Faith Christian Academy and its administrators sued by woman who claims fraud over a property deal

GRETNA – A Jefferson Parish woman is suing a Marrero-based parochial school and its administrators claiming they fraudulently represented the facts of a property sale.

Valerie Hampton filed suit against Rev. Mansfield Thompson Educational Foundation, Inc., Eddie Williams, Jr., Faith Christian Academy, Inc., Reverend Wilbert Tross, Jr., Betrice Walker and Mary Jackson in the 24th Judicial District Court on Nov. 7.

Hampton claims that she executed a property deal in which she bought a structure on the campus of Faith Christian Academy with Eddie Williams. Jr., co-administrator of the school, signing over the property on to her on Dec. 7, 2011 for a sum of $18,454. The plaintiff alleges that as part of the deal she allowed the defendant to occupy the property until the end of the school year at the end of the spring semester in May 2012. Hampton asserts that following the school year she entered the property and changed its locks and asked the defendants to vacate the property. In response to the plaintiffs actions Betrice Walker made a criminal complaint to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Hampton asserts that after being refused entry to her property for over a month Williams told her she would be granted access to her property if she executed another contract and if she did not she would lose all rights to the property. The plaintiff claims that her signature was forged on the document and that the school’s principal not long afterward resold the property to another buyer.

The defendant is accused of breach of contract, fraud, deceit, unjust enrichment, gaining fees and fund from renting the property and conversion tort.

Damages in the amount of $18,454 plus loss of revenues and attorney’s fees are sought.

Hampton is represented by Gretna-based attorney James E. Shields.

The case has been assigned to Division G Judge Robert A. Pitre, Jr.

Case no. 720-838.