Northeast Jackson developer Jesse Westbrook is encountering his share of legal troubles as he currently faces three lawsuits in Hinds County Circuit Court and County Court. The suits range from a simple collection effort to allegations of fraud and negligence.
Charles and Tiffany Francis sued Jesse Westbrook and his company, J.West Contractors, LLC on Febuary 11, 2015 for breach of contract, negligence and fraud. The complaint states the couple "entered into an agreement with JWC, to build a new home in Madison, Mississippi. There was no written contract for the construction of this home." The Francises state they agreed to a completion price of $540,000. They accused Mr. Westbrook of billing them for work that was not "performed" on their home. They also claim the builder "ordered materials and performed labor" that they did not request nor did he complete the job in a timely manner. The plaintiffs state they had to finish the construction of their home at their own expense. Judge Tomie Green presides over the case.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis also claim that he did not finish the job and abandoned the project. They charge
around October 2013, defendants knowingly sent invoices to the Francises for labor and materials which were subsequently used on other jobsites, including sites in Clinton, the Reunion subdivision of Madison County, and Hinds County, Mississippi, representing that said labor and materials were being used on the Francises' home. Defendants sent these invoices with actual or constructive knowledge of their falsity. In addition, JWC and Westbrook represented to the Francises that they were paying the invoices for all subcontractors, which was a false representation.
Defendant Jesse L. Westbrook used a "dummy" company, Wholesale Contractor's Supply, LLC, of which he was the sole member, to purchase supplies to sell to customers of his and of J.West Contractors, LLC at marked-up prices.....
Between June 2013 and January 2014, JWC and/or Westbrook billed the Francises for numerous labor and materials which were never installed in the Francises home. These included too many windows, too many doors, and too much lumbere. JWS and Westbrook intended to charge the Francises for the labor and materials which were never installed in the Francises' home.
The Francises seek actual and punitive damages. Mr. Westbrook responded on March 10 and denied all allegations. However, Leigh Anne Allen sued him as well on July 27, 2015 for gross negligence.
Ms. Allen hired Mr. Westbrook and his company to build a home on Brecon Drive. She claims that Mr. Westbrook invited her and told her to enter a second story balcony. She pulled a knob on the door. The knob "came loose, causing" her to fall backwards off the balcony and down to the ground below. She argues the defendants did not install a "proper rail or any rail, upon the balcony" from which she fell. She seeks actual, medical, and punitive damages. The lawsuits are posted below. Judge Kidd is presiding over her case.
American Express also sued Mr. Westbrook on May 19, 2015 for $72,990 and court costs.
39 comments:
Tip of the iceberg.
this is why you get a performance bond for $$$ projects. if the contractor walks away, you can fix his mess
The complaint states the couple "entered into an agreement with JWC, to build a new home in Madison, Mississippi. There was no written contract for the construction of this home." The Francises state they agreed to a completion price of $540,000.
Hmmm. No written contract? For half a million? What could go wrong?
what about J.L. Holloway, Robert Lampton, among others? I imagine these three are just trying to get to the front of the line...the lawsuits are about to spread like a wildfire
Tic Toc...it was just a matter of time. The worse tragedy is that he murdered two huge, beautiful oak trees on the corner of Eastover and Dogwood
someone should sue to remove that mess of a mansion he built in Eastover.
Good looks, charm and a hot body only goes so far...
I have zero sympathy for any fool who allegedly contracts for a $500K house & doesn't bother with a written contract. Zero.
@8:27 pm...you are spot on regarding the murder of the two beautiful oaks- he was given ample warning and blew it off- he knew everything!
Building a $3.5 million spec house without an architect explains why it's still for sale.
The Eastover house was drawn out on a Newks napkin. Any wonder it hasn't sold?
Copeland and Davis will be relentless in the pursuit of justice.
@11:00: that was a waste of a good napkin
Did these young businessmen not learn from the Frazier Boys' mistakes?
Did the neighbors sue when he flooded their house by re-routing water?
The attorneys sense some bullshiz here. Verified complaint means - they're saying it, not me. I 100% agree with the post above. Ask someone to build you a house and you don't get a contract, you're the problem.
With his reputation, why would anyone hire him? This is not a new problem
Those of you who assume this developer would have honored any contract he made are foolish!
While a contract would make the court case somewhat easier on the plaintiff's lawyer, it would not have saved them from the unscrupulous! Nor would it guarantee they are made " whole".
More than a few these days are more than willing to ignore any contract as the time and costs involved in suing protect the sleazy. And, even if the case is pursued, the chances are good that the contractor can negotiate a settlement and still come out just fine.
