Attorney and wife sue company over terminated real estate deal

A couple is suing after a development company and its owner allegedly terminated a real estate purchase contract.

Lei Keovan, a Chicago attorney, and Golie Roshandel Keovan filed a lawsuit Nov. 4 in Cook County Circuit Court against Portico Development LLC, Gable Construction LLC and William Bettiga, citing breach of contract and fraud.

According to the complaint, the Keovans entered into a real estate purchase agreement with Portico on Dec. 19, 2006 to purchase a unit at 1529 W. Chestnut St., as well as a parking space.

The Keovans assert in their suit that Bettiga represented himself as the sole owner, developer and general contractor of the property and the sole member of Portico. Bettiga, the suit states, was also the sole member of Gable Construction, which was the general contractor that built the property.

According to the complaint, Bettiga sent the Keovans a letter terminating the real estate contract on Nov. 5, 2008.

They are seeking a judgment in the amount of $133,690. Keovan is representing himself and his wife in the suit.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2013L012194.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story.