A Texas boat dealer is alleging a salesperson cut the company out of a deal, unjustly pocketing more than $30,000 in commission in a sale, according to Galveston County, TX, Court documents.
Laser Marine LLC filed a complaint Aug. 8 against Jeff Ivie in the 212th District Court of Galveston County, alleging breach of contract and quantum meruit (unjust enrichment).
According to the filing, Ivie had an oral contract from August 2022 to sell boats for Laser Marine. In this arrangement, Ivie would receive half the commission of any boats sold on behalf of Laser Marine, whether they were contracted for, advertised by or docked at Laser Marine. The filing states that “The agreement was upheld until a boat, the 42 Freeman colloquially named the Twisted Sister 2 owned by David Dion, was sold on July 18.”
In the filing, Laser Marine says it “advertised, docked and kept the boat in pristine condition” to secure potential buyers, and that the defendant “would often come on the boat, take pictures for advertisement, and use Laser Marine’s company account and business connections to secure advertisements and boating placements.”
Then, the complaint details, the defendant sold the 42 Freeman to an unknown buyer and asked the boat’s owner to write him a $65,000 personal check for the commission on the sale. Laser Marine says it contacted the defendant, who claimed the sale was “his deal” and since hasn’t forked over a dime to honor their oral agreement.
The plaintiff asks for damages, including all paid commissions known and unknown at the time of filing, along with $32,500 including pre-judgment and post-judgment interest. The plaintiff also seeks attorneys’ fees and all other just relief.
The plaintiff is represented by Clement Pink, Augustin T. Pink and Ishmael G.A. Pink of Walter J. Pink & Associates, P.C. in Houston.