel P. Leccima’s Real Estate License Revocation, or watching part one and part two of Dale Russell’s Fox 5 I-Team Report.  I am informed that Dale will be adding a third installment of his investigative report Tuesday night.  I’ll post links here.

Some developing reports on the web incorrectly indicate that Sam Leccima has been arrested, but a call by the Flip This Lawsuit webmaster to the Atlanta Department of Corrections indicates that Mr. Leccima remains, at this time, a free man.

Some users may have noticed problems accessing and using this website today.  In the wake of the news, a significant spike in the number of visitors occurred, and it took our webhosts some time to resolve problems with accessing the site.  At this point in time, the site should be loading much more quickly.

Hot Property on Cable

According to USA Today, The Real Deal is pulling in 50% more viewwers to its timeslot than Trading Spaces, the show that previously occupied the same time on TLC.  The report does not compare the ratings of The Real Deal with Flip This House.

We learned of this report thanks to an email from Richard Davis:

Hey Y’all

I hope you’re all doing great and that you’ve enjoyed the episodes so far! The switch to TLC has been huge – ratings are tremendous and according to this morning’s USA TODAY, “The Real Deal, running in the former Saturday time slot of makeover show, ‘Trading Spaces’ is pulling in about 50% more viewers. That shows there’s still very much interest, even in a down market…” This just reinforces what we are trying to accomplish with the show by giving you an inside look into the real deals!

If you missed last week’s episode, it will reair at 7 PM on Saturday. It was a good one, so be sure to let us know what you think! As always, thank you for your continued support.

See you Saturday!
Richard and Team Trademark

Fox 5 Atlanta Investigates Sam Leccima

From Dale Russell, Senior I-Team Reporter at Fox 5 Atlanta:

I’d like to invite all the readers of FlipThisLawsuit to get a rare and fascinating behind the scenes look at the show: Flip This House.  Our I-team has investigated Sam Leccima and found a number of angry investors who have complained to state regulators and in lawsuits that Sam took their money.  We also pull back the curtain and give you a behind the scenes look at what really happened with his renovations. 

After learning of what we found, A & E has taken Sam off the air, pending an internal investigation

After seeing the story of Sam Leccima’s Atlanta renovations, you may never look at reality TV the same.

You can view the stories on http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/

Go to I-team and look for Mr. Leccima.  They run Monday and Tuesday night, a little after 6:00 EST.

Once the reports air on Monday and Tuesday, they should be available on this page.

Some Documents Released as Public Versions

As discussed earlier, a number of documents were filed as sealed documents, unavailable to those of us interested in monitoring the case.

Some of those documents have now been released in a public version.  The most important of these is the memo in support of summary judgment:

• Docket as of 4/30/2007
• Letter from Robert H. Jordan, Esq., Attorney for Defendants
• Appendix 1 – Correspondence between counsel for parties regarding unsealing of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment and Memorandum in Support Thereof
• Appendix 2 – Public Version of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment filed April 2, 2007
• Appendix 3 – Public Version of Memorandum in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment filed April 2, 2007
• Exhibit A to Memorandum in Support of Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment

We’d like to thank the attorneys in this matter for providing a public version of these documents.

The House That Wouldn’t Sell – April 21 at 9PM ET/PT On TLC

From Trademark Properties on April 20, 2007:

Hello to all supporters of Team Trademark!

Guess who’s Back??!! That’s right, no more pretenders, time for  THE REAL DEAL to take over red rover:)

 We know it’s been a long time but “THE REAL DEAL” is less than 36 hours away! It has been a long time since you saw a new deal from us, but sit back, turn up the volume, strap yourself into your recliner and hold on, cause HERE WE GO, and you’re welcome to come along for the ride:)!!! Please help spread the word to FLIP THE CHANNEL to TLC Saturday night at 9pm to see the latest from the GREATEST!!!:)

Thank you all for your passionate and continued support, without you, none of this would have been possible!!!!! You guys are the best, hope you enjoy your window into our world every week for a long time to come!!!

From Trademark Properties on April 17, 2007:

Hey Everyone!

We hope you are doing well! Its been an eventful year and the crew at Trademark Properties thanks you for your support. After several crazy adventures, many months of filming, and a lot of fun Trademark style, it is finally time for our return – and we are so excited!

The first episode takes place in Charleston and finds our team tackling the impossible by investing in a house that’s been on the market for almost a year. We renovate this five bedroom eye-sore (of course in Trademark fashion) and make it a thing of beauty in just five days. But as always, this job comes with a myriad of problems that will keep you wondering how we pull out off!

