GALVESTON - A Galveston County woman has sued a Houston construction company over the business's alleged abandonment of a renovation project, recent court documents say.
Lynette J. Hardcastle's lawsuit against Gator Construction states the defendant refused to complete work done on Hardcastle's Crystal Beach homestead property despite being paid $79,231.11.
The suit was filed March 12 in Galveston County District Court.
Hardcastle and Gator entered an agreement on Jan. 1, 2007, in which the defendant was to perform electrical, plumbing and other structural and cosmetic remodeling work.
The parties came to many agreements throughout the next 10 months, however, "the plaintiff continually expressed her concern and frustration with the amount of time the work was taking and the quality of the work performed," the suit says.
On Oct. 1, 2007, Hardcastle met with Gator on the property in an effort to reach a consensus on a time frame. They disagreed on certain matters such as the completion of items and workmanship quality, the suit says.
"The plaintiff told the defendant that he had two weeks to complete the repairs and that if he failed to do so, she would not make any final payments," the original petition says.
In response, the defendant told the plaintiff that unless she paid the remaining balance, he would file a lien on her property.
The suit states the defendant placed such a lien a month later.
Hardcastle ultimately argues that Gator failed to pay two subcontractors who had installed granite in the home and had completed some paint work therefore she hired contractors to finish the renovation and repair any defects.
She seeks unspecified monetary damages.
Houston attorney Marybeth M. Nelson is representing the plaintiff.
The case has been assigned to Galveston County 405th District Court Judge Wayne Mallia.
Case No. 10cv0714
Woman sues contractor over repair work on Crystal Beach house
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