A group of corporations with properties in Jefferson County is suing the county, alleging unequal appraisal of those properties.
BASF Total Petrochemicals, BTP, BASF-Atofina Joint Venture, BASF Fina Petrochemicals and Sabina Petrochemicals filed a lawsuit Sept. 14 in Jefferson County District Court against the Jefferson County Appraisal District.
The plaintiffs allege 11 properties they either own or lease were appraised above market value as of Jan. 1, and therefore the appraisals are unlawful. As a result of the high appraisals, the suit says, the plaintiffs paid too much in property taxes, resulting in injury.
The plaintiffs ask the court to fix the appraisals and they seek to recover court costs and attorney fees, as well as monetary relief totaling less than $200,000. The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys Melissa Ramirez and James E. Popp of Popp Hutcheson in Austin.
Jefferson County District Court case number A-197553.