A Houston woman is fighting an “adverse possession” lawsuit filed by a man she claims is squatting in a home that’s been in her family for 70 years.
The home is located on Clover St. near Scott in Houston’s Sunnyside neighborhood.
“It’s a huge part of my family because my father built that house,” said Glory Gendrett.
Gendrett said she moved out of the home in 2014 because a break-in prompted security concerns. She also said she couldn’t afford to keep paying property taxes and was working with her five siblings to figure out what to do with the house.
Gendrett said ownership was eventually transferred to one sister and her. During this time, the property also racked up tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid property taxes.
Gendrett said she also received a call someone broke into the house and was living at the property.
“I was told from my neighbor that someone had broken into the house,” said Gendrett. “He changed the locks because I came with my keys, and he had changed [the locks], he says he didn’t, but he did because none of my keys worked.”
Gendrett said she went to police but was told it was a civil matter. She said she didn’t have the money for a lawyer.
“I went to different places trying to get somebody to help me get this taken care of,“ said Gendrett. ”What do I need to do, who do I need to talk to, this group, that group, you know, legal aid, a lot of different people, and I’ve had no help."
Gendrett’s son tried to help and spoke with the man living in the house.
“I saw a guy approach me and saying this was his house, and I’m like, ‘No, it’s not your house, I grew up in this house, it’s my family’s house,‘” said Lloyd Hudson, Jr.
Hudson said the man then claimed his mother gave him the keys to the house.
“I said, ‘well, my mother has two kids, two grandkids, why would she just give you the keys?‘” Hudson said.
Gendrett said that wasn’t true and Hudson said the man refused to leave the property.
Court records show in 2017, Harris County moved to collect to the back taxes. The case dragged on until 2019 when the county won a final judgement against Gendrett and her sister, who is now deceased. However, court records show the judgement was vacated when it is was learned one heir was not properly notified of the final judgement.
The case then dragged on until 2024 when the county again won a final judgment for nearly $30,000 in back taxes, penalties, fees and interest.
Hudson found a company that helped the family work out a payment plan with the county to avoid the property being seized and sold at auction. A neighbor, Jerome Harris, offered to buy the home.
“It’s destroying the neighborhood, it’s an eyesore,” Harris said.
Harris said he planned to buy the home and repair the damage.
“What did you find out when you went to try to purchase the property,” asked KPRC 2 Investigates Robert Arnold.
“I find out there was squatters in the property, and they didn’t want to leave,” said Harris.
Hudson said once the tax case was settled, they tried to evict whoever was living in the house. Gendrett was then hit with an “adverse possession” lawsuit. Court records read Marquise Busby has been living and caring for the property since 2014, therefore, it belonged to him through “adverse possession.”
The lawsuit reads Marquise claims he’s been responsible for the upkeep of the property, landscaping, utilities and has been raising horses on site.
When KPRC 2 visited the home, we found it in a state of disrepair; a piece of siding falling, boarded up windows and the weeds, vines and trees had grown so tall it obscured the front of the house. We also saw no signs of horses being raised on the property.
We tried to speak with someone at the home, but there was no answer. We also have not yet received a return call from the attorney listed in court documents as representing Busby.
“We have strong evidence that Marquise is not the owner, obviously, so we just need to get in the court and prove it,” said Hudson.
Gendrett and Hudson said they are trying to find an attorney who will represent them, but money is an obstacle. In fact, the formal response to Busby’s lawsuit listed in the court record is a hand-written letter from Gendrett informing the judge she hasn’t been able to find legal representation.
“At this time of my life, 73 years old, I have exhausted all I can do. I don’t know where else to turn,” Gendrett wrote.
The case is scheduled for trial in 2026.
“These cases are very, very rare,” said Dana Karni, director of litigation services for Lone Star Legal Aid.
Karni said to successfully prove an “adverse possession” case, a person has to prove they’ve been serving as the owner of a property in several capacities for at least 10 years.
“One of the other elements that’s more challenging is that the person living there needs to have been there in a way that’s, quote, ‘open and hostile.’ That means that they’re not hiding the fact that they are possessing the property, and in fact, they do not have the owner’s permission,” said Karni.