Homeowners association sues director for exerting 'unchecked control'

GALVESTON - A Kemah homeowners association has filed suit over what it believes to be financial wrongdoing committed by one of its directors. 

In a lawsuit filed Jan. 7 in Galveston County District Court, the Kemah Village Property Owners Inc. asserts Jerry Barras enjoyed "unchecked control of every aspect of Kemah Village."

Barras is a member of the plaintiff's board of directors along with his father and son, who are co-defendants in the litigation along with a few of Barras's business interests.

Court papers show Barras "used his total control over Kemah Village to pay unnecessary or exorbitant amounts of money to the Barras Companies," stating that he made the complainant buy goods and services for said businesses without receiving anything in return.

The homeowners association additionally points out that Barras used a lien to "essentially give away" an entire townhome to one of his friends.

Barras is further accused of preventing the plaintiff access to books and records as well as fabricating financial statements in hopes "no one would notice."

His apparent misdeeds were discovered over the summer of 2012, according to the original petition.

Attorney Andrew K. Meade with Hawash Meade Gaston Neese and Cicack LLP in Houston is representing the plaintiff, and Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor is presiding over the case.

Case No. 13-CV-0038