An encroachment dispute apparently caused Jeff Lewis to flip out.
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Ugly Betty actress Ashley Jensen and her husband Terence Beesley were granted a restraining order and filed a lawsuit against the Flipping Out star in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday, E! News reported.
"[We] have a simple encroachment dispute that should have been resolved informally," said Lewis in a statement obtained by E! News. "Having apparently watched my reality show, they now feel they can exploit my personality to increase their media exposure and their alleged damages."
Jensen and Beesley claim in the lawsuit that they live next door to a house Lewis is currently renovating and allege he built a deck that encroached on their property earlier this year, E! News reported.
Once the violation was made known, Jensen and Beesley claim Lewis offered $10,000 to purchase an easement for the deck only to have the couple turn him down after they learned that the land Lewis had encroached upon was actually worth $100,000.
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Lewis countered with a $30,000 offer during a "late-night visit," according to the lawsuit, which added the obsessive-compulsive house-flipper also threatened to make Jensen and Beesley's lives miserable by badmouthing them on Flipping Out.
"I have never threatened either of them with physical harm, nor was I abusive or verbally threatening to either of them," said Lewis in the statement. "In fact I have never even met Ms. Jensen."
Jensen and Beesley subsequently filed the lawsuit, which also names Lewis' business partner and Flipping Out co-star Ryan Brown, according to E! News.
In addition, the couple also received a temporary restraining order against Lewis -- forcing him to stay 50 feet away from their home and not harass, assault or trespass on the property. They have also requested the deck be removed.
Lewis is scheduled to appear in court on the matter of the of the restraining order on January 9, according to E! News.
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"The court will decide how much the easement is worth and Ms. Jensen and Mr. Beesley will then be left having to earn media coverage on their talent alone," said Lewis in the statement.
Bravo renewed Flipping Out for a third season earlier this month.
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio