NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
In re
JON and MARY BETH KLIMA, No. 00-10079
Debtor(s).
______________________________________/
Memorandum
Like many states, California has enacted laws permitting a real estate broker to represent both
the buyer and the seller in a real estate transaction. Calif. Civil Code § 2079.17; 3 Cal. Real Estate L.
& P., Brokers, § 61.22[2]. However, the concept of such dual agency has consistently drawn severe
criticism. See, e.g., "Sub-Agency in Real Estate Brokerage: A Proposal to End the Struggle With
Reality," 61 S.Cal.L.Rev. 399, 452 (1988); "The 'Brokerage Relations' Addition to the Illinois Real
Estate License Act: The Case of the Legalized Conflict of Interest," 22 S.Ill.U.L.J. 725 (1998). As the
latter comment noted, the practice of dual agency in real estate transactions is highly controversial.
Representing more than one party to a transaction presents a conflict of interest since both clients may
rely upon the licensee's advice and the clients' respective interests may be adverse to each other.
In bankruptcy cases, real estate brokers are professionals whose employment must be approved
by the bankruptcy court.
In re Haley, 950 F.2d 588 (9
th Cir. 1991). The court may only approve the
employment of a professional who represents no interest adverse to the estate. 11 U.S.C § 327(a).
Whatever the status of California law may be on dual agency, no broker can be appointed to represent a
bankruptcy estate unless his or her loyalty and fiduciary duties are undivided. Accordingly, the trustee's
application to employ a real estate broker in the above matter will be approved only with the
understanding that the broker shall not represent any other interest in connection with this case.
Dated: April 27, 2000 ___________________________
Alan Jaroslovsky
U.S. Bankruptcy
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