(BCN) — A Calistoga city councilmember is being sued for allegedly “cajoling” an 84-year-old woman in cognitive decline to take on a loan that he and his business benefited from financially, according to a lawsuit filed in Napa County Superior Court.
The April lawsuit alleges that Councilmember Scott Cooper, who is also a real estate broker with his company Cal Green Lending, “preyed upon” the woman, Cheryl West, by persuading her to take on a reverse mortgage in 2020 while she was in cognitive decline.
Marla Faust, the plaintiff and daughter-in-law of West, alleges that Cooper knew that West lacked the capacity and understanding to enter into the reverse mortgage. The lawsuit looks to cancel West’s loan and calls for $125,000 or more in damages.
The civil accusations against Cooper are financial elder abuse, constructive fraud and unfair business practices.
Cooper called the claims “unsupported by any factual basis” in a June response to the lawsuit.
Faust says in the lawsuit that she told Cooper during his first visit with West that her mother-in-law did not need or want a reverse mortgage on her home.
Still, Cooper “persisted” in trying to make the sale, the lawsuit said.
Cooper said in his June response that West was mentally competent and tried to get the loan on her own.
Cooper declined to comment on the lawsuit but said, “it’s never fun to show up in the paper like that.”
Cooper first took office in 2023 after being elected by voters in 2022. His term ends at the end of 2026.
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