Texas Woman Unwittingly Buys Home Slated For Tear-Down; Sues Firm For Subsequent Demolition After Deal Reached w/ City To Halt Action Pending Repairs

In Jefferson County, Texas, The Southeast Texas Record reports:

• A Beaumont woman claims a demolition company razed a home she purchased despite an addendum ordering the company to refrain from such an action. Sandra Ledesma filed a lawsuit May 5 in Jefferson County District Court against Albert Dill doing business as Jay Dill Trucking.

• Ledesma claims she purchased a home [...] in Beaumont on June 24 from Carl Adams for $15,000. Although she knew the home needed significant repairs, Ledesma did not realize the city of Beaumont had scheduled it for demolition until she attempted to obtain a permit for electrical work from the city on Sept. 21, according to the complaint.

• "After talking with Quentin D. Price, the assistant city attorney for the City of Beaumont, Plaintiff entered into an agreement with the City of Beaumont wherein the City agreed that it would not demolish the structure located at 4070 Harding if a Certificate of Occupancy was obtained by November 22, 2009," the suit states. "This agreement was extended until December 22, 2009. On September 24, 2009, Plaintiff began repairs on the home."

• Meanwhile, the city placed a notice for bids of the demolition of the home, which Dill accepted on Sept. 15, the complaint says. The city notified Dill on Sept. 22 that it could not demolish the structure pursuant to an injunction, Ledesma claims. Despite the notification, Dill demolished the home on Oct. 1, 2009, according to the complaint.

For the story, see House demolished despite injunction, lawsuit claims.