Owners of a Beaumont hotel have sued the Jefferson County Appraisal District and its review board for setting the property value too high.
Arks Hospitality filed a lawsuit May 10 in Jefferson County District Court against Jefferson County Appraisal District and Jefferson County Appraisal Review Board.
Arks, the owner of Comfort Suites at 5955 Walden Road in Beaumont, claims the JCAD estimated its property to be worth $5,145,940 for the 2009 tax year.
After seeing the appraisal, Arks filed a notice of protest with JCAD, saying the appraisal was too high, according to the complaint.
However, Arks and the appraisal district never reached an agreement as to the appropriate appraisal value of the property, and the Jefferson County Appraisal Review Board issued an order determining the protest or motion, the suit states. Following the order, Arks filed its complaint to appeal the order.
"JCAD failed to meet its burden under 41.43 of the Code to show that the property is not excessively appraised," the suit states. "Plaintiff will show that the property is excessively appraised."
Arks wants the court to fix the market value of its property at below the final value given by the board; to compel imposition of the proper appraised value of its property; to grant a hearing, allowance of exemption or other relief to which it is entitled; and to award it costs, attorney's fees and other relief to which it may be entitled.
Rodderick D. Murray of the Law Offices of Rodderick D. Murray in Houston will be representing it.
The case has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court.
Jefferson County District Court case number: E186-817.