And, it'd be a damn good idea to have a lawyer whose specialty is contract law look over the language in that contract. That's a lesson our politicians and bureaucrats don't seem to grasp!
But, even then, expect years of delays which will take a toll on your health as well as your family life.
Some of you seem not to live in the real world but in TV land!
Dorsey Carson is a damn good construction lawyer (trained by Mockbee) and would probably be more than happy to draft contracts for such jobs. ;-)
Sorry, 8;50, but in the real world the fool is the person who asks someone to build a half million dollar house on a handshake. Get it in writing and hold them accountable the entire way. If the builder fails to honor his obligations along at some juncture, stop payments. It's not a hard concept.
Is this builder guy the redhead with the hot body?
There's a lot more information and details around about the Allen lawsuit. This story will only continue to develope.
"With his reputation, why would anyone hire him? This is not a new problem"
August 16, 2015 at 7:39 PM
Because he's unbelievably beautiful - or was, until he lost the Bama Bangs, and got 'Vinnie Hair'. When someone looks as good as he used to, people are apt to be just MESMERIZED, and find themselves doing whatever he wants.
Only a dumbarse would build a 3 million dollar spec house in Jackson, MS
This story is interesting, but not really newsworthy, which makes me curious why you've picked it up KF. I've been told the Lampton's send lots of money your way.
Nice try. They've never sent me anything directly or indirectly.
Oh there is a lot more to this story, a whole lot more. Stay tuned
"Only a dumbarse would build a 3 million dollar spec house in Jackson, MS"
August 17, 2015 at 1:53 PM
If there's any part of the him that's deficient or defective, it's not THAT part. He loads up a barbell with 45s, carries it in his crossed arms with no more strain than if it were a pool noodle, and uses it to do LUNGES, up and down an enormous room, carrying more weight than most guys can bench press. That's the sort of thing the card-carrying IFBB pros do. And you should see him at the Squat Rack. Let's give credit where it's due.
And, really, 2:04: You should learn how to properly PLURALIZE 'Lampton', before you accuse them of "influencing" Kingfish.
Frankly, I've been expecting Jackson Jambalaya to break this story for well over a year. Kingfish has multiple sources close to this saga, and surely has known what's been unfolding, for quite a while. He's shown amazing forbearance, in waiting until the optimal moment.
Kingfish kept quiet, while several attempts were made, on various threads here, to "prove" that Jackson was stable, and "on-the-rebound!", using as "proof", the "construction of new mansions in Eastover!". Those "new mansions" were the confections whipped-up by this builder. They're not too bad, aesthetically (a quarter-million in landscaping, a top-drawer color expert correcting a few mistakes, and they'd be OK.), and yet have languished on the market. Kingfish has to have heard WHY (EVERYBODY WHO'S ANYBODY knows why, and so KF sure didn't need the Lamptons to tell him).
Gotcha 5:05. Next time I need a contractor, I'll hang out at a weight room and choose the strongest guy in the room. You do know that in the 21st century, the builder isn't actually building the house with his own two hands, right? I see no correlation between his lifting skills and his building acumen; not do I see any correlation the his mess and the viability of Jackson as a city. Go oil J West's biceps for him, I here he is lonely.
See also:
25CI2:14-cv-00002 J. WEST CONTRACTORS, LLC v. PARRISH et al
Some of us wait a long time saving to build a first time home, only to have some redhair false teeth freckle face donkey of a Man still all way from you.... I HOPE THE RIGHT PEOPLE READ THIS BLOGG, SO THINGS WILL GO RIGHT!
Anyone who "wait[s] a long time saving to build a first time home" should also have spent a good bit of that 'long time' checking out builders....references, credentials. Investigate and invest wisely. Doing so will greatly lessen the chance that someone will "still (sic) [it]all away from you". Take responsibility for your own actions or lack of action.
Is he still building homes in Madison?
Kingfish, whose name is the Brecon house listed in?
I'd let that hot firecracker hang Sheetrock in my bedroom anytime
@7:54---excellent question
(YES ) HE IS STILL BUILDING IN REUNION,
HOT firecracker??? HAHAHAHAHA! The firecracker part might be right...IF you're describing his height. He's the size of Frodo.
These lawsuits should prove very entertaining. Once details about the Allen suit comes out, it will make an episode of Days of our Lives look like CSPAN.
All right, I am shutting down the comments. Too many personal comments. Too many personal attacks. And then there is some information I really do not want to know. This was funny at first but it has gotten far away from the subject of the post. I am sure more will come out in court and if it does, then it will be posted here in further coverage as I see fit.
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