Company wants $3 million for unwanted pipe

Maverick International, a Beaumont-based company, agreed to design and manufacture a $3 million pipe for Intec Engineering and Suez Energy North America. Maverick claims it finished the pipe two weeks ago, but now nobody wants it.

Seeking compensation for its efforts, Maverick filed a breach of contract lawsuit against Intec and Suez Energy with the Jefferson County District Court on July 25.

According to the plaintiff's original petition, on May 3, 2007, Intec placed an order with Maverick for a special type of pipe. The contracted price for the pipe was $3,615,220.

"On July 17, 2007, Maverick notified Intec and Suez by e-mail and by overnight delivery that the pipe was ready for delivery and requested payment," the suit said. "Neither Intec nor Suez have tendered payment to Maverick."

Suez contends it never authorized Intec to place the pipe order.

To date, the pipe is sitting in storage at a Maverick facility, the suit said.

"If Suez continues to contend that it disputes the order and disputes that Intec was authorized to place the order on behalf of Suez, and if that contention is found by the trier of fact to be true, then the representation by Intec to Maverick that Intec had the authority to place the order to Maverick's on behalf of Suez was false and constitutes a fraudulent misrepresentation," the suit said.

Intec Engineering provides engineering services for the energy industry and focuses on technical expertise in marine pipelines and terminals, subsea production, floating production and liquefied natural gas. Suez is a European power supplier and importer of LNG in North America.

Maverick International, Ltd. began in 1988 as Maverick Valve and Fittings, Inc, the company's Web site said. "As the scope of our business began to shift to the International market we changed our name to reflect that change.

Maverick was founded in Beaumont in 1988 by Vick Nelson and sales manager Buddy Duhon and joined by Jerry Nelson Jr. the next year. The company specializes in bolts, gaskets, pipes, fittings, flanges and valves. Its customers range from small locally owned business to multi-national corporations and refineries.

Maverick says in its suit that the alleged misrepresentation by Intec further constitutes an action which under applicable law warrants the imposition of punitive or exemplary damages against Intec.

Maverick is represented by attorney Robert Dunham of the Sheldon, Dunham & Edwardson law firm.

Judge Bob Wortham, 58th Judicial District, will preside over the case.

Case No. A179-713