GOP chairman settles house dispute/ MOLD

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GOP chairman settles house dispute

By _ Rothschild_ (http://www.ljworld.com/section/author_info/60) ,

Journal-World

Tuesday, May 3, 2005

Topeka — A lawsuit filed against Kansas Republican Party Chairman Tim

Shallenburger by a high-ranking official in the attorney general's office has

been

settled, both sides said Monday.

The dispute was over a house Shallenburger sold to Brown, who leads

the consumer protection division for Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, also a Republican.

After defeat in the 2002 gubernatorial election, Shallenburger moved back to

his hometown of Baxter Springs, selling his Topeka home to Brown, who had

just arrived from Mississippi.

But after the sale, Brown said things started falling apart in the house and

that his children became ill because of mold.

He filed a lawsuit in March, alleging Shallenburger misled him about the

house's condition.

Brown sought compensation for the repairs, which totaled more than $9,000,

plus medical costs, exemplary damages and $100 per hour for the time he spent

dealing with the problems, according to the lawsuit.

Shallenburger denied Brown's allegations. In a telephone interview Monday,

Shallenburger said he was advised by his attorney to settle to avoid a costly

legal battle.

He refused to say how much he paid Brown.

Brown also refused to say how much he received. " I wished we had been able

to settle without litigation, " Brown said.