GALVESTON – A Travis County man is pursuing legal action against a Crystal Beach-based realtor, claiming that the latter expressed a romantic interest in him to gain access to his resources.
Stephen Smith filed a lawsuit against Casey Blume on Jan. 24 in the Galveston County 122th District Court. Court documents explain that Smith and his wife initially hired Blume to find them a house in Crystal Beach.
According to Smith, he and the defendant became flirtatious at some point during their business relationship. Blume reportedly told the plaintiff that she was in an abusive marriage and was looking to escape it.
“The plaintiff believed the defendant’s story and relied on her promises and loaned her the sum of $135,000,” the original petition says. “The plaintiff was induced to give the defendant the funds in part by her romantic enticement but also the impression that as a realtor she had fiduciary duty to him and could be trusted.”
The suit adds that things between Smith and Blume “cooled off and deteriorated” after the respondent received the funds she requested.
Consequently, the complainant seeks the return of the money in question.
Chris McHam of the McHam Law Firm in Austin is representing Smith.
Galveston County 122th District Court Case No. 19-CV-0114