Asante

BACKGROUND

I. Complaint

On October 20, 2017, Asante filed a complaint against Mensah; Mensah’s corporation, misidentified as “Americo Capital Holdings”; and 100 Doe defendants.2 Asante alleged that she became the sole owner of a four-unit apartment building in Lawndale upon the death of her husband, who had advised her to consult his friend, Mensah, for assistance with financial and real estate matters. Asante borrowed $11,000 from Mensah and asked him for help applying to refinance her mortgage and, later, fighting a notice of default from her mortgage servicer, Ocwen. Mensah assisted Asante, but she alleged that his assistance came at a price. In connection with the refinance application, Mensah placed a deed of trust on her property by leading her to believe the deed of trust was one of the many pieces of paperwork she had to sign. In connection with the Ocwen matter, Mensah told Asante he would only be able to help if she temporarily placed his name on the title; after the matter was resolved, he refused to transfer the 10 percent interest back to her. Asante asserted six causes of action pertaining to the deed of trust, the grant deed, and the status of the title to…