Journalist SUES Auction House – $6M Home SOLD Without OK
Emmy-winning journalist Cathleen Trigg-Jones is battling auction house Concierge Auctions in court after her $6 million Puerto Rican beachfront property was allegedly sold without her consent for significantly less than its appraised value.
At a Glance
- Trigg-Jones is suing Concierge Auctions for $10 million in damages over the alleged unauthorized sale of her luxury property
- The four-bedroom beachfront townhouse in Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club was valued at $5.9 million but sold for only $4.2 million
- Trigg-Jones claims the auction process involved “blatant misogyny” and proceeded without her signature or legal review
- Concierge Auctions contends that Trigg-Jones’ husband signed the auction agreement, making the sale legitimate
- The buyer, Michael Nachmani, is reportedly threatening legal action to enforce the contested sale
Property Dispute Details
Cathleen Trigg-Jones filed her lawsuit in Manhattan Federal Court seeking $10 million in damages from Concierge Auctions. The property at the center of the dispute is a four-bedroom, four-bath beachfront townhouse located in the prestigious Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club in Puerto Rico. Trigg-Jones and her husband purchased the property in 2014, and it was recently appraised at approximately $5.9 million.
According to court documents, Concierge Auctions allegedly conducted a non-market auction that resulted in the property being sold for $4.2 million – nearly $1.7 million below its appraised value. Trigg-Jones maintains that this sale occurred without her consent, proper signature, or opportunity for legal review of the transaction documents.
Legal Claims and Counterclaims
The lawsuit alleges that Concierge Auctions not only proceeded with an unauthorized sale but also damaged Trigg-Jones’ reputation in the process. Court filings state that the auction company has told others that Trigg-Jones reneged on the deal, potentially causing harm to her professional standing. This reputational damage forms a significant portion of her complaint against the auction house.
Concierge Auctions presents an entirely different version of events. The company contends that Michael Jones, Trigg-Jones’ husband, properly signed the auction agreement, making the sale legitimate and binding. The auction house has characterized Trigg-Jones’ lawsuit as presenting a misleading narrative about the transaction process and its outcome.
Buyer Involvement and Additional Complications
Adding further complexity to the case, the purported buyer of the property, Michael Nachmani, is reportedly threatening legal action to enforce completion of the sale. This creates a three-way legal entanglement that could potentially result in multiple court proceedings related to the same property.
Trigg-Jones has specifically referenced “blatant misogyny” in the auction process, claiming that her rights as a property owner were disregarded. As an Emmy-award winning journalist known for her advocacy work, she has framed this legal battle not just as a personal matter but as one related to women’s rights and equality in business transactions.
Legal and Financial Implications
The $10 million lawsuit seeks damages substantially higher than even the appraised value of the property itself, suggesting that Trigg-Jones is pursuing compensation for both the potential financial loss on the property and the alleged damage to her professional reputation. The case highlights the potential pitfalls in luxury property auctions, particularly regarding consent requirements when property is jointly owned.
The lawsuit also raises questions about verification procedures used by high-end auction houses when conducting multi-million dollar property sales. If Trigg-Jones’ allegations prove true, the case could prompt changes in how auction companies secure and document consent from all property owners before proceeding with sales of jointly-owned assets.
