Pasadena resident sued over eBay boat sale

A man is suing after purchasing a boat from an eBay auction.

Warren Vassar filed a lawsuit on Feb. 10 in the Harris County District Court against Pasadena resident Jess Brooks, Brooks Marine Services, and others, citing violations of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, breach of contract, breach of warranty, and fraud.

Vassar says that on June 26, 2009, he purchased the sailing vessel ASPIRE from the defendants’ eBay auction for $53,413. According to the brief, the defendants assured Vassar numerous time that the boat, being in good condition, was worth $75,000. Vassar alleges, however, that after purchasing the ASPIRE, he discovered that it had sank in its slip, was declared a total loss by the insurance company, and was sold as salvage for about $4,500. He says he was horrified to discover that it will cost over $75,000 to make the boat as nice as the defendants claimed it to be.

Vassar is seeking actual, exemplary, treble and other damages, attorney’s fees, and court costs. He is being represented in the case by Houston attorney Michelle Slaughter.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2011-08814.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Harris County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.