Has anyone heard about this lawsuit? J3 Stables Vs Jake Evans. Just saw a tiktok from Viridian Hill Farm talking about it.
Motion for Writ in J3 Stables LLC VS Jake Evans et al.| Trellis.Law
1 Like
Definitely shady stuff going on, but the Liberty One transaction sort of got to me.
So shady, deceptive, fraudulent behavior by JE, right? I’m not judging that or arguing that.
However, BEFORE payment (at the last minute but payment had not been made), JE presented the PPE that shows kissing spine on the horse (Complaint 30). The vet said the horse was fine despite the PPE finding. So J3 bought the horse anyway knowing it had kissing spine, but JE & the vet said it was okay. However, in Complaint 36, they said they never would have purchased the horse had they known it had kissing spine for such a length of time (found 5 months earlier on the separate PPE). Yet, they saw the PPE before money switched hands and bought the horse anyway. Does 5 months really make that much difference if the KS was so severe they can’t resell the horse anymore and it has behavioral issues? Yes - JE was absolutely wrong in this situation and the vet also seems like he doesn’t give a crap, but I do feel like this ONE situation out of the lawsuit is a little “hey you also made a grave mistake here”.
Also can we talk about how $80k and $100k imports are the new “investment horse”. 
4 Likes
At this point, what you have are ALLEGATIONS of shady stuff going on, not proof of anything, so you can’t fairly say “definitely” about anything. When the defense responds to a complaint, it will start to provide a fuller picture of what the evidence might eventually show. If someone’s goal is try to damage a business reputation from the get-go, this is the kind of allegations they make. And taking it to TikTok fits right in line with that goal. Time will tell what the actual story is, but you are right, Belmont, what J3 admits in that complaint tells you there is reason to question their story because they admit they knew about that horse, went forward anyway, but still want to sue for it!
2 Likes
You are correct these things are allegations until proven otherwise. So I will rephrase, “there definitely seems to be shady stuff going on”.
I feel like you likely have a connection to him. However, I will also base my own judgement on dealings some past clients of mine had with him. That is that he has done some shady things and doesn’t have the best reputation. 
2 Likes
These lawsuits read like something I’ve read 100 times before. So much so I am not even surprised anymore. It’s business as usual.
8 Likes
At Opening Bell or Empire Lane?
I am familiar with the parties on both sides of the lawsuit, and as I said, in this case as with any lawsuit, time will tell where the actual truth lies.
1 Like
To me this reads like a partial truth was told, but not the whole truth–hence why there’s now a lawsuit, intent aside. And is this about the KS or the “hidden commission” that’s mentioned in here that may have biased the transaction?
I am also familiar (but not personally acquainted) with both parties. Curious to see how it plays out.
At the very least, it’s yet another caveat emptor for all horse buyers in so many ways (KS, knowing there may be other commissions at play, getting second or even third opinions).
3 Likes
It’s kinda wild. Makes me dread going out and purchasing a new horse in the future–just so much that can go wrong. 
To me it reads more like it is about the lack of properly acting as the buyers agent by not disclosing they were also the sellers agent (getting a commission from that side too), and the lies that went along with it (not being honest about the extent of the kissing spine, etc).
But I am not a lawyer and do not play one on TV.
6 Likes
I did find this bit a interesting (strange).
Maybe my vet is weird, but they note why they do things, etc.
4 Likes
Seems to track with the way he was signing off on PPE reports.
1 Like
Personally, I don’t feel as though posting something on TikTok is an attempt to destroy someone’s business - I don’t believe it has that kind of reach. We (g) have proven time and time again that we (g) will go back to people who are accused (and convicted) of things that are much worse than this. I mean, Paul Valliere still does clinics! This is precisely why I DO want to hear these allegations, and I DO want people to spread the word. I think that too often, things are swept under the rug in the equestrian world, and it benefits us all to hear things like this. Ultimately, I’m not making any judgments until there is a verdict, but I do appreciate the knowledge.
8 Likes
That’s a real good point. Eesh that line makes me 
My vet’s notes are real brief–like sometimes I wonder if he challenges himself to haikus–but you still see the important bits in the records. “complaint of horse trots short. right shoulder palpated”
3 Likes
Florida has some of the strictest horse sale laws in the US and this lawsuit appears to be based on some of these rules especially in the commission area.
3 Likes
I don’t doubt that the buyer has some personal responsibility here that she’s not accepting, and feel like if this were reddit it would probably end up with a verdict of “everyone sucks here” by the end, but you have in writing that there were double dipped and undisclosed commissions. At that point it’s hard to say that all the other representations he made to the client were in her best interest when the one item that is so cut and dry on being illegal is right there in front of you. I know I have certainly had situations where I had a good relationship with a trainer and believed they were looking out for me, and then looking back I think “wtf is wrong with you, why did you take their word on that?” - it will be an interesting question for the court on whether her reliance on a non-vet’s representation of a veterinary finding is relevant to financial damages. I would think for a personal horse probably not going to get anywhere on that but for resale when he had a prior deal fall apart on the same horse, he should theoretically be an expert on the impact to marketability for that specific animal.
I will say based on my limited personal experience, I wasn’t surprised to see regulatory problems for him, just that they were with this person and that this was the issue. I don’t think I have run into anyone who has dealt with him who isn’t a current client who has good things to say, so it’s not just me, but perhaps it’s the circles I run in.
10 Likes
This is a great post.
You conveyed my thoughts much better than I was capable of.
1 Like
I don’t think a lot of people have read the whole lawsuit until the end. There is proof from the seller that he double dipped on the one horse, receiving a commission from the seller and buyer, which was not disclosed. That is illegal in Florida point blank. You can argue all the other stuff, but you can’t argue that. I think that’s why they’re even suing him, to me that’s the only “definitive” thing they have. But I don’t know the suing party, but they also just might want to bring light to his entire situation considering all the other stuff that he has going on.
8 Likes
Curious what you are referring to with the “other stuff he has going on?” Mr. Evans shows up in our area from time to time
Isnt double agency also a USEF violation?
Not commenting on this specific horse/transaction but in general…
Yes, as a buyer I might feel differently about KS found for the first time on a PPE and KS that had been diagnosed 5 months prior and not disclosed as having been diagnosed at that time. The diagnosis 5 months prior suggests something had been going on with the horse’s soundness/performance that prompted X-rays which to me says the KS is less likely to be “asymptomatic” than if it was an incidental finding on a PPE with no accompanying clinical signs.
Also, depending on the horse’s record, there may be a gap or a dip in performance leading up to in/around the time of the diagnosis that was assumed to be caused by something else, that knowing a KS diagnosis had been made might cast different light on those facts.
So although I don’t think I’d personally be buying a horse with KS diagnosed 5 months prior OR KS diagnosed for the first time at the PPE-- I would interpret differently those two scenarios and I can see where a buyer might be willing to take a chance on the latter but not the former.
5 Likes
