Suit claims property transfer was fraudulent

GALVESTON - Claiming fellow Galvestonians Daniel and Rita Higgins committed a fraudulent property transfer, Leslie and Sandra Bartosh have a filed a lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed Dec. 30 in Galveston County District Court, accuses Daniel P. Higgins of turning two pieces of real property on the farther West End of Galveston over to his mother "with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud the plaintiffs."

Recent court documents explain that the Bartoshes pursued legal action against the younger Higgins in 2009 and eventually won a settlement in the amount of $67,704 on June 14.

"The plaintiffs allege that the foregoing judgment was a valid and subsisting judgment and that the plaintiffs obtained an abstract of judgment," the original petition says.

The suit shows the properties in question had a fair market value that was in excess of $67,704 when Danny P. Higgins transferred them by way of quitclaim deed to Rita Higgins on Oct. 25.

According to the complainants, said transfer occurred to prevent the defendant transferor's creditors and the plaintiffs from obtaining collection of the claim.

They additionally claim Rita Higgins had notice of her son's alleged actions and was aware he was experiencing "serious financial difficulty" at the time of the transfer in question.

"The defendant Rita Higgins did not pay adequate or any consideration for the properties," the suit says.

A jury trial is requested.

The plaintiffs are represented by Godwin Ronquillo PC.

Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss is presiding over the case.

Case No. 11-cv-2062