Please remember Trademark Properties and The Real Deal are now on TLC, so please tune in and let us know what you think – its great to be back! Enjoy!

– Team Trademark

For Immediate Release
April 17, 2007 THE REAL DEALIn THE REAL DEAL, premiering Saturday April 21 at 9pm ET/PT, real estate mastermind Richard C. Davis and his team at Trademark Properties face down a falling housing market and turn property into profit. Each week, Richard and the rest of the Trademark team locate, renovate and profit from the most challenging projects they can find. Together, Richard and Team Trademark pull off what everyone else says is impossible, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Their secret? Make your money when you buy, get the job done right and get it done fast.

In THE REAL DEAL, premiering Saturday April 21 at 9pm ET/PT, real estate mastermind Richard C. Davis and his team at Trademark Properties face down a falling housing market and turn property into profit. Each week, Richard and the rest of the Trademark team locate, renovate and profit from the most challenging projects they can find. Together, Richard and Team Trademark pull off what everyone else says is impossible, and they wouldn’t have it any other way. Their secret? Make your money when you buy, get the job done right and get it done fast.In each one-hour episode, viewers get an up- close view of how Davis and his staff evaluate properties for investment potential and then inject them with much-needed improvements to maximize their profit. The result is a no-holds-barred look at the realities of real estate, where the stakes are high and the timelines are tight, and a look inside the spirit of teamwork and community spirit that propels Trademark forward. Whether it’s a house that’s been on the market forever, a condo, restaurant or a community project like his old High School concession stand or a monument to a military hero, Richard and Team Trademark do what no one else can, or at least, what no one else has the guts – or heart – to try.

Anyone purchased Armando Montelongo’s Real Estate Package?

Armando Montelongo, though the magic of Google Ads, is advertising his Master Home Study Course and Flip and Grow Rich Ebooks on the sidebar of this website.  Several people have commented on the $997 package, but thus far I’ve not received a report from anyone who has purchased the materials.

If you’ve purchased this package, and would be willing to share your review, please contact mark at flipthislawsuit dot com.

The San Antonio Crew has been very effective in maximizing the return on their appearances on A&E.  Their first episodes focused on their business website, Melina launched a site focusing on motherhood, and now Armando is focusing on sharing the lessons he’s learned in real estate.

Discovery Hearing Transcript Available

I’ve been able to obtain the transcript of the discovery hearing, which took place on February 6, 2007.  You can review it here.

Some highlights:

• …the plaintiff has evidenced a propensity for publication. [p7, 20-21]
• There’s no reason the case can’t be tried in June, July. [p10, 12-13]
• The Court: Do you have any authority that an oral agreement under these circumstances is unenforceable?…
  AETN: Your Honor, I really am not prepared to argue that at this stage…
  The Court: You should be. I mean, that’s the key issue…
  AETN: There’s not a shred of evidence to support that claim…
  The Court: His testimony is sufficient, unless some form of Statute of Frauds covers the agreement, thereby requiring it be in writing. And I don’t know of any. You spoke of New York law, and I don’t claim to know any New York law, I don’t even know whether New York law applies to this case or whether South Carolina law or somewhere in between. And I haven’t looked at the Statute of Frauds. But it seems to me that’s the first place you’re going to look. Because if the Statute of Frauds doesn’t prohibit his establishment of a contract, oral contract, enforceable oral contract, then his testimony is enough to override any summary judgment. It creates a genuine issue of fact. [pp13-14]

Court Documents Under Seal

Mediation in the Trademark Properties v A&E lawsuit was scheduled to occur before March 1, 2007.  Reviewing the docket, however, it appears that mediation was not successful and that litigation continues.

Of concern to your webmaster are documents filed with the court that are now sealed.  By sealing these documents, the parties, and the Court, have prevented those of us who desire to follow the case from knowing what is taking place in this litigation.  This level of restriction is highly unusual.

