Beaumont woman seeking to save home fails to show for jurisdiction hearing

A Beaumont woman, hoping to save her home from demolition, failed to show for a plea to the jurisdiction hearing Monday.

As previously reported, Tammy Ermis filed a lawsuit April 23, 2010, in Jefferson County District Court against the city of Beaumont.

In her suit, Ermis claims she and her husband bought property at 2002 Park St. in Beaumont on April 2, 2008, which they intended to improve.

Beaumont had issued a demolition order for the house on Jan. 17, 2007, but Ermis' husband filed for a temporary restraining order so he could make improvements to the property under a work program coordinated with the city, court papers say.

Three years later, the couple had not finished to remediation, forcing Ermis to file the injunction request and stop the city from attempting to demolish the home for a second time.

Court records show that the city, armed with governmental immunity, responded to the suit by filing a plea to the jurisdiction motion with the court last March.

A year later, a hearing was slated to be held in Judge Bob Wortham's 58th District Court, court records show.

However, Ermis failed to show for the hearing, forcing the city to reset the hearing for a later date.

Ermis claims that if the home is destroyed she will lose $150,000.

Marybeth M. Nelson of Houston represents her.

The city is represented by Senior Assistant City Attorney Quinton Price.

Case No. A186-662