Homeowner claims appraiser changed square footage

A Jefferson County man paid extra taxes after an assessor increased the square footage of a home even though the home's size remained the same, according to a recently filed lawsuit.

Gene Dombrowski filed a lawsuit Aug. 5 in Jefferson County District Court against Richard G. Marquis and Richard G. Marquis and Associates.

Dombrowski claims Marquis originally appraised his property at a certain square footage. A few years later, Marquis assigned a differing square footage to the same property, according to the complaint.

"The appraisal value is calculated using the square footage," the suit states. "The house did not change in size. The error in square footage resulted in a financial loss to Plaintiff."

Dombrowski claims the defendants violated the Texas Business and Commerce Code.

In his complaint, Dombrowski seeks an unspecified judgment, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Anthony Malley III of Moore Landrey in Beaumont will be representing him.

The case has been assigned to Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court.

Jefferson County District Court case number: D187-491.