Woman sues landlord over security deposit

GALVESTON - Karen Radcliffe complains that Terry Blair refuses to return her security deposit to her, recent court documents say.

A lawsuit filed July 11 in Galveston County Court at Law No. 3 insists that Radcliffe is entitled to the $975 she put down prior to leasing a home on Galveston's West End from Blair.

According to the original petition, both parties entered into a residential lease agreement on Apr. 15, 2010, consenting to abide by it for a 12-month period of time.

The agreement was extended for an additional month.

Radcliffe says she fulfilled all of her requirements under the lease in providing the required notice of termination both verbally and in writing.

"The plaintiff has complied with all requirements of the lease including leaving the property in a clean and orderly condition, providing proper notice to the defendant of termination and all other duties and obligations required of her lease," the original petition says.

It adds Blair drafted the lease with numerous contradictions, including but not limited to the mandatory verbal and written notices of termination.

Radcliffe demanded the deposit back to no avail, the suit says.

The plaintiff ultimately accuses Blair of acting in bad faith.

Attorney Barry Kieran Radcliffe of Houston is representing the complainant, and Galveston County Court at Law No. 3 Judge Christopher Dupuy is presiding over the case.

Cause No. 65,602