Month: January 2009

Cyprus lawyer at centre of protest replies

FOTOS PITTADJIS, the lawyer at the centre of yesterday’s peaceful protest in Paphos, has given his side of the story concerning allegations made against him to the Cyprus Mail. In an article by Bejay Browne in today’s paper, he said:

“I have heard about this demo, and I must say I find it offensive and annoying. It all seems to be organised by Chris Wood and Conor O’Dwyer.

“My father represented O’Dwyer in court, and the case was lost.”

Pittadjis continued, “I’ve represented thousands of British nationals, and offered a high degree of legal service, it’s highly unlikely that the people outside were my clients.”

He added, “As regards Chris Wood, he was only my client for one week. He then decided not to buy the property in question.”

“In Wood’s case, the developer had mortgaged the land. In turn, Chris got a mortgage from the bank, and I explained to him, the mortgage would be taken off the developer’s name and put into his.

“He then told me he wasn’t happy with this and he wanted his money back. He pulled out because of the recession and he’s picking on me.”

Pittadjis continued, “I explained this would be difficult as we had signed a sales contract, but I called the developer to try and negotiate. I was assured by the developer he would refund all the money, I’m sure Chris has had it back.”

Pittadjis believes all of his clients to be happy and assured that his company are careful to provide a high level of legal advice.

Often in Cyprus, properties are built on land mortgaged by the developer in order to fund another project.

“I never accept to release the final payment instalment unless the bank issues a waiver to free the property of the mortgage,” said Pittadjis.

“I’ve spent thousands ensuring that I have highly trained staff, so that this sort of situation can be avoided. I want to protect my reputation. People never get to hear my side of the story, and it’s unfair,” he added.

Pittadjis said he checks the mortgage imposed on a property and that the relevant building permit is in place.

“If anyone is a cash buyer, I check I’ve received a waiver form the bank before we release the third and final stage payment,” he stressed.

He added, “Chris even contacted me to negotiate his legal fees. I decided not to charge him anything, so as not to experience any further problems.”

“I’ve provided a good service to thousands of people. As if I would risk everything for a couple of thousand euros,” he said.

Pittadjis himself is one of many purchasers who have brought a property without title deeds.

“Cyprus was never prepared for this building fever,” he pointed out. “I hope that in two or three years, the new legislation will allow owners to apply for title deeds, and all the problems can be resolved.”

Pittadjis concluded, “I have to be honest. Some of these people are right: there are lawyers who might release payment without checking the situation but we never do that.

“We always make sure we have a bank waiver. That’s why the developers have never wanted to work with me – and this is why I’m so hurt by these accusations now.”

By: Nigel Howarth Published: Tuesday 27th January 2009

To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News
Copyright © Cyprus Property News

Paphos title deeds demo targets law firm

ANGRY demonstrators converged on the offices of Pittadjis Law Firm in Paphos yesterday, protesting the lack of proper legislation concerning developers and title deeds.

Denis O’Hare of the Cyprus Property Action Group (CPAG) told the Cyprus Mail, “We’re here because we were asked by the victims of this lawyer – it’s not organised by us. We would usually contact the press in the UK, and give a month’s notice. But we’re here today to lend our support.”

“This law firm has given out bad information in many property purchase cases, and these people here today are just the tip of the iceberg. The system here is wrong,” he added.

“There are thousands of people without title deeds to their properties, and lawyers fail to inform purchasers’ about the situation in Cyprus. Many wouldn’t have brought here if they’d known,” he said.

“You would have to be slightly crazy to buy from a developer now. Cyprus is still a wonderful country, with a great climate and people, but unfortunately, developers and the legal fraternity have ruined it for everyone.”

O’Hare stressed, “It isn’t just expats and foreigners being affected with the property situation, in fact, most of the people suffering are the Cypriots. These people are working two or three jobs just to make ends meet. We have to all work together to try and fix this.”

CPAG say the Pittadjis law firm was involved in the re-selling of Conor O’Dwyer’s property to a second buyer after his sales contract had been lodged with the Land Registry.

Conor O’Dwyer, is currently engaged in a high-profile dispute with the developers of a house in Frenaros. He has been ordered by the judge hearing his case not to take part in any demonstrations and was not in Paphos.

Many other protesters, unhappy with practices of the law firm and developers in Cyprus, took part.

Janice Crossley was at the demonstration.

“This law firm withdrew my contract of sale for a property in Ayia Thekla from the land registry,” she said.

