Toni Collette of the "Fright Night" and "United States of Tara" fame has reportedly been sued by a couple for backing out on a purchase of a home worth $6.35 million.
Collette and her husband, Dave Galafassi, had deposited an advance of $317,500 in September 2011 to buy a beautiful Paddington terrace house from Nick and Susan Kelly. They promised to complete the sale by December. However, they backed out of the purchase deal stating they didn't have enough money to complete the payment, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
In January 2012, the Kellys' began legal proceedings to force the couple into completing the contract. Collette then wrote to Mr. Kelly in an email that they were very sorry about backing out of the deal and would cooperate if an alternative was found.
As Collette claims to be a very "private person" she wrote in the email:
"For the sake of both our families I implore you to find a way to settle this less publicly."
Anyhow, four months later, the Kellys' sold the house at a loss of $850,000 and now they have sued Collette for loss and damage of the property's value. Not only are they seeking the difference in price but are also demanding that Collette pays $43,000 in land tax and other resale and interest costs, reports The Australian.
However, Collette's lawyers have argued that the Kellys' did not make much effort to advertise and market the property, which is why the home sold for a loss. The lower sale price had nothing to do with Collette backing out of the deal, reports News.com.au.
All the press and public hullaballoo has infuriated Collette. She recently wrote an email to McGrath Real Estate blaming an agent, Ben Colliers, for misleading her on her Bronte home value. Apparently, she wanted to fund the purchase by selling her Bronte Cottage, but couldn't go forward because Collier had publicized the home too much and misled her on its value.
"We wouldn't be in this position if your colleague at McGrath hadn't enticed us with the belief she could sell our house in the high threes, early fours, then went to the press quoting 3.5," Collette wrote in the email.
Collette further went on to accuse the agent of making her "the Poster child of a fabricated housing market" and that the "ongoing swell of press" was downright prejudicial.
She also asked Collier to apologize to the Kellys' and stated that they could not do anything about the issue now.
The hearing over the real estate drama still continues before Acting Justice William Windeyer.
On the professional front, Collette is gearing up to appear on a drama thriller series, "Hostages". Given her real estate and psychological drama, she might relate to the title! No?
