Jurisdiction hearing in suit to save home from city reset again

For two years, the city of Beaumont has sought to have its plea to the jurisdiction granted in a suit brought by a Beaumont woman hoping to save her home from demolition.

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

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 on May 5, 2010.

Several hearings on the matter have been slated in the case only to be reset.

Once again, a jurisdiction hearing was slated to be held on April 10 in Judge Bob Wortham's 58th District Court.

However, an amended notice of hearing was filed April 9, resetting the hearing for May 10, court papers say.

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.

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 First Assistant City Attorney Quinton Price.

Case No. A186-662