GALVESTON — A Galveston County couple is suing a real estate company, alleging they were sold a home with extreme water damage but were never told about the damages.
Sarah Galecki and Jeffery Havens filed a complaint April 17 in Galveston County District Court against Agnes Elliott, Geraldine Mills, Martha Turner and Sotheby's International Realty Inc., alleging violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, breach of contract, negligent supervision, negligent misrepresentation and fraud.
According to the complaint, Sotheby's listed a home Aug. 17, 2017, at the address of 707 Cowards Creek Drive, Friendswood. The suit states that Hurricane Harvey flooded the yard and home and that the defendants reduced the listing price by $100,000, but failed to disclose the damages to the property.
Galecki and Havens say they entered into a contract for the purchase of the home in March 2018 after being informed by the defendants that the property had suffered minimal damages due to flooding. The plaintiffs allege they closed on the home and soon discovered that the damages were extreme and that the home had mold and water hidden from sight behind cabinets, bathroom vanities, office shelves, dining room and bathroom built-ins and the laundry room.
The plaintiffs say they had to demolish and repair the home, which cost them greatly. Additionally, they had to seek out other places to live for a lengthy period of time.
Galecki and Havens seek between $200,000 and $1 million in damages, attorney fees, court costs and all other just relief. They are represented by attorneys Christopher L. Johnson, Justin M. Kornegay, Morgan A. Jenkins and Jimmy N. Smith, of Johnson & Associates PLLC in League City.
Galveston County District Court case number 19-CV-0693