For example, we have this interesting docket entry made just a few days ago:

04/02/2007 – Document #50
Sealed Document. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit A# (2) Exhibit B# (3) Exhibit C# (4) Exhibit D# (5) Exhibit E# (6) Exhibit F# (7) Exhibit G# (8) Exhibit H# (9) Exhibit I# (10) Exhibit J# (11) Exhibit K# (12) Exhibit L# (13) Exhibit M# (14) Exhibit N# (15) Exhibit O# (16) Exhibit P# (17) Exhibit Q# (18) Exhibit R# (19) Exhibit S# (20) Exhibit T# (21) Exhibit U# (22) Exhibit V# (23) Exhibit W# (24) Exhibit X# (25) Exhibit Y# (26) Exhibit Z# (27) Exhibit AA)(Jordan, Robert) Modified on 4/3/2007 to correct the file date (erav, ). (Entered: 04/03/2007)

In the United States, there is a presumption in favor of open court records.  In order for the public’s presumptive right of access to be limited, specific reasons must be presented to the Court. The sealing of records must be authorized by statute or required by compelling circumstances. Also, a party seeking to have the record sealed has the burden of showing that their interests in confidentiality outweigh the public policy in favor of open court records.

I have found no indication that, instead of sealing the record, the parties considered redacting sensitive information from the record.  Doing so would allow some access to the court records and at the same time help protect any valid privacy interest.

I have contacted the Court in an attempt to gain access to these sealed documents so that I may report them to our readers. Access was denied (as is expected, unfortunately). 

Absent a compelling circumstance, our courts should not allow litigation under a cloak of secrecy from public scrutiny.  Simply wishing that the public would not know the details of pending litigation is not a compelling circumstance.

The docket number of this case is 2:06-cv-02195-CWH. The case has been assigned to the Honorable C. Weston Houck.  The attorney for Trademark Properties is Frank M Cisa, Esq.  The attorney for A&E is Robert H Jordan, Esq.  Their names of the attorneys link to their email addresses.  I encourage those interested in exercising your right of access to these court documents email the attorneys and request that documents not be filed under seal but instead be filed publicly with redactions as necessary to protect confidential information. 

I have, however, downloaded those documents which are publicly available since my last docket update.  They are as follows:

• Docket Report from 04/05/07
• #22 Rule 26(f) Report by Trademark Properties Inc.
• #25 MOTION to Compel Discovery Responses of Plaintiffs/Counterclaim Defendants by Departure Films, A&E Television Networks
• #26 RESPONSE in Opposition re 25 MOTION to Compel Discovery Responses of Plaintiffs/Counterclaim Defendants Response filed by Trademark Properties Inc, Trademark Properties Inc, Richard C Davis.
• #29 RESPONSE in Support re 25 MOTION to Compel Discovery Responses of Plaintiffs/Counterclaim Defendants Response filed by A&E Television Networks, Departure Films, A&E Television Networks
• #31 First MOTION to Compel by Trademark Properties Inc, Richard C Davis.
• #33 Consent MOTION for Confidentiality Order by Departure Films, A&E Television Networks, A&E Television Networks(a Joint Venture of the Hearst Corporation).
• #34 CONFIDENTIALITY ORDER granting 33 Motion for Confidentiality Order. (details outlined in order).
• #35 RESPONSE in Opposition re 31 First MOTION to Compel Response filed by Departure Films, A&E Television Networks, A&E Television Networks(a Joint Venture of the Hearst Corporation).
• #40 AMENDED COMPLAINT against Departure Films, A&E Television Networks, filed by Trademark Properties Inc, Richard C Davis.
• #41 ANSWER to Amended Complaint and, COUNTERCLAIM against Trademark Properties Inc, Richard C Davis, Trademark Properties Inc, Richard C Davis by Departure Films, A&E Television Networks, A&E Television Networks(a Joint Venture of the Hearst Corporation).
• #42 REPLY by Trademark Properties Inc, Richard C Davis Plaintiffs’ Reply to Defendants’ Amended Answer and Counterclaim.
• #46 AFFIDAVIT of Charles Norlander by Departure Films, A&E Television Networks.
• #49 DECLARATION by Departure Films, A&E Television Networks of NANCY DUBUC.

TLC vs A&E

Tonight, TLC and A&E are going head-to-head with A Home Run For Trademark and Flip This House – New Haven.

A Home Run For Trademark is a special; the first episode “The Real Deal” will be April 21 at 9e/8c.  The show centers around the relocation of the Shoeless Joe house, while at the same time helping to renovate the life of a current baseball player.  The show had a great storyline, and gave us all a taste of what to expect with the upcoming season of The Real Deal.

I’m watching the New Haven team on Flip This House, and noticed that A&E seems to have learned from the dismal performance last season.  The show has a faster pace, new graphics, and the budgets seem more realistic.  The new crew has a website that they continually pimped on the show – http://www.thanandpaul.com/.  In the end they doubled their money on the project, along the way they had a broken water main and an injury. 

Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.