Port Arthur couple in litigation over ownership of property

A Jefferson County man has filed suit against the Port Arthur residents he claims failed to pay him fully for property he sold to them.

Thang Van Tran claims he sold defendants Retta Merrow Moore and Wallace Nathaniel Moore property at 4010 Big Bend in Port Arthur for $105,000.

According to the complaint filed March 8 in Jefferson County District Court, the Moores paid Tran $68,000 as a down payment, then financed the remaining $37,000.

Tran and the Moores entered into a contract for deed, allowing Tran to finance the remaining money the Moores owed on the property. The couple agreed to make monthly payments of $442 per month at 10 percent annual interest rate to Tran, the suit states.

Under a contract for deed, Tran still owned legal rights to the property that were set to expire when the Moores fulfilled the contract.

After the Moores purchased the property, they failed to pay taxes and insurance on the property, causing Tran to risk losing the property, the complaint says.

Since then, the Moores have filed a lawsuit against Tran, saying he needs to sign ownership of the property over to them. Tran is fighting back, arguing he rightfully owns the legal rights to the property and needs for the Moores to pay taxes and insurance on it.

In his complaint, Tran alleges fraud against the defendants.

He is seeking a writ of possession to recover the property.

Van Tran will be represented by Carl A. Parker of The Parker Law Firm in Port Arthur.

The case has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court.

Case No. E189-560