A friend was dealing with a Leasing Agent in Ga for commercial space and signed an agreement not to contact Lessor or Real Estate Commission. Friend found out that agent was unauthorized to represent Lessor and bypassed agent and dealt directly with Lessor. Agent is threatening to sue for $15,000 in commissions. Does friend defend and spend $5,000 in legal fees, report agent to broker, contact RE commission or pay a smaller amount to get rid of the guy?

What caused your Friend to ignore the Agreement that he signed? What else was in that "Agreement" ? Without knowing the purpose of that document, other than that it restricted the Lessee's Freedom of Speech, I can't provide much advice.

You see, that "Agreement" may have been an Exclusive Buyer/Lessee Representation Agreement, possibly binding your Friend to compensate the Agent/Broker . . . . in which case, there wouldn't have necessarily been a Listing Agreement with the Seller/Lessor. The Agent was representing the Lessee . . . . NOT the Lessor.

The Authorization could have been the very Agreement that your Friend chose to ignore, which would give the Agent a pretty strong case against your Friend.

But why the Agreement would go on to say he cannot contact the Real Estate Commission is baffling . . . . so what else was in the ignored "Agreement" ?