A Galveston construction company and its principal are suing a Galveston real estate agent, alleging she made defamatory statements about them.
Purple Sage Construction and John Dreiss filed a lawsuit Oct. 27 in Galveston County District Court against Karen Flowers, alleging slander and business disparagement.
In 2006, the suit states, Purple Sage sold a home it had constructed at 9 Porch St., Galveston, for which Flowers served as the real estate agent. After a few months, a dispute arose between the buyers and the plaintiffs, in which the buyers alleged certain construction defects at the home, the suit says.
The plaintiffs secured independent inspections of the alleged defects, and they were ultimately discounted, the complaint states. The buyers requested the plaintiffs repurchase the residence rather than litigate the dispute, which the plaintiffs agreed to, wishing to avoid costs and distractions associated with a lawsuit.
Then, in 2014, Flowers presented the residence to Frank and Cheryl Sardo, and, the suit says, made defamatory statements to them regarding the plaintiffs. Specifically, the complaint alleges Flowers defamed the plaintiffs by saying they were "involved in a lawsuit" and "were forced to buy back the property."
As a result, the business reputation of the plaintiffs has been injured, the suit says.
Purple Sage Construction and Dreiss seek monetary relief between $200,000 and $1 million, plus costs of the suit. They are represented by attorney Charles M. Kibler Jr. of Paxson & Associates in Houston.
Galveston County District Court case number 15-cv-1145.