Editor's note: The pic of the home used in this article is the property in question and was obtained from HAR.com.
HOUSTON – The wife of one of Texas’ most famous plaintiff’s attorneys is suing a woman who allegedly “engages in behavior designed to target, seduce and then defraud wealthy men.”
Seeking more than $2 million in damages, the Umphrey Family Limited Partnership filed suit against Jolyne Thompson and her trust, the JMT 2012 Homestead Irrevocable Trust, on April 13 in Harris County District Court.
Umphrey
The suit alleges Thompson knew Walter Umphrey was a married man and that the transfers of money and property “she induced” him to make were made without the knowledge and consent of his wife.
Umphrey and Thompson were first introduced in 2008. Thompson then initiated an affair, according to the lawsuit.
In September 2008, Umphrey transferred $24,000 to Thompson to enter a World Series of Poker event in Las Vegas.
“Thompson quickly became accustomed to evens such as this along with extravagant gifts,” the suit states. “As time passed, Thompson’s grip on Mr. Umphrey’s wallet tightened.”
In 2012, Umphrey began experiencing early onset Alzheimer’s.
“With full knowledge of Mr. Umphrey’s diminishing mental faculties, Thompson began to take further advantage of (him),” the suit states.
In July 2012, Thompson allegedly induced Umphrey to transfer $175,000 to her.
In October 2012, Umphrey, at Thompson’s urging, used the Umphrey Family Limited Partnership to transfer $1.5 million to her trust to purchase property at 6021 Glen Cove Street in Houston, the suit states.
Umphrey paid the taxes on the property for the next three years, spending more than $124,000.
“The full extent, nature, and amount of money and assets swindled by the Thompson without … consent of plaintiffs is presently unknown,” the suit states.
In addition to actual damages, the plaintiffs are suing for exemplary damages, plus attorney’s fees and court costs.
The plaintiffs are represented by Zona Jones, attorney for the Beaumont law firm Harrison Davis Steakley Morrison Jones.
Cause No. 2018-25040