Disaster relief company scores $1.5M default judgment

A disaster recovery company claiming it was not paid for work performed following various storms scored a $1.5 million default judgment on Monday, April 20.

Albert “Bud” Isakson and Global Disaster Services filed a lawsuit Dec. 17, 2012, in Jefferson County District Court against Byrd Brothers Emergency Services, Byrd Brothers, Claude R. Richy Byrd, James Kevin Byrd, James Frederick “Rick” Byrd and Kim L. Isakson.

Isakson claims he entered into agreements with the defendants for clean up services following storms that struck various areas in the United States, including Hurricanes Ike, Gustav and Dolly and an ice storm that struck Illinois.

In turn, the defendants agreed to pay Global Disaster Services a substantial percentage of the revenue they received, according to the complaint. However, the defendants failed to make the promised payments.

The case was set to go to trial Monday, but the defendants were no shows.

Although no default judgment is on file as of April 20, a courthouse official told the Record Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court, has tentatively agreed to award the plaintiffs $1.5 million plus attorney’s fees.

The plaintiffs will submit a default judgment order for the judge to review and sign, the official said.

Court records show last April the defendants’ former attorneys were allowed to withdraw due to lack of payment.

John Werner of Reaud, Morgan and Quinn in Beaumont represents the plaintiffs.

Case No. D193-721