Shady seller's attorney will not release EMD

[Kim Huynh]

Hi. Looking for help for a friend who had his earnest money deposit (EMD) kept by the seller's attorney. He backed out of a MF property because he didn't felt that the seller and the seller's attorney was shady, and he did not trust that what he's been told about the property is true. The seller and his attorney misrepresent the actual sec. deposit for one of the tenants, and was not going to transfer it over to the buyer. The buyer's agent had to show MF disclosure and seller's agent communication before the seller side agreed to turn it over. The selling agent was part of the selling LLC that own the property, and she misrepresent some info on the property, and this became apparent prior to closing. The seller's agent was actually let go from the broker's office. The seller and the attorney are upset when the buyer backed out due to them not being truthful in the purchase, and they will not give the buyer back his sec. deposit. The buyer's attorney basically said he can't do anything except file a small claim suit for the money. We are in CT. Can anyone advise on what he can do?