In 2012, Shaul Jonathan Dadon joined Triumph Property Group as an agent. He had no experience marketing real estate, but Triumph’s hire was out of loyalty to the firm’s close relationship with his father. Now, the company is suing Dadon for allegedly stealing commissions from the brokerage.
Between 2015 and February 2018, Dadon “stole at least $68,150 in commissions from Triumph for the rental of apartments” at 30 East 14th Street, Triumph said in a legal complaint filed with New York state’s Supreme Court.
Dadon’s father owned the five-story rental building in Greenwich Village, which was transferred to the newly formed entity Dadon Realty LLC in 2014, according to the filing. Over the course of the three-year period, Dadon marketed 17 units in the building. Triumph accused Dadon of collecting commissions directly from Dadon Realty — rather than passing it along to Triumph, which would have paid Dadon his portion.
The brokerage also accused the Dadon of “double dipping” on nine of the units — meaning he took two commissions, from Dadon Realty and also from the tenants who rented the units, from a single transaction.
“Equity and good conscience do not permit Shaul to retain those funds,” the complaint said, adding that the practice was illegal and that “he did so through fraud and deceit.”
Triumph and Dadon couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
The brokerage is seeking about $272,000 in monetary damages from Dadon (four times the amount he allegedly took in improper commissions), as well as additional damages “in an amount to be determined at trial.”
Triumph, which was formed in 1999, exclusively represents around 2,000 apartments in Manhattan, according to its website. Outside of Manhattan, the firm has listings throughout Brooklyn and in Long Island City.