INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) -- Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller on Friday filed a licensing lawsuit against a Wabash-based real estate broker who allegedly intimidated tenants with fake court documents.
Gregory Blatz allegedly forged court documents that threatened two different tenants with court hearings and potential eviction if they failed to make their rent payments.
Blatz is the owner of B&G Real Estate Consultants LLC and Blatz's Realty, both of which are unregistered entities operating in Indiana.
"Falsifying court documents to intimidate tenants is outrageous and a clear violation of the professional standards of practice, and is a serious violation of the authority of our courts," Zoeller said in a statement.
"This licensing action highlights our efforts to protect consumers and hold licensed professionals accountable."
The documents were allegedly titled, "Notice of Claim to Defendants," and were accompanied by a letter advising the tenants of what they should do to avoid a court hearing listed on the notice.
The two tenants arrived in Grant County Superior Court to ask where they needed to report for the hearings. The court's records showed the documents were fraudulent. Judge Warren Haas then filed a complaint against Blatz with Zoeller's office.
The lawsuit alleges Blatz falsified court documents in an attempt to create fear, duress and undue influence upon the tenants, resulting in lewd or immoral conduct.
The Indiana Real Estate Commission has the authority to determine what disciplinary action to take, if any, against Blatz's real estate broker's license.