Home buyers claim agent hid history of flooding

GALVESTON - Two Galveston County residents have filed suit against a realty business and several individuals over a house they purchased late last year.

Shannon Rabon and Kyle Kessler's lawsuit against James and Marilyn Craig; Mary Key; Ted Shook, doing business as GC Inspection Service; and Yvonne Chatelain and Robert Cheek, doing business as Century 21 Sunrise Realty; alleges the plaintiffs bought a house in November 2009 on guarantees the place did not have a history of flooding.

Court papers were filed Sept. 9 in Galveston County District Court.

Rabon and Kessler argue that the defendants' claims were false and that the roof was in need of major repairs and water damage was detected in the living room.

"The defendants knew or should have known of the problems, but failed to disclose them to the plaintiffs before the purchase of the home as they were required to do," the original petition says.

The plaintiffs claim the inspection of the property did not address the house's issues.

"If the inspection had been done properly, these problems would have been noted and should have been fixed prior to the plaintiffs' purchase of the home," it states.

Consequently, Rabon and Kessler seek at least $20,000 in damages.

Attorney Kenneth C. Kaye of League City is representing the plaintiffs.

The case has been assigned to Galveston County 56th District Court Judge Lonnie Cox.

Case No. 10-cv-2743