KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Legal maneuvers are escalating in a dispute over a $1.625 million real estate deal, as former owner Jared Goodell files new court documents aiming to trim claims against him and shift potential financial responsibility onto his real estate agents.
Goodell, acting as his own attorney in Cheshire County Superior Court, filed a motion to dismiss a key conspiracy count on Aug. 21, 2026. On the same day, he filed a cross-claim against co-defendants George Hansel—Keene’s former mayor and a licensed real estate salesperson—and real estate brokerage H.G. Johnson, LLC.
The court actions stem from a June lawsuit filed by Bedford-based investment firm Tatro Road Realty, LLC. Tatro is seeking to undo its July 2025 purchase of a 10-unit residential property at 7–15 Aliber Place, alleging it was misled regarding the complex’s tenant stability, financial performance, and foundation construction quality.

Motion to Dismiss Conspiracy Charge

In his legal filings, Goodell moved to drop Count VI of the complaint, which accuses all three defendants of civil conspiracy.
Goodell argues that Tatro’s lawsuit fails to provide evidence of an actual agreement or “meeting of the minds” between himself, Hansel, and H.G. Johnson to commit fraud. He states that the complaint relies heavily on “conclusory assertions” based merely on the defendants’ existing business relationships, financial ties, and the timing of the property’s sale.
Because civil conspiracy requires proof of a shared plan and specific details when fraud is alleged, Goodell contends the count fails to satisfy New Hampshire’s legal standards for pleading.

Cross-Claim Points Finger at Brokers

In a secondary filing, Goodell asserted a cross-claim for contribution and indemnification against Hansel and H.G. Johnson. Goodell denies all liability to Tatro, but maintains that if a court finds him liable, the real estate professionals should cover the damages.
Goodell states in court documents that all marketing materials, property summaries, and written statements provided to the buyer—including assertions that the units were occupied by long-term tenants—were written and sent directly by Hansel and H.G. Johnson acting as his listing agents.
He asserts that he made no direct representations to the buyer and argues that if any marketing information was false or misleading, responsibility rests with the brokers who created and delivered it.

Background of the Dispute

The legal fight centers on the redevelopment of 7–15 Aliber Place, a project Goodell owned and developed before listing it for sale in May 2025. Hansel represented the development during city zoning and permitting processes before later serving as the listing agent with H.G. Johnson.
Tatro purchased the complex in July 2025, but later filed suit claiming:
Tenant Misrepresentation: Approximately 60% of the occupied units were actually housing residents temporarily displaced by a flood at a separate senior housing facility, rather than standard long-term tenants.
Undisclosed Expenses: Financial projections omitted key recurring expenses, distorting the property’s true cash flow.
Construction Issues: Post-purchase engineering tests failed to detect required steel reinforcement in sections of the building foundations, an issue Tatro claims was hidden during pre-sale inspections.
Tatro’s initial lawsuit asks the court to rescind the $1.625 million purchase, return ownership to Goodell, refund the purchase funds, and award damages.
Goodell has requested oral arguments on his motion to dismiss and demanded a jury trial for the cross-claims should the case proceed. The court has not yet ruled on the outstanding motions.