Claw back

In early 2007, Christopher Spiro organized one of the most successful home-selling campaigns in his firm's history. The tagline: “The End is Near.”

The marketing campaign designed by Spiro & Associates helped Engle Homes sell 141 homes in 90 days just as the real estate market was falling. “Prices would never be this low again,” Spiro reasoned. “We thought it wasn't going to last.”

Spiro and most others didn't know just how near the end everything really was. Just one year later, Engle and parent company Tousa filed for bankruptcy and nearly took Spiro with it by using a rule that allows bankrupt firms to claw back payments made 90 days before filing.