http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/loc...-2-million-over-snake-infested-home/28379155/
A younger Maryland couple recently purchased an Annapolis home looking to settle down in the same neighborhood where one of the two spouses grew up.
Now they have been forced to move out and are suing their Realtor for $2 million after discovering the home they recently purchased is infested with snakes, the couple told WUSA9.
"Once we found three and the size of them, of course your emotions are going crazy. We've kind of settled our fears by talking to the experts but my first quest was, help me emotionally, just tell me that this snake would never have mistaken our four-month-old baby for a vermin and curled up in the crib with her," said Jody Brooks.
The Brooks actually have two children, a four-year-old son and now 9-month-old daughter. Court documents say they purchased the home for $410,000 before closing costs, back in December of 2014. By January of 2015, the couple was in their new, Annapolis, Md. home. However, as the months got warmer, they learned the four were not the only ones inside.
"I think in the sale of a home, a professional, you should let somebody know of every possible issue when you buy the house," said Jeff Brooks.
The couple filed a lawsuit against four parties: Barbara Van Horn, Champion Realty, Inc., The Joan Broseker Revocable Trust and Joan Broseker.
Van Horn is who the couple claims is both their Realtor and neighbor. Champion Realty, Inc. is the company Van Horn works for and Broseker is said to be Van Horn's mother, the person listed as the 631 Truxton Road's owner, before it was sold to the Brooks.
An attorney representing both Champion Realty, Inc. and Van Horn declined an interview with WUSA9 saying they do not comment on current litigation.
The lawsuit accuses Van Horn of knowing but not informing the Brooks about the snake issue. Jody Brooks said they had heard a rumor and asked about the problem. She also accused Van Horn of never providing certain pest inspection documentation. Still, they went forward with the deal.
"She said she had the world come out and look at it and there was no problem. She's going to be our neighbor. She is a licensed agent. Who do you trust? A rumor in the area or a licensed agent?" said Jody Brooks.
When the problem persisted, the Brooks contacted a local pest company, Home Paramount. An employee for the company told WUSA9 over the phone, what they found was "incredible" and described never seeing anything like it in the "10 years I've been here."
The lawsuit says the pest company advised the Brooks have the home gutted to analyze insulation and so-forth. They then discovered "highways" or the tracks the snakes used to get around the house. They also found feces on the walls and more snake skins, according to the lawsuit. A "snake den" is what attorneys called it.
"The memories that I have are not one that, I couldn't come back here," said Jeff Brooks, who claims he had to carry a machete with him to kill the snakes he found.
"We've learned that specifically with some of the prior tenants that lived in the home, who've reached out to us just for support, that this has been an ongoing problem and the extent of their problem and how terrifying it was for them. So they knew and didn't disclose that information," said Jody Brooks.
The couple tells WUSA9 the Realtor will not do anything about it.
Even if they cleaned-out the home, an attorney for the couple says there's no guarantee the snakes will not come back. Jeff and Jody Brooks say according to the inspectors they hired, the snakes living in the Truxton Rd. home leave a scent so they know where to return.
A younger Maryland couple recently purchased an Annapolis home looking to settle down in the same neighborhood where one of the two spouses grew up.
Now they have been forced to move out and are suing their Realtor for $2 million after discovering the home they recently purchased is infested with snakes, the couple told WUSA9.
"Once we found three and the size of them, of course your emotions are going crazy. We've kind of settled our fears by talking to the experts but my first quest was, help me emotionally, just tell me that this snake would never have mistaken our four-month-old baby for a vermin and curled up in the crib with her," said Jody Brooks.
The Brooks actually have two children, a four-year-old son and now 9-month-old daughter. Court documents say they purchased the home for $410,000 before closing costs, back in December of 2014. By January of 2015, the couple was in their new, Annapolis, Md. home. However, as the months got warmer, they learned the four were not the only ones inside.
"I think in the sale of a home, a professional, you should let somebody know of every possible issue when you buy the house," said Jeff Brooks.
The couple filed a lawsuit against four parties: Barbara Van Horn, Champion Realty, Inc., The Joan Broseker Revocable Trust and Joan Broseker.
Van Horn is who the couple claims is both their Realtor and neighbor. Champion Realty, Inc. is the company Van Horn works for and Broseker is said to be Van Horn's mother, the person listed as the 631 Truxton Road's owner, before it was sold to the Brooks.
An attorney representing both Champion Realty, Inc. and Van Horn declined an interview with WUSA9 saying they do not comment on current litigation.
The lawsuit accuses Van Horn of knowing but not informing the Brooks about the snake issue. Jody Brooks said they had heard a rumor and asked about the problem. She also accused Van Horn of never providing certain pest inspection documentation. Still, they went forward with the deal.
"She said she had the world come out and look at it and there was no problem. She's going to be our neighbor. She is a licensed agent. Who do you trust? A rumor in the area or a licensed agent?" said Jody Brooks.
When the problem persisted, the Brooks contacted a local pest company, Home Paramount. An employee for the company told WUSA9 over the phone, what they found was "incredible" and described never seeing anything like it in the "10 years I've been here."
The lawsuit says the pest company advised the Brooks have the home gutted to analyze insulation and so-forth. They then discovered "highways" or the tracks the snakes used to get around the house. They also found feces on the walls and more snake skins, according to the lawsuit. A "snake den" is what attorneys called it.
"The memories that I have are not one that, I couldn't come back here," said Jeff Brooks, who claims he had to carry a machete with him to kill the snakes he found.
"We've learned that specifically with some of the prior tenants that lived in the home, who've reached out to us just for support, that this has been an ongoing problem and the extent of their problem and how terrifying it was for them. So they knew and didn't disclose that information," said Jody Brooks.
The couple tells WUSA9 the Realtor will not do anything about it.
Even if they cleaned-out the home, an attorney for the couple says there's no guarantee the snakes will not come back. Jeff and Jody Brooks say according to the inspectors they hired, the snakes living in the Truxton Rd. home leave a scent so they know where to return.
