Wow this is all so crazy. Thanks for the updates
Thanks for update - funny, for some reason this went through my head about a week ago during a conversation about buying horses in Wellington.
I might be incorrect on the specific technicalities of Florida… but I believe it’s pretty usual to have to respond to a legal request for admission within thirty days. Roffman will need to admit, deny, or object to each request. It’s probably a safe assumption she’ll object to everything. I can’t imagine anyone straight up admitting fraud.
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What amazes me is that despite these two lawsuits, Roffman continues to sell horses. You would think potential buyers would be wary. I certainly would.
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Well… it’s 2019 and the 2nd lawsuit involving buying and selling of horses in Wellington, is STILL going on.
The responses to the request for admissions made back at the end of November have been filed as of the end of December.
- Roffman admits she was sued by Tarjan… but objects to the remainder of the first request for admission, to the extent that it would require a legal conclusion regarding fraud.
- Roffman denies advising Tarjan to accept $300,000 for the sale of Faberge.
- Roffman admits Tarjan did accept $300,000 for the sale of Faberge.
- Roffman admits Peter Eeckman Horses did not pay $300,000 for the purchase of Faberge.
- Roffman denies a 3rd party paid $900,000 for the purchase of Faberge.
- Roffman denies Peter Eeckman Horses retained $10,000 for the use of their bank account.
- Roffman admits she is the sole member/manager of Lionshare Dressage.
- Roffman denies knowing Rockefeller-Silvia was not actually related to the magnate John D. Rockefeller.
- Roffman denies knowing that Rockefeller-Silvia was not related to the magnate John D. Rockefeller at the time he introduced her to Ruth Ann Green.
In other notable developments, Rockefeller-Silvia sent a letter in to the court in early December regarding the allegation he has fled Palm Beach County… I will try to run down some of what the letter covers, but am going to be a bit careful.
- He claims he did produce documents to Ruth Ann Green’s prior attorney months ago.
- He claims to have received “threatening” calls related to the case, and that there is a record of the calls on file with the Palm Beach Police Department.
- He claims that he is currently keeping his location confidential, because a friend of his was “assaulted” by an employee of Roffman and Meredith’s and “sent to the hospital.”
- Additional allegations are made in the letter naming other people, claiming the friend who was “assaulted” was a “witness” to a conversation regarding a commission from the sale of LeBron du Moulin.
- The letter states “the case” is “currently being prosecuted by the state of Florida”
***it’s unclear to me after reading it as to what exactly “the case” is that is being “prosecuted” and who exactly is involved. *** So I have not named other third parties. But the letter does name people, and it has officially been submitted to the court, and Rockefeller-Silvia’s allegations can be viewed publicly on the Palm Beach Clerk of Courts website. It’s under the “documents” tab of the case.
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It does not surprise me and may take a few years before all of this is resolved…
It does not surprise me and may take a few years before it is resolved…
This breaks my heart for the people who were not dealt with fairly and for the honest people who will have to deal with the repercussions of dishonest horse deals.
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I would imagine it will spawn quite a bit of additional litigation for one reason or another. And multiple people will file for bankruptcy along the way.
Just saw on “Dressage-News” where Stuart Roffman (Caroline’s father) has been added as a co-defendant.
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This former “Rising Star” has sure turned into a fallen star. And then Daddy tries to bail her out. Wow.
I believe innocent until proven guilty, but really two sizeable messes in a short amount of time sure make hard to believe she’s not crooked.
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This isn’t the first, second, third, or even the fourth time Caroline has (allegedly) done this, Wellington and the dressage community is smalll.
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Any updates on the case? I hope these fraud cases get brought to light, terrible that we put our trust in “professionals” that do not represent client’s best interests.
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Because I was curious… I looked up public records on where this case currently stands.
It’s gone around and around, with multiple delay tactics on both sides, and switching of attorneys by the plaintiff, etc. Both sides avoiding sitting for depositions multiple times, rescheduling depositions, etc. Rick “Rockefeller” (what a joke) Silvia resorted to representing himself, and apparently is back in Jacksonville after disappearing for some time and avoiding process servers. Maybe he staying with family (the non Rockefeller branch). Clearly he is indigent, and his notoriety in the Dressage community has impeded his ability to [edit] on wealthy owners/“clients”/marks in the Wellington area. What a shame.
Part of the original sales contract mandated that the parties go through mediation in the event of a dispute. So the judge forced that issue… the mediation is now complete and the result is no agreement.
The plaintiff, Ruth Green, seems intent on going to trial. These folks picked the WRONG person to try and defraud. For a number of reasons.
As of December 2019, there are also two open lawsuits against Stuart Roffman from creditors. One for over $250,000 in debt. Who knows whether or not this is related to the ongoing lawsuit involving his daughter, her husband, their associate Mr. Rockefeller, and the legal bills they have been racking up since 2018… but it’s an eye opener.
Anyway… just in case anyone was curious. People who engage in these sort of shady dealings seem to slip through the cracks over and over, privately settle disputes, and then resurface in the horse business and engage in shady dealings all over again at the first opportunity. It looks like the plaintiff in this case has no interest in quietly settling though…
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After glancing at the first few posts and then fast-forwarding to today, all I have to say is WHO THE HELL PAYS THAT KIND OF MONEY FOR A HORSE??
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Plenty of people pay lots of $ for horses. And cars, and multiple homes, and yachts. There are much higher priced horses bought and sold all the time, obviously by very wealthy people.
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ON the world big sport horse money game there are plenty of people who pay high 6 low 7 figures
Lebron du Molin was actively competing again in early 2019, so the tendon injury seems to have improved.
I’d be interested in how these folks worked out an agreement with respect to actively campaigning the horse, etc, while this lawsuit was going on.
I mean, Alice Tarjan was involved in this (as it was her horse she was selling, if I recall the entire debacle). She’s one of the most accomplished amateur American riders I can think of. She is always well represented at the young and developing horse championships, for example, and has always done very well for herself even competing against professionals. (And Ots is also well known, especially as a rider of the young horses/young horse classes.) As far as the pricetag goes, if someone is looking for a confirmed Grand Prix horse (and the wrench here I believe were the changes, Tarjan was told he wasn’t international quality because they weren’t so good?) that is internationally competitive, that is a significant amount of money.
With the people involved, we’re not looking at a grand prix horse that, say, my mother would buy (“oh, I want a safe, well schooled horse I can show here and there and have solid rides/scores on”) but top of the line horses nationally (and flirting with international quality).
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