'Snake House' Lawsuit May Go To Trial After Failed Mediation
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Forced out of their home by snakes. The battle between an Annapolis couple and their Realtor continues. It's a fight over whether or not the Realtor knowingly sold them a home filled with reptiles.
Rick Ritter has more on the lawsuit that may go to trial.
It's a lawsuit that's gained national attention---all surrounding a house which a couple says was infested with snakes. Both sides tried to settle the $2 million lawsuit but now it appears to be headed to trial.
From the outside, it's an abandoned home.
"I couldn't come back here," said Jeff Brooks.
It's what Jeff and Jody Brooks found inside that sent them packing. Black snakes and plenty of skins were throughout the home.
"Just tell me this snake would've never mistaken my four-month-old baby for vermin and crawled up in the crib," said Jody Brooks.
The couple bought the place along Truxton Road in Annapolis last December and moved out in April. They filed a lawsuit against their Realtor, claiming she knowingly sold them a home infested with snakes.
"She said she had the world come out and look at it and tell her there was no problem," Jody said.
After gutting the place, the lawsuit said they discovered tracks the reptiles used to get around the house, calling it a "snake den."
Neighbors like Fred Bowles echoed that name.
"I told them I live in Truxton Road," Bowles said. "She said, `Oh, where the snake house is at.'"
Trash bags full of drywall and insulation are still outside the abandoned home. Those who have lived there before say they encountered snakes, as well.
Last week, mediation failed to settle the lawsuit. A hearing scheduled for Monday was canceled and now it appears to be headed for trial.
"I've been looking for snakes ever since in my house," Bowles said.
Meanwhile, the Brooks' are looking for $2 million or to cancel their purchase and return the house.
"You should let someone know of every possible issue when you're buying a house," Jeff said.
A trial date hasn't been set but a pretrial conference is scheduled for April.
WJZ reached out to the attorneys for both parties. One declined to comment; the other never returned our call.
