Galveston condo owners sue over defects

GALVESTON � Houston law firm Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Friend have filed suit on behalf of a group of Galveston condominium owners who allege fraud in the respective purchases of their units.

According to a lawsuit filed July 5 against Randall Davis, Randall Davis Co., Personette & Associates LLC, International Bank of Commerce and G.T. Leach Builders LLC in Galveston County District Court, the plaintiffs claim they were led to believe the 15-story Emerald by the Sea Condominiums were constructed in accordance to plans revealed in a sales pitch.

The luxury condominium project, however, underwent changes since the summer of 2007 which caused leaks throughout the structure, the original petition states.

It add the plaintiffs were assessed a special homeowner fee to pay to have a coating placed on the building in an attempt to address the leaks.

"This process is a repair at best and will have to be repeated every five to eight years," the suit says.

According to court papers, "the project was not constructed as originally designed and the project is far from world-class."

"As a result of these misrepresentations, the plaintiffs have been injured," they say.

Consequently, the complainants seek unspecified monetary damages.

Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss is presiding over the case.

Case No. 11-cv-1090