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SOUTHEAST TEXAS RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Suit over John's Oyster Bar demolition ends in default judgment

The former John's Oyster Bar and later Immanuel Baptist Church building in Galveston was demolished in February 2009.

GALVESTON - A local county court judge issued a default judgment in favor of a Galveston attorney who claims two local investors owe him money.

Galveston County Court at Law No. 1 Judge John Grady signed a default judgment order June 22, directing Robin Parsley and Scott Chandler to pay Cris A. Rasco $10,378.50 for his efforts in negotiating a demolition with the city of Galveston.

Rasco filed suit against Parsley and Chandler six months ago, claiming the two failed to pay him despite hiring him to secure a demolition permit for a historic building on the city's West End.

The defendants wanted to bulldoze the former John's Oyster Bar after Hurricane Ike in September 2008 with the intention of building a large-scale condominium, marina and retail project in its place.

However, the flamingo-pink stucco structure built in 1928 was being considered for a historical designation. That designation would have prevented destruction of the structure that last housed Immanuel Baptist Church.

The investors then sought Rasco's assistance given his reported expertise with municipal government and familiarity with the historical preservation process, the suit states.

The structure was torn down in February 2009, but the attorney alleged Parsley and Chandler still had not paid him.

His motion for default judgment, entered last June 17, argues the respondents "have neither answered nor appeared within the time allowed by law and has wholly defaulted."

Cause No. 64,700

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