HOUSTON – A Harris County couple alleges they were not told until they closed on their home that the home did not have a certificate of occupancy.
Joseph Martinez and Rikki Rock-Martinez filed a complaint on Dec. 7, 2017, in the Harris County District Court against John Daugherty Realtors, Janine Pappert and Kathy Dreyfus alleging that they violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that on March 18, 2016, they closed on their home in Bellaire for $1.8 million. They allege that the defendants did not inform them that the city of Bellaire had not issued a certificate of occupancy for the home until the time of closing.
As a result of defendants' alleged conduct, the plaintiffs allege they still do not have a certificate of occupancy and that the home has a number of problems.
The plaintiffs hold John Daugherty Realtors, Pappert and Dreyfus responsible because the defendants allegedly made false representations to induce them to close on the home.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek monetary relief of more than $200,000 but not more than $1 million and such other lawful and equitable relief. They are represented by Michael C. Watson in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2017-83161