A man claims he paid $25,000 to a woman he alleges misled him into believing she was an attorney who could represent his grandson in criminal charges.
Joe J. Breckenridge filed a lawsuit Aug. 29 in Jefferson County District Court against Jennifer Elaine Doornbos.
In his complaint, Breckenridge alleges Doornbos approached him on April 28, 2011, following a court appearance by his grandson. The grandson had criminal cases pending in Jefferson, Jasper and Harrison Counties, according to the complaint.
“The defendant represented herself and persuaded the plaintiff to believe that she was either an attorney, court ordered/appointed administrator, ombudsman or quasi-judicial official working under the guidance of the court,” the suit states.
Claiming he believed Doornbos, Breckenridge paid her two equal payments of $12,500, according to the lawsuit. Later, he allegedly discovered that Doornbos supplied him with false information in an attempt to take his money, the complaint claims.
A search by the Southeast Texas Record for "Jennifer Doornbos" on the Texas Bar Association website produced no results.
In his lawsuit, Breckenridge alleges common law fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and conversion against Doornbos.
He seeks economic and actual damages in excess of the minimum jurisdictional limits of Jefferson County District Court, plus pre- and post-judgment interest at the maximum rate allowed by law, attorney’s fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.
Kent W. Johns of Beaumont will be representing him.
Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, has been assigned to the case.
Case No. E194-683
Man claims woman made him believe she was an attorney, took $25K
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