SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

A Jefferson County woman claims her sister stole money and property from her while serving as her property manager.

Lieu Pham filed a lawsuit May 10 in Jefferson County District Court against her sister, Dieu Pham; her nieces, Lan Nguyen and Bong Nguyen; and Johnathan V. Tat.

Lieu Pham claims she owns Gulfway Washateria at 3860 Gulfway Drive in Port Arthur, and entrusted management of the business to her sister, Dieu Pham.

As part of her responsibilities, Dieu Pham was supposed to collect rent from tenants who leased Lieu Pham's building, according to the complaint.

However, Lieu Pham has not received any revenue or rent from her tenants, the suit states. When she pressed her sister for an accounting of business transactions, Dieu Pham refused to provide the requested data, the complaint says.

"Plaintiff has been denied access to the books and records of the washateria business," the suit states. "Moreover, Defendant Dieu Pham has physically excluded the Plaintiff from the business location."

Not only did Dieu Pham hide records from her sister, but she also conspired with her daughters to steal her sister's land and building by forging Lieu Pham's signature on warranty deed purporting to transfer the property to the Nguyens from Lieu Pham, she claims.

"Plaintiff did not sign the subject deed, and the signature contained in the warranty deed is not Plaintiff's signature," the suit states. "Defendant Johnathan V. Tat failed to properly verify that the signature of the subject deed was that of Plaintiff. Defendant Johnathan V. Tat failed to act as a reasonably and prudent notary would regarding the verification of Plaintiff's signature."

Lieu Pham alleges breach of fiduciary duty against her sister, theft of property against her sister and nieces, conversion against her sister and nieces and negligence per se against Tat.

In her complaint, Lieu Pham seeks actual, consequential and exemplary damages, plus attorneys' fees, pre- and post-judgment interest and other relief the court deems just.

David Tang of Houston and Scott D. Nguyen of Houston will be representing her.

The case has been assigned to Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court.

Jefferson County District Court case number: B186-815.