Fredericksburg couple sue Boerne real estate broker for fraud over sale of Hill Country ranch

A Fredericksburg couple has sued a Boerne real estate broker for fraud over the sale of their Hill Country ranch. Bruce Williams and his wife, Linda Davis, allege the broker made false representations and failed to disclose material facts in last year’s sale of the roughly 2,700-acre White Cross Ranch in Kerr County to a partnership affiliated with the broker. The couple seeks more than $1 million in damages from real estate broker Harold “Trip” duPerier III, his brokerage, the duPerier Texas Land Man, and other entities. The defendants have denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit an “attempted shakedown by an opportunistic pair of plaintiffs who seek in excess of $1 million more than the $7.25 million they have already been paid from the sale of the White Cross Ranch.”

In a statement, the duPerier Texas Land Man said it has tried to resolve the dispute “amicably and without the cost of litigation, but to no avail.” “The duPerier Texas Land man brokers and agents strive to be the best professionals in the ranch sales business,” it said Monday. “It’s unfortunate the sellers are unhappy with the results of their transaction.” Williams and Davis in June 2020 signed a listing agreement with the duPerier Texas Land Man to sell the ranch. The company’s website says its “client list consists of movie stars, CEOs, music stars and other influential customers.” The couple listed the ranch, which they bought in 2010, for $8 million. At least a portion of the ranch has been used as hunting grounds for native wildlife and imported exotic animals. Henry McDonald, a New Mexico ranch owner, submitted an offer and after some negotiating, agreed to buy White Cross Ranch for $7.25 million at the end of 2020. In January 2021, Williams and Davis were advised that another buyer wanted to purchase the ranch for the same price.