Former Employee Files Suit Against Dixie Real Estate

Ben Israel of Dixie Real Estate LLC and Heritage Title and Closing Co. of Northwest Arkansas Inc. filed an answer on March 4 to a lawsuit by former Dixie principal broker Jenny Talley.

Talley claims she is owed, among other things, back commissions and reimbursements for lease agreements. She is asking for $50,000 for defamation of character and $100,000 in punitive damages after returning from a two-week trip to Europe in December and finding herself locked out of the building.

She alleges Dixie removed all real estate files from her office.

In Dixie’s response, it said it only directed employees to prohibit Talley from entering the building after normal business hours.

Talley’s attorney, Lamar Pettus of Fayetteville, said a settlement had been offered and he has responded, but the matter is still ongoing.

Talley claims she’s owed $70,000 for two transactions in particular.

Dixie admits Talley is owed some commission, but the exact amount is in dispute. Talley also claims that she was denied rights to invest in property, which Dixie refutes.

The suit also claims Dixie has retained $131,000 of Talley’s money for an investment project, which Talley wants returned.