Bradley
The Port Neches-Groves Independent School District has filed suit against the company that installed turf on its football field, alleging the turf began degrading and wearing down after only two years of use.
The school district claims it purchased turf for its football field from defendant Fieldturf after hearing about the purported durability of the product. With the purchase of the turf came an eight-year warranty, the suit states.
The turf was installed on the field on July 31, 2008, according to the complaint filed May 24 in Jefferson County District Court.
On May 26, 2010, the district discovered that the turf was prematurely degrading, the complaint says.
"Said wear, degradation and failure consists of, but is not limited to, fraying and separation of turf fibers, significant washing away of turf fibers due to rain and wearing and thinning of the turf throughout the playing surface," the suit states.
Because of the wear, the turf will need to be replaced at a significant cost, the school district claims.
The school district blames Fieldturf for the early wear of the surface, saying it used substandard and defective materials when manufacturing its product.
The district says Fieldturf violated the Deceptive Trade Practices Act and committed fraud.
It seeks treble and discretionary damages, plus attorney's fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.
Lance P. Bradley and Gordon D. Friesz of McPherson, Hughes, Bradley, Wimberley, Steele and Chatelain in Port Arthur are representing the school district.
The case has been assigned to Judge Gary Sanderson, 60th District Court.
Case No. B192-496