A new property owner, allegedly left with an inoperable septic system, is suing the previous owner saying it covered up the true condition of the property.
Metro Golf Inc. filed a complaint on June 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the Vernon Reinneck Trust and trustee Vernon Reinneck, alleging fraud, consumer fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment.
According to the complaint, on Oct. 4, 2013, Metro Golf and the defendants entered into a purchase agreement for the plaintiff to assume ownership of the property at 1554 Frontage Road in O'Fallon. At the time, the suit says, the property was set up for a private sewage disposal system via a septic tank.
The plaintiff claims Vernon Reinneck Trust said no problems were associated with the property but after taking ownership, on June 25, 2014, Metro Golf received a first notice letter from the St. Clair County Health Department informing it the property was in violation of disposal code, specifically, it was "discharging untreated sewage from a septic tank onto the ground surface or into a stream or ditch."
That's when the plaintiff investigated and discovered "a pump inside a wire basket had been placed inside the septic tank ... a hose was coming out of the septic tank onto the ground surface, and electric cords were coming out of the" disposal system, the suit states.
Metro Golf seeks the cost it incurred to fix the system, $26,000, and the costs to tap into the Caseyville Township sewer system, $26,987, as well as damages of more than $200,000, plus court costs, interest and attorney fees. The company is represented by attorney Hrant "Hud" Norsigian of Norsigian Law Office in O'Fallon.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-370.