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Sonnier to get cash from Liggetts in Brownsville dispute

By Jennifer Harr 2 min read

A federal court judge has granted a Louisiana man’s request for summary judgment against a couple who took his money as part of a plan to turn Brownsville into a casino-based tourist attraction. Kermith Sonnier Sr. is entitled to $358,450, plus $46.75 in interest, from March 4 on, from Ernest and Marilyn Liggett, Allegheny County residents who own much of the properties in downtown Brownsville.

U.S. District Court Judge Joy Flowers Conti granted the judgment based on a motion filed by Sonnier’s attorney that claimed the Liggetts never filed a response to the Sonnier’s lawsuit.

In the suit, Sonnier claimed that Liggetts took $335,000 from him in December 2004, with the agreement that it would go toward the development of casinos and other tourist attractions in Brownsville. The money also was supposed to go toward a charitable organization that would, in part, memorialize Sonnier’s son, Kermith Jr. The younger Sonnier was shot to death by a police officer after he tried to run them down with his truck. Sonnier Sr. also has a lawsuit pending in that case, and has claimed that police intentionally killed his son. A coroner’s jury found that police were justified in shooting at Sonnier Jr.

In the casino lawsuit, Sonnier’s attorney filed a request for judgment from Dec. 4, 2004, through March 3. The suit indicated that the casino plans involved the Seneca Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Liggetts and hinged upon the Liggetts owning 95 percent of the properties in downtown Brownsville.

In the suit against the Liggetts, Sonnier alleged that they took his money even though the proposed development properties were to be sold to someone else. That sale never occurred, however.

The suit asked for the return of the initial investment, plus $46.75 in interest from Dec. 31, 2004 through March 3, adding $23,450 to the initial $335,000 investment.

As of Wednesday, the total judgment is about $361,956.

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