The District of Columbia (DC) Office of the Attorney General (OAG) recently entered into settlements with four title companies in connection with title company joint ventures that included the companies and real estate agents as owners. The basic allegation of the OAG is that real estate agents were offered the opportunity to purchase interests in title company joint ventures, and that the referral of consumers to the ventures by the agents for title and escrow business violated the DC anti-inducement provision applicable to title insurance, and also the unfair and deceptive trade practice prohibition under the DC Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CCPA).… Continue Reading