Pasadena property buyers sue over asbestos contamination

Harris County residents are suing after, they say, they were misled into buying asbestos-contaminated property in Pasadena.

Raul Rodriguez and Jose Juan Gonzalez filed a lawsuit on Aug. 1 in Harris County District Court against Betesda Iglesia Hispana International and Ruben Perez, of Pasadena, citing fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud and breach of contract.

Rodriguez and Gonzalez say on March 23, 2011, the defendants tricked them into buying asbestos-contaminated property, located at 600 Walter St. in Pasadena. In addition to hiding the asbestos, the defendants also failed to disclose that they were leasing the property and collecting rent, even after the sale was final, according to the brief.

The plaintiffs are seeking attorney's fees, court costs and damages. They are being represented in the case by Houston attorneys Mark Carrigan and Ana Luna.

Harris County District Court Case No. 2012-44020.

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.