Home sale goes south, results in lawsuit

A woman has filed suit against the man whom she alleges failed to fully pay her for a home she sold to him.

Raylyn Gass alleges defendant Christopher Pitt agreed to purchase her home at 615 Westwood Circle, La Marque. The home had no mortgage and was supposed to be a temporary change in ownership, according to the complaint filed Sept. 16 in Galveston County District Court.

Gass' ex-husband had founded a church called Baypoint Community Church in Texas City, but was unable to secure refinancing for it, the suit states. By purchasing Gass' home, Pitt attempted to secure financing for the church, the complaint says.

Once he acquired the home, Pitt gave Gass' ex-husband $220,000, she alleges. The money was placed into the church's funds and it planned to make monthly payments to Pitt for the mortgage, according to the complaint. However, Hurricane Ike struck and the church was not able to recover financially or to pay Westwood the promised payments, the suit states.

Soon after the ordeal, Gass divorced her ex-husband, the complaint says. In the divorce agreement, Gass was supposed to get 60 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the property, she claims. 

On Feb. 21, 2013, the property was sold for $385,000, according to the complaint. Pitt was paid $10,000 as part of the purchase price, the suit states. However, he is holding proceeds from the sale of the property, the complaint says.

Gass agreed to accept $90,000 from Pitt. He made an initial cash payment of $15,000 on March 6, 2013, and paid Gass an additional $14,000 on July 3, 2013, the suit states. He also paid Gass $62,000, but later asked her to destroy the check, the complaint says. She did so but has not received a payment since then, she alleges.
Gass alleges breach of contract against Pitt.

She seeks actual damages, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, costs, attorney fees and other relief the court deems just.

Attorneys Christopher L. Johnson and Russell F. Plackemeier of Lyons and Plackemeier in Texas City will represent Gass.

Galveston County District Court case number: 14-CV-978