“[The act was] contrary to my instruction and they abused their power of attorney. The property has now been re- sold and I’m €188,000 down. I’ve now revoked my power of attorney and will be taking the matter further. At present I’m living in England.’

Chris Wood is 38 and lives in Liverpool. He said, “These guys were supposed to be my lawyers. I was buying a property on a large development, and they exposed me to my developer’s debt.”

“They didn’t carry out searches to see if there were any charges on the land. My developer tried to silence me by getting me to sign a confidentiality agreement.

“It goes so much deeper than this. What about the people who actually sign these [contracts]? You never hear about them, apparently it’s quite common. I didn’t sign.”

He added, “The developers got my money and I want it back. The projects are big, so he must have taken money off a lot of people.

“Even if the property was delivered on time, I still wouldn’t have been happy. Basically, I would like justice, and for him to return my money in full.”

“It’s too late for me, but I would like to raise awareness for others. This law firm, I believe, is representing around eighty per cent of the development. I think they were recommended.”

Wood attended a property roadshow in Liverpool and said a lawyer from Pittadjis was flown over, along with representatives from Alpha bank. Sales contracts were drawn up, ready to sign.

“They’re inducing people to sign and [do] not offering any protection,” Wood charged. “The property was supposed to be a home for my family, but now it’s turned into a nightmare.

“There are people I know who have said they won’t set foot in Cyprus again, the level of corruption is just too high.”

Wood says Fotos Pittadjis assured him in June 2007, that his money would be returned. He says the developer has been making empty promises since then.

“I’m owed CY£35,000,” he said “This man is a British developer, and is abusing the system here.”

Bejay Browne – January 27, 2009

Bizarre twist as entire O’Dwyer court ordered out

COURT proceedings on the first day of the high profile Conor O’Dwyer assault case were adjourned yesterday after defence lawyers expressed concerns that the hearing was being secretly tape-recorded.

In a bizarre twist to the ongoing saga, the entire gallery at Famagusta District Court was ordered out of the chamber and told by Judge Evi Antoniou to “take mobile phones, recording devices, micro cameras or any surveillance equipment to their cars and then return.”

The move came just moments after the session started, when defence lawyers expressed their serious concerns that a message written by O’Dwyer on a local internet forum on Monday stated, “I am producing video evidence for all to see.”

In the same online posting, O’Dwyer also urged supporters to attend the hearing.

“If anyone wants to come along to see justice being served then it would be great to meet you there,” he wrote.

A printed copy of O’Dwyer’s Internet message was presented to the judge, who held up the paper in the air and demanded an explanation.

After several sharp exchanges between the judge and O’Dwyer’s lawyer Yiannos Georgiades, the hearing was postponed until April 30.

The judge also ordered that both parties in the case were not to approach each other, nor enter into any communication or conduct surveillance on each other.

A court translator then added in English, “You must not get close to each other at all.”

After the hearing, O’Dwyer told the Cyprus Mail, his Internet posting had actually meant that he would present video evidence to the court, and not record the actual session.

Despite O’Dwyer’s online call for people to come along, only a handful of supporters turned up at the court and neither O’Dwyer nor the defendants were called to the stand.

Commenting on the hearing, lawyer Yiannos Georgiades said he had never encountered such an incident in court in his career.

The case revolves around claims that a local developer, his son and another man are charged with causing grievous bodily harm to O’Dwyer following an incident outside a disputed house on January 13 last year.

O’Dwyer, 39, spent a week in Larnaca hospital after the alleged attack.

However, in a rare public statement last year, the developers accused O’Dwyer of allegedly masterminding a plan to extort a newer, more expensive property, and exorbitant damages from the company.

The company also added that they had “failed to adhere to his blackmail requests“.

In a separate development, on Monday O’Dwyer blasted Famagusta District Police for refusing to accompany him to the disputed property to take photographs.

According to O’Dwyer, officers point blank refused his request and even told him he may face arrest if he was found to be trespassing.

The case is unusual as every twist and turn in the saga has been published online on his website www.lyingbuilder.com, which has recorded tens of thousands of hits over the past year.

Concerns have been privately raised by some observers that the sheer volume of information made available by O’Dwyer on the internet could influence the outcome of the case.

By: Nathan Morley Published: Wednesday 21st January 2009

To see comments from British expats read this article in the Cyprus Property News
Copyright © Cyprus Property News