Told employees I'm here to see the store (it was for lease) and now owner is threatening us.
I went to visit a store that was for lease. The store's realtor told me to go check it out during business hours and to let him know if I had any questions.

I went there, asked for manager and there was no manager. I told the employees that I spoke with the realtor and was there to view the store and if I could take a look around.

I left, and told realtor that it wasn't what I'm looking for.

The realtor contacted my realtor and the owner is threatening to take legal action because apparently his employees are now going to quit because they know the store is being sold.

I went back to the original emails I had with the store's realtor and he did mention: "Please do disturb staff." But I just took it to mean that I shouldnt disturb staff while they're working. He didn't mention that I must not mention that the store is for sale.

Caught off guard here.

Who is in the wrong and do I need to be worried?
[{"id": "hw0v8u7", "text": "This is more of a legal question, but it seems to me that if you didn't sign any kind of NDA or CA you should be in the clear.  Especially if you didn't have any malicious intent.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw0vbru", "text": "Not much you can do before you receive official paperwork, if it ever comes to that. \n\nKeep all the data you have - avoid communicating with the owner, especially without talking to a lawyer.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw0vg9g", "text": "Sounds like you looked at a confidential listing. You are in the wrong. The realtor should have given you information showing it was confidential, sounds like he might have. If you get served hire a lawyer if you don\u2019t keep one on retainer. Keep all communication and any showing packages that where sent to you.", "replies": [{"id": "hw0vvyk", "text": "Is it confidential if I found it on realtor.ca?", "replies": [{"id": "hw0zvwb", "text": "The listing (and your Realtor) should have explained what was expected during any showing. \n\nAlso, at least one Realtor (listing agent or your buyer's agent) should have been there to \"run interference\" if nothing else. \n\nIf anything happens in court, make sure you report everything to your local real estate board as well. I predict one or both Realtors will be Co-Defendants.\n\nEmployees do things rashly (like threaten to quit) when something happens that they don't understand. I've never done a commercial transaction, but in residential a lease must be honored by a new owner. I don't think I'd feel secure owning a store with a month to month lease, so if anything the employees should be angry with management for not having a long term lease on the space.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "hw16dub", "text": "Not if the address was in the public listing or if there were clearly identifiable photos.\n\nYou can't be held responsible for revealing information the owner has placed into public view.\n\nIf there is no identifiable information in the listing you would be in the wrong, but the chance of legal action is low.\n\nWhat is his claim going to be? They found out he was closing so they quit? Were they not going to find out until he closed the doors?\n\nSo by finding out the owner loses the ability to screw his employees?\n\nNot sure that argument is going to be a financial windfall.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw0ziv4", "text": "&gt; \"Please do disturb staff.\"\n\nIs this a typo?", "replies": [{"id": "hw0zqnc", "text": "Typo from their realtor.", "replies": [{"id": "hw106u9", "text": "That\u2019s a typo that will allow u to get out of it easily because it\u2019s in an email", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "hw17ayh", "text": "The only lawsuit present could be between the owner and his realtor. Even if they tried to sue you it\u2019s not going anywhere.", "replies": [], "depth": 3}, {"id": "hw185a7", "text": "Just tell him you complied with his instructions", "replies": [{"id": "hw1yrv3", "text": "Lol", "replies": [], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}, {"id": "hw7qtw4", "text": "Lol, oh the layers of complete competence with these realtors used", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw16rco", "text": "You're fine legally speaking. You didn't sign an NDA or CA, you were given ambiguous instruction by their and your realtor, and the business owner's grounds for damages is really weak given the property is publicly listed as for lease. You acted as a reasonable prospective tenant would in touring the property on the instructions of your agent (who has E&amp;OE insurance for miscommunications like this).\n\nPut it out of your mind, and if they actually file something (which they won't as that would turn imagined costs into actual costs for them), hire a lawyer and let them put this to bed and you'll probably get legal fees covered as it's frivolous.\n\nDon't pay any attention to the posts on here that are making a mountain out of this molehill. This happens all the time.", "replies": [{"id": "hw1l2wz", "text": "This", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "hw1wgxt", "text": "I get the NDA part but what does California have to do with it? Are laws different there?", "replies": [{"id": "hw1wopa", "text": "CA was an acronym for confidentiality agreement in this case.", "replies": [{"id": "hw1wr4u", "text": "Ahh. Now I get it. Thanks for clearing that up.", "replies": [{"id": "hw1x42n", "text": "You bet!", "replies": [], "depth": 5}], "depth": 4}], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw18lnu", "text": "The other answers cover the direct answer to your legal question. I'll answer your indirect question \"why is the landlord upset with me?!?\"\nThe landlord is pissed because he is trying to lease the building and also possibly renegotiate a lease renewal with the business occupying the building. \nYou now have created a shit storm where all the employees know the business in place may shut down or relocate and now the employees are looking for new jobs and the current tenant is pissed.\nYou just made your own job harder to try and negotiate a favorable lease with a pissed off landlord and broker. Unintentionally you have taken the approach to try and drive out the existing tenant to force the landlord negotiate a lease with you.