Woman seeks to rescind purchase of sunken boat

A woman wants to rescind purchase of a boat that she alleges had already sunk at the time of the transaction without her knowledge.

Yasmin Saighi filed a lawsuit Oct. 22 in Madison County Circuit Court against Kaskaskia Regional Port District, Illinois Department of Central Management Services and Ed Weilbacher.

In her complaint, Saighi alleges she purchased a boat known as the MV Blankenship at an auction for $30,056. At the time of her transaction, however, Saighi did not realize that the boat had sunk while in the defendants' possession in December 2011, according to the complaint.

It was not until Oct. 27, 2013, that Saighi says she learned that the boat had sunk. She immediately initiated efforts to rescind the contract, the suit states.

"Damage caused by the sinking of the vessel requires that both engines be overhauled and, as a result, the vessel has only salvage value," the complaint says. "As a result of defendants' false representations and its failure to disclose known deficient conditions of the vessel caused plaintiff to suffer consequential damages in the sum of $160,000."

In her complaint, Saighi seeks a determination that the contract between the plaintiff and the defendants is rescinded and null. She also seeks a restitution of the money she paid to purchase the boat, plus consequential damages in the amount of $160,000, exemplary damages, costs, attorney fees and other relief the court deems just.

Attorney John L. Bitzer of Bitzer Law Firm in Collinsville will represent Saighi.

Madison County Circuit Court case number: 14-L-1437.