Texas Hill Country
GALVESTON - A Brackettville couple claims their son and his wife swindled them out of their League City home, recent court documents say.
Warren H. Outlaw Sr. and his spouse, Zola, claim that Warren H. Outlaw Jr. and his wife, Janet, convinced the couple to transfer the title of their property in exchange for a house being constructed in the Hill Country, but ended up rescinding their promises.
According to the suit filed March 9 in Galveston County District Court, the plaintiffs purchased the residence for $166,000 cash in 2001 so they can be close to the defendants and their grandchildren.
They say that the younger Outlaw presented a proposition to his father shortly after the latter's 83rd birthday in 2007 which called for the transfer of the deed so the house would not be "forfeited to the government."
According to the original petition, the alleged deal had the defendants move into the home and then pay the elder Outlaw the sum of $500 per month to supplement a rent payment on an apartment until the son retired.
"Warren Jr. told his father that he intended to retire in 2012," the suit says.
"Warren Jr. agreed with his father that if Warren Sr. would transfer his home to him and his wife then Warren Jr. would build a house to take care of his mother and father."
The plaintiffs then moved into a small apartment while the defendants occupied the house.
"For the next several months and years, Warren Jr. continued to make plans with his father for building him a house in the Hill Country, even sitting down with Warren Sr. and Zola and showing them house plans of the home he was building for them," the suit says.
Warren H. Outlaw Sr., however, asserts such plans were a sham as his son would later reveal to him that the so-called new house was "just a dream," claiming he was even told he is "not getting a dime."
A jury trial is requested.
Attorney David L. Thornton of Friendswood is representing the complainants, and Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor is presiding over the case.
Case No. 12-cv-376