Paule

BACKGROUND

I. Paule’s Complaint

In January 2018, Paule filed a complaint for constructive trust, specific performance, and damages, which she amended the following month. The complaint names four defendants: Teresita Laguna, a former owner of the property; two real estate brokers associated with Laguna; and Asram, who Paule described as a company that “purportedly” purchased the property from Laguna in December 2017. Paule’s complaint alleges the following facts: In April 2016, Paule leased the property from Laguna for a period of three years and secured the contractual “ ‘right of refusal to renew the lease or if lessor decides to sell the property.’ ” In January 2017, Laguna listed the property for sale at a price of $999,000. In February, Paule made an offer to purchase the property for $850,000, which Laguna rejected. Sometime later, Asram submitted an offer for $905,000. In October, Laguna’s broker informed Paule that Asram had submitted an offer that was higher than Paule’s offer and told Paule that if she offered $905,000, the property would be hers. In response, Paule exercised her right of first refusal and submitted an offer to purchase the property for $905,000,…