\nThis isn't all your fault. The lazy idiot brokers should have been there to answer your questions and give some false pretenses to why you are asking about the property that wouldn't piss off the employees and landlord.", "replies": [{"id": "hw1n95v", "text": "This. Why wasn\u2019t the broker there to show the space and answer questions. They didn\u2019t foresee an interested buyer asking questions about the building to anyone with answers. \n\nSomeone fucked up here, and it sure wasn\u2019t you.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "hw2qt8r", "text": "I agree with @vulcanmind &amp; Broker should've been there.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw1axfv", "text": "You didn\u2019t nothing illegal.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw1cn6i", "text": "Also, don't take advice from anyone who refers to themselves as realtor.  A commercial real estate broker is not a realtor and a realtor is not a commercial real estate broker.  Fuck realtors.", "replies": [{"id": "hw1sv5k", "text": "Just to clear something up on this front. The reference of \"Realtor\" in commercial brokerage depends on the brokerage and geographic area. Here in CA, most commercial agents run from the word Realtor because it is recognized more as selling \"homes\". In other areas such as St. Louis, Chicago and other areas in that part of the US, many commercial brokers are member of the Board and refer to themselves as Commercial Realtors.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}, {"id": "hw3u3dl", "text": "Lmao. So there's at least two of us that fucking hate realtors.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw1iyj5", "text": "Legally probably no issue. \n\nCommon sense.. You should know better. You think the staff would all be aware their jobs are ending soon?", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw1kzpo", "text": "You\u2019re totally fine legally speaking. Looks like \u201cplease do disturb staff\u201d was a typo. Not your fault. Sucks for the owner tho.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw1l46z", "text": "Did you legally do anything wrong? Probably not\n\nWas it a shitty thing to do and does the seller have a right to be upset? Absolutely", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw1nvur", "text": "Advise them to make sure they got it was noted and recorded that you told them to \u201ceat a bag of dicks, dont waste my phone minutes for this bullshit.\u201d\n\nLol dont worry about it anymore and feel good you alerted his employees that hes going down in a flame of fire. Whats he gonna sue you with if his business is failing? Good faith and hummus? Lawyers only work for money lol", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw1reia", "text": "It's generally good form to not ask employees questions when you go see listings, regardless of the \"instructions\" you receive. Live &amp; learn", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw1sbvx", "text": "NEVER go to a place of business and start asking questions of the employees...EVER...unless given specific instructions to do so...in such a case you will specifically be given a persons name. They probably won't be able to do anything to you, personally, but your inexperience has created a huge problem for the owner of that business, their employees, their agent and your agent.....and hurt both the employers reputation with their employees as well as your agents reputation within the industry.\n\nHow would you feel as an employee working at a place of business and someone came in saying....Oh, I know your business is closing, so I wanted to take a look around because I may want the space? Or.....I heard the business is for sale, what can you tell me? \n\nThe listing agent errored if they didn't have you and your agent sign an NDA before giving you information. Reasons that you have mentioned before is why businesses rarely disclose their name, business address or other details about their business being for sale without having and NDA signed. \n\nThe \"please do disturb staff\" was obviously a typo/error. Nobody would ever instruct someone to go in and \"disturb\" the staff.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw28bwx", "text": "Also depends on what parts of the property you accessed. If all you accessed was the public areas, you should be fine, if you accessed the non-public areas, you may have a problem.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw2h4ji", "text": "Whenever visiting a space that is occupied, I always tell prospective tenants \"*don't bother the tenants*\" because it doesn't occur to them often enough to do precisely that.\n\n*\"But I just took it to mean that I shouldnt disturb staff while they're working. He didn't mention that I must not mention that the store is for sale.\"*\n\nYou bothered the staff while they were working.  *\"If you see my wife, please do not tell her I'm seeking a divorce and have already hired counsel\".*\n\nSome things just go unsaid (for most of us).", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw2odod", "text": "Instinctively, you\u2019re legally fine as long as you didn\u2019t sign a CA. If you did\u2026 I have no idea.\n\nBut regardless dude\u2026 you don\u2019t go into someone else\u2019s business and tell the kids that daddy is selling the house. Wtf, man.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw38uni", "text": "Lousy realtor at it again.\n\nIts common sense that any potent tenant or buyer SHOULD NOT get in contact with anyone. Commercial leases and sales are a very sensitive when it comes to how you do your due diligence.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw489pf", "text": "When I have to make these \"sensitive\" site visits and find myself in a situation where I need to explain my presence, I tell them I'm doing an insurance inspection. Seems to take care of things.", "replies": [{"id": "hw4ofm6", "text": "This is what I do as well.  Or if it's retail, i'll just go in and shop around and buy something.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw4aet7", "text": "Lol I've done this a few times where I would apply for a job at the retail space or send a friend to apply, get hired if possible, And then eyeball the place and figure out it's kinks to broker a better deal. Pretty fucking grassroots but I'm insane lol", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw4eogs", "text": "I\u2019m not even involved and directly affected but this story is annoying. You should have used better judgement. Even if a manager was available, they wouldn\u2019t be a part of the real estate transaction. You didn\u2019t follow directions at all.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "hw5pz97", "text": "Sounds like a set up", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]