Family in Houston’s Acres Homes loses their home in Texas due to forged deed, now seeking restitution of nearly $300K

HOUSTON — A businessman settled a deed forgery lawsuit last month, but now the plaintiffs are questioning if he ever plans to pay.

The case stems from control of the Acres Homes house where Vanessa Voldbakken grew up, in Houston.

“I learned to walk in that house,” Voldbakken said. “I got taken home from the hospital to that house.”

After refusing Jerry Gurley’s proposal to purchase the property in 2019, she and her siblings assert that they discovered the deed had been unlawfully transferred to a third party.

“Gurley forged my name, and I want him to pay for that,” Audrey Brooks said.

The siblings sued Gurley, and in April, they say he agreed to settle. A judge approved the settlement in May.

Official court documents confirm that Gurley was mandated to compensate the family with $200,000 plus an additional sum exceeding $87,000 in accrued interest. Nonetheless, the family claims they have yet to receive any payment.

“There was a 30-day window for the payment to be made. When the thirty days lapsed, there was complete silence. I made continuous attempts to contact the opposing attorney,” stated the family’s legal representative, Jacob Scholl.

Gurley’s attorney, Chris Di Ferrante, told our sister station, ABC13 Eyewitness News in Houston, he wouldn’t comment on the settlement or the alleged lack of payment. He did rebuke Scholl for violating what he says was a non-disparagement and confidentiality clause.

The siblings are now calling for Gurley to be prosecuted. Houston police confirm the family filed a report for the alleged deed fraud Thursday, but said they were in the early stages of investigating it.

“It’s time for him to pay for that,” Brooks said.

“If he doesn’t have the money and he’s judgment-proof, then there’s nothing that can be done. But what should be done is this guy needs to be in jail,” Scholl said.

According to court records, the judgment will accrue interest at a rate of 7.5% each year until it’s paid.

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