A Beaumont woman’s suit claiming she was misled into agreeing to an employment contract at a company that was going to be shut down has been stayed while the matter enters arbitration.
As previously reported, Erika Saucier filed a lawsuit Feb. 9 in Jefferson County District Court against Americus Mortgage Corp. formerly known as Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corp., Allquest Home Mortgage Corp. and Jim C. Hodge.
Court records show the defendants filed a motion to stay pending arbitration on April 3, asserting Saucier agreed to arbitrate any disagreements when she signed her employment contract.
Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court, granted the motion on April 22.
In her complaint, Saucier claims she signed an employment contract with the defendants on July 24, 2006, to accept a job as branch manager. A year after starting the position, Saucier was required to execute a second contract because the defendants knew they were being shut down by the Federal Mortgage Regulation Board.
However, the defendants failed to inform Saucier as to why she was signing the contract, the suit states.
On Nov. 3, 2011, the office at which Saucier worked was shut down, the complaint says.
Saucier alleges breach of contract, fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation and fraud against the defendants.
She seeks commissions that she was denied, plus outstanding benefits, attorney’s fees, pre-judgment interest, costs, actual and punitive damages and other relief the court deems just.
Gary M. Riebschlager and Sidney F. Robert of Brent Coon and Associates in Houston represent her.
The defendants are represented by Diana Hoover, attorney for the Houston law firm Hoover Kernell.
Case No. E193-955
Lawsuit over employment contract stayed for arbitration
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