Howes v. Curtis

DONALDSON, Chief Justice.

The controversy which comes before the Court on this appeal had its beginning in a loan transaction involving the plaintiff, Anne T. Howes, and the defendant, Carl Curtis.

Howes, who owned a lounge in Hailey, Idaho, found herself in financial straits and needed to secure a loan of about $35,000.00. Howes arranged for a loan with Curtis, a self-professed mortgage banker, financier and real estate investor who had made similar loans in the past. Curtis charged a 5% finder’s fee and a 5% loan payment guarantee fee based on the loan.

The necessary financing and loan…