In a gripping legal battle that highlights the potential perils of real estate transactions, Claudia Carrot-Lizarraga has filed a comprehensive lawsuit against multiple defendants, including property sellers and real estate agents, alleging a web of deceit and negligence. The complaint was lodged in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, on September 2, 2025, targeting Brian P. Napierala and Tiffany Y. Napierala among others.
The case centers around Carrot-Lizarraga’s purchase of what she believed to be her dream retirement home at 121 Van Nuys Avenue in Oxnard, California. However, she claims that the sellers and their real estate agents deliberately concealed critical information about flood risks and a violent neighbor during the transaction process. According to the complaint, in June 2019, Ventura County had informed the Napieralas about potential flooding risks associated with the property. Despite this knowledge and their direct experiences with disturbances caused by neighbor Jonathan Frank Brown—who had a notorious reputation for violence—the sellers allegedly failed to disclose these issues in mandatory disclosure documents.
Carrot-Lizarraga asserts that her decision to purchase the property for $1,050,000 was based on misleading disclosures provided by both the sellers and Stark Realty Inc., represented by Michele Dougherty and John Eash. The plaintiff describes how Dougherty instructed her to “be quiet” during property visits to avoid alerting Brown—a move she later realized was part of an effort to hide his disruptive behavior.
The lawsuit outlines numerous causes of action including fraudulent concealment/misrepresentation, breach of contract, professional negligence, private nuisance, civil harassment under CCP §527.6, assault and battery by Brown who allegedly set booby traps causing physical harm to Carrot-Lizarraga. It also includes claims for intentional infliction of emotional distress due to Brown’s actions which included throwing objects at her property and tampering with security cameras.
Carrot-Lizarraga seeks compensatory damages exceeding $200,000 for uninsured flood damage alone along with punitive damages for fraudulent conduct by the defendants. She is also pursuing treble damages under California Penal Code §496(c) due to theft allegations against Brown regarding destruction of her property.
The legal team representing Carrot-Lizarraga is led by Lielle Arad from Arad Law APC. The case has been assigned Case No. #025 CLUIPPO49662 in front of Judge Kk Bieker at Ventura Superior Court.
Source: 2025CUPP049662_Claudia_Carrot_v_Brian_P_Napierala_Complaint_County_of_Ventura_California.pdf
Source: 2025CUPP049662_Claudia_Carrot_v_Brian_P_Napierala_Complaint_County_of_Ventura_California.pdf
Source: 2025CUPP049662_Claudia_Carrot_v_Brian_P_Napierala_Complaint_County_of_Ventura_California.pdf
Source: 2025CUPP049662_Claudia_Carrot_v_Brian_P_Napierala_Complaint_County_of_Ventura_California.pdf
